10-26-20 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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below). Access to parks and nature increases the frequency of exercise and improves psychological and social health.Contributes to child development through the critical role of play.Reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and other health problems through increase activity. Personal Health——— , Figure 1.1 Protects and preserves vital green spaces and critical wildlife habitat.Educates visitors regarding the appropriate use of natural areas as recreational areas.Contributes to clean air and water. PURPOSE OF THE PARKS MASTER PLAN their community (see The creation and adoption of a parks master plan ultimately helps the City control its future. Through the master planning process, the characteristics a step back from the day-to-day decision-making, the City can pause and assess the community’s preferences for the future. This will ensure that current and future residents of the City are provided with a high quality-needs. A parks master plan helps to build consensus and commitment provides the City with a list of prioritized implementation actions to be phased-in over time, as funding becomes available.The La Porte Parks Master Plan plays an important role in the future of the City. The Plan will create a “snapshot” of the current parks system and provide a forum for residents to express their desires for the future. The Environmental——— Increases property value of homes in proximity to parks.Helps attract new businesses to the community by improving the standard of living. Economic—— Helps ensure an overall higher quality of life.Provides refuges of safety for at-risk youth, which can result in reduced juvenile delinquency.Provides opportunities for people of all ages to be physically active, socially engaged, and cognitively stimulated. he original La Porte Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan (hereafter, Parks Master Plan) was completed in 2002. In 2008, an update Individual and Community——— WHY ARE PARKS IMPORTANT? to that plan was developed. Since 2008, La Porte has been growing at a moderate pace, approaching a population of 33,800 in 2010 and an estimate of 35,371 people in 2017 (U.S. Census). Since 2008, the City Council adopted two updates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, one in 2012 and six years later an update in 2018. A 2013-2017 Strategic Plan developed by the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, and key staff was approved in 2013. And now, in 2020, the City is undertaking an update to the 2008 Parks Master Plan in order to reassess the goals of the park system, develop new strategies and ensure adequate distribution of parks and open space. the quality of life for residents and visitors in any city. A great parks and recreation system will provide a healthier environment, improve the well-being of adults and children, and remind residents of the beauty and fun in T 1.2