06-21-12 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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and/or the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission standards in the design and replacement of playground equipment, all surface areas, and other recreational facilities and improvements. 4) Enhance landscape plantings and lawn maintenance in all parks. a) Develop a program to improve the turf quality in all parks through turf restoration and over seeding, re -grading (to address erosion and drainage issues), and improved irrigation. b) Continue to partner with Trees for Houston to add shade trees and shrubs in each park to improve aesthetics, create much needed shade, and improve the overall future beauty of the park system. 5) Conduct an annual condition assessment of park conditions. The assessment should be considered during the budget preparation process for the following fiscal year. GOAL 98: Continue to increase the quality and diversity of amenities in the existing and future parks to attract and accommodate people of all ages (and non-traditional park users) for both active and passive activities. Actions and Initiatives 1) Focus on park and recreation improvements as a means for elevating neighborhood viability. Highlight the importance of clean, safe, well -maintained, and vibrant neighborhood parks as an anchor for strong, established neighborhoods where residents and kids use public spaces and interact on evenings and weekends. 2) Establish a policy of master planning new/revitalized parks to develop a unique design theme for each park to broaden the types of facilities and activities that are available across the community and to better tie their identity to adjacent neighborhoods. a) Conduct neighborhood design charrettes to gather resident input to determine unique features, types of amenities, and overall theme. Ideas may include parks for special events, arts and culture, heritage, eco-tourism, sustainability, etc. 3) Prepare revitalization plans for each of the existing, well established parks. Plans should include equipment replacement and repair, building/structure rehabilitation, new features/activities, and other refurbishments. 4) Evaluate opportunities to add new types of amenities that appeal to intergenerational and non-traditional users in existing and future parks, including community gardens, dog parks, climbing walls, bike trails, Frisbee golf, spraygrounds, running/walking trails, checkerboard tables, art walks, sandboxes, among others. 5) Continue to add shade structures to all existing and future