CC MEETING: June 17, 2025
DATE: June 3, 2025
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Heather Smith, Recreation Manager
Chrystal Davis, Assistant City Manager
Title
Consider A Resolution Adopting The 2025 Parks, Recreation, And Open Space Master Plan.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this agenda item is to consider a resolution adopting the 2025 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Master Plan as the guiding strategic framework for future development, programming, and maintenance of Carrollton’s parks and recreation system.
The Master Plan was developed through an extensive community engagement process, robust system-wide analysis, and collaboration with Parks and Recreation staff, the Parks Board, City Executive Leadership, and Dunaway, our consulting partners. The plan provides a clear roadmap for enhancing parks, trails, facilities, and recreational programming across the City over the next 10 years.
The PROS Master Plan evaluates existing conditions, identifies facility and program needs, outlines priority improvements, and recommends funding strategies. It reflects a commitment to equity, accessibility, sustainability, and quality-of-life enhancement for all Carrollton residents.
Key elements of the Plan include:
• Community-driven priorities identified through public survey responses, focus groups, and stakeholder input;
• A prioritized list of recommendations for facility upgrades, new amenities, expanded trails, and program development;
• A long-term action plan to guide capital improvements, partnerships, and resource planning;
• A system-wide focus on inclusive programming, especially for seniors, adaptive recreation, cultural arts, and historic preservation;
• Coordination with other city planning efforts, including the Elm Fork Nature Preserve Master Plan, Trails Master Plan, and Downtown Master Plan.
Early implementation efforts already underway include:
• A cost-per-acre analysis for parks maintenance to inform future resource allocation;
• Redevelopment planning for Elm Fork Nature Preserve in partnership with Dallas County;
• Expanded offerings in adaptive, senior, and cultural programming;
• Restoration of the A.W. Perry Homestead and development of new historical programming.
The plan will also be supported by a forthcoming online story map to enhance public accessibility and engagement with plan highlights and next steps.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
While adoption of the plan itself carries no direct fiscal impact, it will guide future capital improvements and operating budget priorities. The plan identifies potential funding sources, including grants, partnerships, and future bond programs, to support phased implementation. This updated plan allows the department to apply for state grants.
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY:
The 2025 PROS Master Plan supports long-term community sustainability through its emphasis on equitable access, active lifestyles, environmental preservation, and placemaking. It is designed to enhance the livability, inclusivity, and well-being of Carrollton’s neighborhoods for generations to come.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends City Council approve the resolution adopting the 2025 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan as the City’s official strategic guide for the future of its parks and recreation system.