Comprehensive Master Plan
What exactly is a Comprehensive Parks Master Plan?
A Comprehensive Parks Master Plan acts as a roadmap that identifies the needs and values of our community. It includes detailed plans for things like land use, infrastructure, services, and programs and serves as a guide to making decisions that will shape the future. In the case of JPRD, a master plan helps identify what improvements are needed, how to best use resources, and how to meet the community’s needs sustainably and effectively. As part of this process, we conducted a comprehensive park and land assessment to evaluate our current assets, identify strengths and weaknesses, and ensure that future developments are aligned with community priorities. This assessment, combined with the strategic plan, provides a clear path forward for enhancing the park system and ensuring it serves everyone in our community.
Why do we need one?
Parks and recreation services are important to the Jamestown community, offering fun and sports for all ages. As the community has changed and the facilities have aged, it’s time to think about improving and updating the parks district for the future.
We needed a plan to ensure that JPRD is meeting the changing needs of the community. This plan guides improvements and new projects over the next 10 years. It will help maintain and create inclusive, exciting, and long-lasting facilities.
The plan is based on what the community wants and will give clear goals for the JPRD staff to work toward. By working together, the community and JPRD can make positive changes, set strong priorities, and build a better park district for everyone.
Demographics
Age
Both Jamestown (City) and the surrounding area are expected to have stable populations, meaning there won’t be major changes in how many people live there. Although the population may decrease a little by 2028, the number of households is expected to grow. This could be due to things like new buildings or changes in family sizes. To plan for the future, it’s important to keep track of the ages, backgrounds, and incomes of residents to help guide local development.
Income
In 2023, the average household income in the Jamestown area was $68,117. This is expected to rise to $71,926 by 2028. The average income per person in the area was $29,269 in 2023 and is expected to go up to $30,893 by 2028. Over the past ten years, the number of people living in poverty in Jamestown has gone up. According to estimates from 2022, about 15% of people in Jamestown live below the poverty line, which is higher than the 12.5% in 2012.
Building Condition Assessment
A building assessment was done to check the condition of the buildings in the park system and identify any risks. The assessment looks at things like the structure of the buildings, safety issues (such as warning signs), accessibility, comfort, and how much the public uses the buildings. It also gives recommendations for improvements.
Average Building Condition
Report Card
Asset Lifecycle Replacement
A lifecycle replacement database was created to track park assets, including their installation year, cost, lifespan, and replacement needs. The analysis shows that the park system has over $120 million in assets, with $33 million in deferred maintenance (assets that were not replaced on time) and nearly $17 million needing replacement within the next 10 years.
Level of Service Analysis
Level of Service standards help determine how many parks and facilities are needed and where. The goal is to guide park investments, identify gaps, and plan for future needs. Based on a review and public input, it’s recommended that the City develop parks and amenities to address high-priority needs and improve service levels for the projected 2034 population.
Programs and Services Assessment
This graph shows programs and the age groups they serve. Most programs target multiple age segments, with primary (P) and secondary (S) markets identified. The analysis shows a good balance of programs across age groups, except for seniors (65+), who are not a primary market for at least three core service areas.
Operations and Maintenance Assessment
It’s recommended that all park maintenance agencies use a system with three levels of maintenance. These levels, called maintenance modes, set different standards for how often tasks are done at each park. Each park is assigned a maintenance mode based on its needs. Here’s what each level means:
Level 1: Parks that need the most maintenance, like athletic fields, which help generate revenue. These parks are maintained at the highest standard.
Level 2: Parks that need moderate maintenance, like community parks, trails, and other busy areas with amenities.
Level 3: Parks that need the least maintenance, usually undeveloped parks with few amenities.
Top 5 Overarching Goals
1.Prioritize public health and safety through infrastructure improvements and proactive risk management strategies.
2. Ensure the responsible management and improvement of park resources by focusing on sustainable maintenance practices, effective asset management, and building organizational resilience.
3. Promote inclusive access to park facilities, programs, and services, advocating for equity and fairness across the community.
4. Enhance community engagement and transparency as well as create relationships to support park initiatives.
5. Invest in key park amenities and evaluate program effectiveness to provide high-quality recreational experiences that meet the changing needs and preferences of the community.
Comprehensive Parks Plan Full Document
This document is the result from a collaborative effort of the Jamestown Parks & Recreation District, Park Board members, impactful community members, and the Jamestown community. Without the drive and foresight of these groups, this plan would not be possible. The next steps for the Jamestown Parks & Recreation District will be informed by this plan with the understanding that it was created together and for the improvement, growth, and sustainability of our community park system. This plan represents the public’s vision for their park system and is a declaration of their priorities and needs.
The strategic vision for the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District is a comprehensive plan designed to address current challenges, leverage community aspirations, and guide future development to enhance the quality of life for residents through accessible and vibrant recreational spaces. This plan snapshot synthesizes key findings from community engagement, needs assessments, and strategic planning efforts to outline actionable goals and priorities for the management and expansion of parks and recreational amenities in Jamestown.
Town Hall Meeting
Jamestown Parks and Recreation hosted a hosted a Town Hall Meeting on February 22, 2024 served as a platform to discuss and present the progress made in the development of their comprehensive master plan. The event informed the public about the project’s steps taken to date through a presentation, providing insights into analysis of the current park system. Following the brief presentation there was a breakout session that actively engaged participants, collected valuable information on specific park needs, preferred uses, vision for their park system, and explored opportunities for improvement as part of the ongoing planning process. View a recording of the prevention below.
There is also a link to a Town Hall Questionnaire under the video below – please take a few minutes to complete the form after you’ve watched the presentation.
