The city of St. Joseph is inviting residents to offer their input on the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
City Communications Director Kayla Griffith tells us the parks plan is updated every five years and serves as a guide for new parks projects in the city. Nearly 400 people submitted their thoughts as the document was developed. Griffith says about 70% reported that current park facilities and recreation programs meet their needs.
“The main thing that we heard was that people want us to continue to maintain our parks, take good care of them, make sure that we’re protecting our area,” Griffith said. “Everyone really values the natural resources that are available here.”
Griffith says having a parks master plan ensures the city develops its parks strategically.
“So when you have a plan, then there isn’t as much kind of ad hoc budgeting going on, but you’re actually working towards a strategy that you’ve defined. And then really more importantly, it’s about making sure that your community is what’s driving these plans and the strategy. So it’s not just people that are up at city hall.”
Plus, having a documented five-year parks plan puts the city in a much better position to qualify for grants.
Griffith says the document can now be viewed online, at city hall, and at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library through December 5. The city commission will hold a public hearing on the plan next month, and then they’ll vote on its approval.
