Carrollton Parks & Recreation Master Plan is Here

Carrollton City Council voted unanimously to approve the new Recreation, Open Space, & Parks Master Plan at the Tuesday, June 17 meeting.

The master plan will serve as a roadmap for City leaders to prioritize improvements, both now and over the next decade, from new park programming and trail connections to enhancing existing facilities, ensuring each project aligns with the City's vision and mission.

"Input from residents played an important role in shaping Carrollton's plan for parks, recreation facilities, programming and events, and open spaces," Parks & Recreation Director Scott Whitaker said. "We encouraged residents to stay involved throughout the planning process to help create a plan that is inclusive and considers a wide range of physical, mental, and economic needs ꟷ one that truly reflects the interests of the entire community."

Community feedback shaped the plan with citizen engagement in Citywide surveys, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, public forums, open houses, and events between April and July 2024. The City gathered input from residents on what they envision in the years ahead for their children and for themselves.

The 222-page master plan offers detailed direction for park development, focusing on amenities, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and community involvement. It outlines clear priorities for enhancing recreational spaces while ensuring effective resource management. The plan emphasizes improvements that expand recreational opportunities, protect natural areas and Carrollton history, foster inclusivity for all residents, and is a great resource for learning about the more than 30 Carrollton-operated parks, along with additional greenbelt trails, special use facilities, and more.

Among the highest priority items to be addressed are new trail connections and expanding trail networks, natural areas and open space preservation such as improvements to Elm Fork Nature Preserve (2335 Sandy Lake Road) and T.C. Rice Natural Area (258 undeveloped acres east of Interstate Highway 35E north of Frankford Road), expanded Senior Center facilities, additional pickleball courts, eco-friendly maintenance practices, and infrastructure updates.

Program and facility enhancements recommended include adding or improving restrooms, picnic pavilions, interactive play features, and dog parks, plus a renewed focus on seniors, youth sports programming, arts, culture, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programming, and enhanced adaptive and inclusive recreation offerings for all ages and abilities.

To accomplish this, a flexible 10-year action plan was developed, and a digital story map is currently being developed to showcase the plan's vision, major goals, and project timelines in an interactive format. This tool will aid in public engagement and transparency and will highlight the next steps for the community.

By establishing a strategic vision for both development and maintenance and including a plan for implementation, this document supports decision making that will create vibrant, welcoming, and adaptable parks and recreation spaces to benefit Carrollton for generations to come.

For more information, visit cityofcarrollton.com/parksandrec, and click the Parks Master Plan icon, or search Parks Master Plan.

Take Carrollton's Parks & Recreation Master Plan Survey
Post Date: 5/28/2024 9:13 AM

The City of Carrollton is updating its Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, and is gathering input from residents on what they envision in the years ahead for their children and for themselves.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Survey is Open: Through July 7
(Survey available in English, Korean, and Spanish.)

For more information, visit cityofcarrollton.com/parksandrec.

Carrollton Parks & Recreation Master Plan Forums
Post Date: 3/25/2024 10:57 AM

The City of Carrollton is updating its Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, and is excited to announce two upcoming opportunities for citizen engagement to help shape the future of the City's parks and recreation offerings.

Two public forums can be attended for residents to provide feedback. The main focus of the public forums is to introduce the knowledge that Carrollton is developing another Master Plan and is gathering input from residents on what they envision in the years ahead for their children and for themselves.

The first forum is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex in the pool training room, and the other is on Thursday, April 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Crosby Recreation Center in the Trinity Room.

For more information, visit cityofcarrollton.com/parksandrec.