Parks and Rec Master Plan approved

Trails, aquatic centers, open spaces and more. It's what Buckeye city residents said they wanted, and it's what the Parks and Recreation 2025 Master Plan aims to deliver in the next 10 years.

The final master plan was presented to City Council at its regular meeting June 17. According to the executive summary, the plan "identifies key initiatives, policies and implementation strategies to guide Buckeye's Community Services Department projects and services over the next 10+ years."

The last master plan was delivered in 2016 with 107 action items, 80% of which were completed, according to Robert Wisener, deputy director of Community Services, who presented the report to Council on June 17. Community Services began developing the updated 2025 plan in January 2024. They collected 4,305 data points from multiple surveys, focus groups and stakeholder meetings, community outreach and pop-up events, an interactive map and social media. One-hundred seventy-two items were identified as focus points for the next 10 years.  In that timeframe, the population of Buckeye is expected to grow by approximately 91%, Wisener said, and the plan seeks to identify how to accommodate that growth and provide current and incoming residents with recreation opportunities while seeking to preserve natural resources, open spaces and protect local wildlife.

"We wanted to make sure that this plan balanced resident and stakeholder input and reflected those needs and values," said Wisener.

1. Aquatic centers and pools
2. Fitness and exercise facilities
3. Arts performances
4. Outdoors adventure opportunities
5. Splash pads
6. Natural preserves
7. Paved multi-use paths
8. Indoor ball courts
9. Community centers
10. Fishing areas
11. Multi-use paths
12. Nature centers

The top 12 identified city needs for programming are, ranked in order:

1. Hobby and interest classes
2. Fitness programs
3. Special events and festivals
4. Arts programs
5. Arts performances
6. Family-oriented programming
7. Educational classes
8. Nature programs
9. Pop-up programs
10. Swim lessons
11. Adult sports
12. Water fitness programs

Key implementation items include the following, as presented at the June 17 meeting:

• Pathways and trails
  • Connecting trails between Skyline Regional Park and White Tank Mountains Regional Park
  • Analyzing how to connect natural resource areas through pathways and trails
• Open spaces
  • Creating a land preservation plan
  • Continuing partnership with organizations such as the White Tank Mountains Conservatory to preserve wildlife corridors
• Cultural and historical resources
  • Integrating educational signate and interpretive information throughout the city to emphasize Buckeye's history
• Level of service and mapping
  • Developing partnerships with city home owner associations to host city programs at HOA parks
  • Evaluating if projects can be included in the city's Capital Improvement Program
• Land acquisition and future parks
  • Securing park spaces adjacent to schools through partnership with districts and developers
  • Establishing shared-use performing arts centers in partnership with school districts
  • Considering if the Town Park could become the eastern gateway to the downtown area
• Organizational structure assessment
  • Establishing a park ranger program
  • Furthering developing the volunteer program
• Recreation programming
  • Considering partnerships to increase programs emphasizing environmental education
  • Considering ways to expand the adaptive recreation programs
• Funding strategies
  • Considering bonding opportunities to provide funding for new parks and amenities

According to the executive summary, 79% of respondents to the statistically valid survey reported support of developing multi-use paths and trails; 73% supported improving existing aquatics facilities; and 81% supported investments to update and improve current parks.

Sharma Torrens, executive director of the White Tank Mountains Conservancy, attended the June 17 meeting in support of the master plan: "White Tank Mountains Conservancy is fully supportive of this plan. ... Buckeye's intent to preserve natural areas as a key priority and calling open spaces the heart of the community, intending to do that as the city evolves into a large metropolitan area, is commendable."

Kathleen Rossetti, vice-chair of the Community Services Advisory, also voiced support: "This plan plays a key role in guiding Parks and Recreation into the future."

The master plan was unanimously adopted by council. Watch the full meeting HERE.

Learn more about the master plan HERE.