More than 23,000 data inputs create draft of Parks and Rec Master Plan

Buckeye residents let their voices be heard with 23,692 individual data input points contributing to the first draft of the Buckeye at Play Parks and Recreation Master Plan, presented at a Buckeye City Council Workshop on Tuesday.

Consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates collected feedback from residents and stakeholders through events, focus groups, stakeholder meetings and surveys. This feedback created the draft recommendations which were shared in the workshop.

The last Parks and Recreation Master Plan was adopted in 2016. The new plan creates a strategy for growth and services over the next decade. The plan serves as a “roadmap” for project prioritization, according to the presentation. It is not a capital improvement nor a project-specific plan.

“We’ve got different demographics in our city today, we’ve got different wants, desires and needs from our residents today, different gaps in services” said Community Services Director Miranda Gomez, who presented the draft recommendation to council. “So, that’s what you’re going to see updated through this plan and you’ll see a lot of recommendations change from that.”

Six core goals were identified in creating the Master Plan:

1. Create a comprehensive and compelling vision and direction for Parks and Recreation
2. Propose various approaches for accommodating growth while keeping the fiscal picture in balance
3. Strategically identify gaps and prioritize future improvement and programming for Parks and Recreation
4. Gain understanding of current and desired levels of service and facilities to demonstrate more equitable distribution of services
5. Understand potential partnership opportunities and funding options
6. Evaluate operations and maintenance practices with an aim to generate long-term sustainability and resilience benefits

SURVEY DATA

Kimley-Horn and Associates provided a robust set of data and key recommendations based on that information. Between statistically valid surveys, website surveys, interactive map comments, Share Your Big Idea comments, focus group/stakeholder meetings, community outreach meetings, pop-up events and social media engagement, a total of 23,692 input points of data were provided for the development of the drafted master plan.

“Twenty-three thousand inputs is unbelievable,” Mayor Eric Orsborn said at the Sept. 17 meeting. “I think that’s phenomenal that we had that reach out into the community and then input back from the community that got us to where we are.”

The survey asked how Buckeye residents do recreation. The results are as follows:

• Buckeye residents most often used recreation programs and facilities offered by the city over other organizations such as their HOA, private fitness centers, County centers or local educational institutions.
• 40% of respondents identified themselves as “very supportive” of dedicating funding that preserve open spaces and develop parks, trails and recreation facilities, with 33% indicating they were “somewhat supportive,” 22% “not sure and 5% not supportive.

Two areas of top needs were identified: Amenities and facilities in addition to programming. A statistically valid survey identified the following top 10 needs for amenities and facilities:

1. Aquatics/pool facilities
2. Fitness and exercise facilities
3. Cultural centers for performing arts
4. Outdoor adventure activities
5. Indoor basketball/volleyball courts
6. Paved multi-use paths
7. Natural area/preserves
8. Splash pads/spray parks
9. Recreation/community centers
10. Fishing areas

A website survey identified the following top 10 needs for amenities and facilities:

1. Aquatics/pool facilities
2. Pickeball courts
3. Multi-use paths
4. Indoor fitness/exercise facilities
5. Recreation/community centers
6. Splash pads/spray parks
7. Indoor playgrounds
8. Multi-use fields
9. Indoor walking/running track
10. Playgrounds

A statistically valid survey identified the following top 10 needs for programming:

1. Hobby/interest classes
2. Fitness programs
3. Special events/festivals
4. Art programs
5. Art performances
6. Family programming
7. Educational classes/lectures
8. Nature/environmental education
9. Mobile/pop-up programs
10. Swim lessons/aquatic safety

A website survey identified the following top 10 needs for programming:

1. Youth sports
2. Fitness and wellness classes
3. Special events/festivals
4. Pickleball lessons/leagues
5. Adult sports
6. Art programs
7. Learn-to-swim programs
8. Hobby/interest classes
9. Arts performances
10. Outdoor fitness programs

The data further broke down the needs by area: North Buckeye, Sun Valley Parkway, West Buckeye, Central Buckeye, Historic Buckeye, South Buckeye and East Buckeye.

• North Buckeye: Indoor facilities/exercise facilities, aquatics/pool facilities, outdoor exercise equipment, outdoor fitness/exercise facilities, recreation center and an e-sports room
• Sun Valley Parkway: Indoor facilities/exercise facilities, aquatics/pool facilities, pickleball courts, outdoor fitness/exercise facilities and an e-sports room
• West Buckeye: Indoor facilities/exercise facilities, aquatics/pool facilities, indoor track, pickleball courts and outdoor exercise equipment
• Central Buckeye: Indoor facilities/exercise facilities, aquatics/pool facilities, indoor track, pickleball courts and outdoor fitness/exercise facilities
• Historic Buckeye: Indoor fitness/exercise facilities, indoor track, pickleball courts and a disc golf course
• South Buckeye: Aquatics/pool facilities, indoor track, outdoor exercise equipment, outdoor fitness/exercise facilities and multi-use paths and trails
• East Buckeye: Indoor facilities/exercise facilities, aquatics/pool facilities, indoor track, pickleball courts and a recreation center 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Kimley-Horn and Associates recommended, based on the survey results, that the city adopt five defining themes when creating the master plan:

1. Celebrating natural resources.

Including providing more nature access and passive outdoor recreation options for residents, preserving natural resources and open spaces and increasing access to Maricopa County Parks. The firm recommended exploring partnerships with organizations such as Audubon to build a nature center and continuing investments in Rio Reimagined. It also suggested the city conduct a grant study to identify potential land purchase in addition to partnering with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County to plan ahead for drainage needs. 

1. Enhancing community connectivity

Including enhancing multi-use paths and trails throughout the city, investing further in the Rio Reimagined initiatives, adding new events and festivals and conducting community outreach to let residents know what opportunities are available to them. Recommendations included connecting the Skyline and White Tank Mountain Regional Parks with a trail and adding further connection trails in Skyline Regional Park. It also recommended connecting “rivers to ridges” and creating a 10-year Arts and Culture Plan.

1. Growing a well-distributed park system

Including increasing facilities and recreation opportunities in new development areas, purchasing land for future parks, partnering with HOAs throughout the city to provide more recreation venues and partnering with school districts and developers to create parks near new schools. The firm recommended that the city create a shared-use performing arts space, holding discussions with developers about creating parks in master planned communities and partnering with future school sites to share land to build a community park, recreation center, aquatics facility and library.

1. Strategically providing programming opportunities

Including offering additional special event programs, expanding the arts and culture program, offering adaptive recreation programs for people with mobility needs and adding new indoor venues. The firm additionally recommended partnering with HOAs on special events and expanding nature-based education programs through partnerships. 

1. Reinvesting in existing assets

Including maintaining current parks, creating “neighborhood identity” within the parks, designing areas that can accommodate large gatherings and balancing the “use and overuse of limited sports fields.” The firm recommended that pickleball courts be added in applicable locations, creating a park ranger program and formal volunteer program and creating a new event space near Town Park and City Hall.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The plan will be presented for a second time to the Planning and Zoning Commission on December 10 and for a second time to the Community Services Advisory Board on December 11. The plan will additionally be presented in public forums at the city’s “Fired Up” public meeting road show series. The draft master plan will be reviewed and potentially approved at the December 17 Council Meeting.

Completion of the plan is crucial to renew the department’s Community Services Department accreditation through the National Recreation and Parks Association. The reaccreditation information is due from the city by early 2025.

“What a great process,” Orsborn said following the September 17 presentation. “Thank you for putting all this together, all the time. I know it’s been meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting and getting to where we are right now, so, thank you. All the staff and you guys did such a great job of putting this together.”

View the full Buckeye at Play draft here.

Watch the full Buckeye at Play workshop meeting here.