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In the spring of 2007, Pierce County Parks & Recreation Services began an update of its 2002 Park, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan. The final PROS Plan was adopted by the Pierce County Counsel on July 22, 2008. An expansion of the Trails element was adopted the following year on October 27, 2009.
The PROS Plan is an element of the County's Growth Manage Plan and incorporates the recreation policies of the County's eleven Community Plans and the recreation and open space policies of the Growth Management Plan. The fifteen year planning period runs from 2008 to 2022 and suggests an estimated $332,635,000 in system-wide improvements to the County Park and Regional Park System.
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The PROS Plan is founded on the Pierce County Parks & Recreation Services (PCP&RS) vision and department mission:
We envision an innovative, inclusive, and interconnected system of parks and recreation services that promotes recreation, health, and environmental conservation as integral to a livable community.
The mission of Pierce County Parks & Recreation Services is to:
Regionally deliver quality recreation opportunities and inviting parks,
trails and open space facilities to the residents of Pierce County.
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Regional Provider
The PROS Plan continues the County's Growth Management view as a provider of Regional public facilities and the PCP&RS mission as a Regional provider of park and open space opportunities by:
- Providing a quality, diversified park and open space system that supports opportunities for active and passive recreation and conserves and enhances significant environmental or historical resources and features.
- Providing a regional system of off-street trails and corridors that links parks, open spaces, significant environmental features, public facilities, and areas of interest.
- Incorporating features and amenities into parks that fit the local context; contribute to environmental sustainability; and are accessible, safe, and easy to maintain for the long term.
- Developing and operate regional-serving recreation facilities to support core recreation program areas or economic development goals and meet identified recreation needs.
- Promoting, coordinate, facilitate or provide recreation programs that serve regional needs, support community livability, connect the community with their parks, and encourage greater recreation participation in areas not served by other providers.
- Incorporating natural areas and unique ecological features into the park and open space system to protect threatened species, conserve significant natural resources and habitat, and retain migration corridors that are unique and important to local wildlife.
- Using effective and innovative funding methods to build, maintain, operate, and promote the park, recreation, and open space system.
- Serving as a regional recreation coordinator, forging partnerships and fostering opportunities for countywide collaboration among all major recreation providers in the provision of parks, facilities, programs, and services.
- Developing, training, and supporting a professional parks and recreation staff that effectively serves the community in the realization of the goals and objectives of this Plan.
- Engaging Pierce County residents in the planning, stewardship, and programming of park and recreation resources, and provide effective community outreach and marketing to increase public awareness and support of recreation services.
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Implementation
Although the Pierce County, State, National, and to some extent the global economies effect when and how parks and recreation opportunities become available, the PROS Plan identifies actions and projects that can be taken. The plan provides a framework for budgetary decision making that:
- Improve maintenance efficiency. Projects that improve maintenance efficiency or that will reduce life-cycle costs should be considered as high priorities.
- Utilize alternative funding or partnerships. Projects that have a potential to be funded through grants, donations, or partner contributions should be considered as high priorities, over projects that do not have other funding sources.
- Ensure equitable distribution. Priority consideration should be given to projects that support a fair and equitable distribution of opportunities throughout the County, based on the Service Regions concept presented in this Plan.
- Provide the 'biggest bang for the buck.' Projects where the cost/benefit ratio is favorable should be considered as high priorities. In other words, projects that are less costly but serve a broader population are desired. In comparison, a project that is costlier, meets a localized need, or serves a limited number of residents would be assigned a lesser priority, even though these projects are still valuable.
- Implement existing master plans. Projects called for in adopted site master plans should be considered as high priorities.
- Strengthen the community. Proposed projects should be prioritized based on their ability to strengthen community identity, foster interaction between citizens, and build true community. For example, projects that support the adopted Community Plans, new community priorities, or community events should be considered as high priorities.
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A Living Document
Adopted by County Ordinances 2008-38s and 2009-81s, the PROS Plan is the guide for park and recreation planning development for Pierce County Parks and Recreation Services. Although the plan spans 15 years, it will be reevaluated and updated to keep it current with State and Federal Granting authorities.
The next planned update would begin in 2014 as required by the State Recreation Conservation Office.
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To read your Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan, you will need a PDF file viewer. Please click on a chapter of your liking or if you have a broadband connection you may download the entire plan:
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Appendices:
Complete Plan:
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Skip Ferrucci, Resource Stewardship Superintendent
Pierce County Parks and Recreation
9112 Lakewood Dr. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
Email: skip.ferrucci@co.pierce.wa.us
Phone: (253)798-4009
Fax: (253)582-7461
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