* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Scott
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Strategic Planning for Recreation and Parks
FOR the purpose of calling on representatives from the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Planning Department to appear before the Council to discuss, and begin, the necessary process of developing a comprehensive master plan that Recreation and Parks can use to guide its short and long term efforts to meet the recreational needs of all those who live, work, and play in Baltimore.
body
Recitals
Recent efforts to privatize the operation of some recreation centers and City parkland, plans to update other centers and revitalize institutions highlighting Baltimore's history, and the continuing controversy about City pool seasons, show that the City's Recreation and Parks Department is in a state of flux. It is becoming increasingly clear that changes in the City's resources, population, and recreational preferences require a systematic re-evaluation of Baltimore's recreational assets and needs. Only through such a re-evaluation can it be made clear what actions City government can take to better match the resources available to our citizens with their recreational needs.
The need for this type of systematic recreation evaluation and planning is not unique to Baltimore. Other municipalities, such as Virginia Beach, have addressed these concerns through the development of comprehensive recreation or open space plans. These plans throughly inventory existing open spaces and recreational assets, assess the public's recreational needs, and lay out long-term strategic guidance to be followed in order to most effectively build on existing assets to meet those needs for generations to come.
Similarly, Baltimore has developed specialized strategic plans in recent years to promote bicycling, sustainability, and the city's maritime assets, among other subjects. This proves that the City's planners are well acquainted with this sort of big-picture approach to city-wide concerns and are more than capable of developing long range plans when called upon.
A critical element in the success of both recreation master plans in other jurisdictions, and comprehensive strategic plans on other topics here in Baltimore, has been participation in the planning process by representatives from the full range of relevant stakeholders as well as the public at large. As a first step toward developing a comprehensive strategic plan for Baltimore's Department of Recreation and Parks, these stakeholders must be identified and a process for putting together a plan built on their input must be mapped out.
Through this process, the Departments of Planning and Recreation and Parks can develop a strategic approach to managing the necessary changes to our or recreational infrastructure in a way that Baltimore needs and deserves.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council calls on representatives from the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Planning Department to appear before it to discuss, and begin, the necessary process of developing a comprehensive master plan that Recreation and Parks can use to guide its short and long term efforts to meet the recreational needs of all those who live, work, and play in Baltimore.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Recreation and Parks, the Planning Director, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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