Maitland asks for resident input for park plans

Residents interested in helping plan the future of Maitland’s parks are encouraged to park themselves in Maitland City Hall next Wednesday to help the city’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board evaluate its new master plan.

The city is revamping its Parks & Recreation Master Plan for the first time since 2001. Parks & Recreation Director Jay Conn said the new master plan could guide the way Maitland’s parks system runs for the next two decades.

“Our goal is to provide a plan for the city for the next 10 to 20 years, and determining what the residents and community want for the Parks & Recreation Department in the future,” Conn said.

The Maitland park system currently includes 22 properties designated as park-land, covering more than 82 acres of active and passive parks, and three natural resource areas. And the Parks and Recreation Department also offers a variety of recreational programs, adult and youth athletics, special events, senior services, and handles room and shelter reservations.

So far, since master planning began back in March 2015, residents have chimed in with their thoughts on the future of the parks through surveys and focus groups. Input thus far has been compiled into a 101-page draft. Next Wednesday at City Hall, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will host a workshop allowing the public to offer their thoughts on the plan so far.

Conn said so far residents have shown great interest in improving trail connectivity throughout the city, urging the Parks Department to focus on providing ways for locals to get safely from one park to another without using their cars.

“They want to see trails from park to park and destination to destination,” Conn said.

Another topic hot on its trail is adding increased and improved access to Maitland’s lakes. Some residents polled also asked for programming that utilizes the lakes, such as stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking.

When city staff asked the residents who participated in focus groups what they would do to improve Maitland’s parks if they “dreamed big,” they responded with dreams of a neighborhood park west of Interstate 4, permanent outdoor stages/performance areas, a park downtown, a recreation center, and a skate park.

For all residents to have their dreams heard, Conn said thoughts and suggestions should be sent to [email protected] by Thursday, Feb. 18.

“We’re looking at all of the options and opinions on what should be expanded and added,” Conn said.

A final version of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan is expected to be finished sometime this spring.