The Plano Parks and Recreation Department had an open discussion with the public regarding the city’s parks master plan Thursday evening.

Through a series of seven breakout stations, attendees contributed ideas and concerns regarding the future of the parks plan. Some of the stations included in Thursday’s meeting were urban parks, trails and sports facilities.

“We haven’t been able to do this in quite some time,” city spokesperson Kelley Crimmins said. “It’s a great time to do this as the city grows.”

The updated plan will be facilitated by Halff Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in city and park development. The firm has multiple locations across the Southwest, including its Richardson location, which is the one that will be working with the city.

The existing version of the plan was originally created in 1982 and has been periodically been updated through anecdotal feedback, senior park planner Liz Del Turco said.

“Too often, in any public meeting, there is a group of people who are going to be a little more forthright than others,” Del Turco said. She said she wanted to create a public space where everyone would be able to contribute his or her ideas.

Both Del Turco and Crimmins cited the increasingly diverse Plano demographic as a reason for readdressing the master plan and to subsequently host the event.

The city plans to take the public feedback provided Thursday evening, as well as feedback received from phone and online surveys, and prioritize the most frequently voiced desires to eventually present to the City Council.

The parks department will begin its implementation plan during winter 2018, according to a calendar posted at Thursday's meeting.