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The town of Prosper has a new tool to help guide future parks and open space development.
What happened
Prosper Town Council members unanimously adopted the plan during a Feb. 25 meeting.
The plan was first presented to Town Council members during a Jan. 28 meeting where no action was taken to allow members to give their feedback to town staff and the master plan consultants.
“A Parks Master Plan is essential for guiding the development of parks, trails, facilities, and civic spaces for the long term,” according to a statement included in the master plan document.
Approving the plan does not commit funding or resources to any projects. The master plan is a guide for the vision for the availability and growth of Prosper’s parks, open spaces and recreational services, according to meeting documents.
“This Master Plan will serve as a roadmap for addressing the town’s current park needs, while anticipating future requirements as the community continues to grow,” according to the statement. “It will help Town leaders to prioritize improvements, from new parkland acquisition and trail development to enhancing existing facilities, ensuring each project aligns with the Town’s vision and mission.”
The details
The master plan was last updated in 2015. This newest version of the master plan was developed through a collaboration from town staff, the Prosper Parks and Recreation Board, consultants and multiple public input opportunities.
The input opportunities included focus group meetings, community meetings and a townwide survey. 97% of the 1,540 survey respondents were confirmed to be Prosper residents.
Included in the master plan are studies on how Prosper’s parks and open space systems compare to neighboring communities and how Prosper officials can best serve the town’s growing population.
Prosper’s existing parks system is able to keep most residents within two miles of a park, according to the master plan. Multiple pieces of land reserved for future parks and open spaces will continue to increase that percentage, according to the plan.
Going forward
While the master plan does not commit the town to any plans, it does include recommendations going forward. Multiple survey respondents’ answers ranked a list of priorities they would want the town to invest resources in, including:
The master plan recommends Prosper officials, if they choose to build a recreation center one day, should use a phased approach and wait until they are financially ready. In the meantime, additional hike and bike trails were placed at a higher priority by residents, according to the plan.
Residents can find the full master plan document in the meeting documents from the Feb. 25 meeting.
