Richardson residents asked to voice opinion on city's parks and recreation in online survey

The city of Richardson’s parks and recreation department posted an online survey April 1 for residents to provide feedback on the department's master plan.

City officials are asking residents to take the survey to share their thoughts about parks and recreation programs and services offered in Richardson. The survey will be available online through May 8.

The master plan was first brought up during the Feb. 7 City Council meeting. According to Parks and Recreation Director Lori Smeby, updating the plan allows the city to refocus its efforts on what residents want in terms of parks and other recreation uses, allowing the council and other departments to plan for future projects based on funding opportunities and other factors.

The city of Richardson conducts an update to the master plan every five years, with the plan scheduled for a rewrite every 10 years. The last update to the master plan was adopted in 2017.

Data gathering is the focus of this first phase of updating the master plan, with park facility inventories and population analyses taking place as well as public input opportunities. The city previously held two open houses in early March to collect public feedback.

Once the data and public input are analyzed, the city can develop an action plan along with financial strategies to present to the City Council. The master plan is scheduled to be adopted by the City Council in early 2023.

To learn more about the master plan, visit www.cor.net/parksmasterplan. To take the survey online, click here or scan the QR code above.

People wishing to fill out a print survey can do so at eight city facilities: City Hall, the Richardson Public Library, the Gymnastics Center, the Heights Recreation Center, the Senior Center, the Service Center and the Tennis Center.