NORTH VERNON, Ind. — The Master Plan for the City of North Vernon Parks and Recreation (Parks & Rec) was outlined at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 10. Rachel Christensen of HWC Engineering, who has been working with the Park Board, presented the plan.
It is a written framework that will assist the city in applying for and hopefully acquiring grant funding. It also provides an opportunity for the community to share feedback, ensure the public wants the facilities that are developed, share programming, and give Parks & Rec a direction for the future. The plan’s development has been a 12-month, five-step process that included an inventory of parks, an online public survey, and a public meeting.
Key themes in the public engagement included facility updates, maintenance, connectivity, and programming.
After conducting a system analysis, Christiansen says some variables need to be addressed. The National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA) recommends that a community the size of North Vernon have 87.4 acres of land available for parks, and the city, without the new Quarry Park, only has 83 acres. Additionally, NRPA recommends having 4.5 miles of trails and North Vernon currently supplies just under the benchmark at 4.1 miles. Also, NRPA recommends that Parks & Rec operate under a budget of $1,451,763 but they are currently working under a budget of $451,450, however, Christensen pointed out that other funds in the overall city budget go towards funding Parks & Rec that aren’t included in the operating budget.
“You guys are very much in line with where you should be,” Christensen assured the City Council.
North Vernon Parks & Rec does excel in the staffing category, as NRPA recommends an FTE of 6-to-7 and Parks & Rec employs 8.7 FTE.
Overall, system-wide recommendations include streamlining board and department operations, cultivating a cohesive and connected park system, and expanding park offerings. Park-specific recommendations include boosting connectivity and accessibility, improving park facilities, and investing in further programming.
The Park Board still has to approve to adopt the Master Plan and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must receive the final draft by April 15. Find a link to the Master Plan draft, here.