Galesburg City Council are expecting a final draft of the parks and rec masterplan in May, after starting the process in April 2017.
Alderman gathered with Houseal Lavigne Senior Associate, Mahit Maheshwari to review results of the workshops and surveys taken with stakeholders and community members.
Maheshwari says that about 375 residents responded to the survey or over ten percent of who it was sent to.
The survey was distributed at random through the city’s seven wards.
Those who participate in parks and rec programs seem to be very satisfied with 35 percent saying so on the survey while Houseal Lavigne informed council best practices communities are typically around 20 percent.
However, this is with only about 73 percent of survey takers saying they participate in programs.
When it came to possible new indoor spaces or programming, respondents by a landslide chose an indoor track, while distantly trailing were arts and crafts classroom and additional indoor active adult space.
Council was also shown several maps regarding neighborhoods distance to parks and rec facilities.
Besides developing an interconnected walking and biking trail, households with children under 18’s top choice was developing a large outdoor water park.
Some alderman were confused by some of these results; does a large outdoor water park mean expand Lakeside Recreation facility, build a bigger facility or were survey participants unaware of Lakeside’s existence all together?
The survey also showed differences in parks and rec desires by demographic.
Maheshwari says that they are preparing to draft the master plan in March, have a public open house in April and be totally finished by May.
Houseal Lavigne representatives were also scheduled to meet with the project’s steering committee prior to their presentation to alderman.
