Ord 2019-012/adopting the 2019 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan

Home Browse Search

unhealthy imbalance in the natural ecosystems has occurred.To better protect and enhance these natural ecosystems in the greenspace properties,the City should consider collaborating with applicable local, federal, and state agencies to undertake controlled burns and any accompanying management guidelines. Selective chemicals can yield similar results and should also be considered. Action GRP-1.6. Continue to coordinate with and support efforts by the SMGA and the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF)to acquire, protect, and maintain new greenspace and/or riverfront park properties. With regards to the protection and maintenance of greenspace properties, another mutually beneficial relationship is the one between the City and the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF). Moving forward, the City should continue to collaborate with both the SMGA and the SMRF to acquire, protect,and maintain any new greenspace and/ or riverfront park properties.This would involve finding the right balance between protecting sensitive natural resources and providing public access. Currently, on the east side of Interstate 35 there are very few greenspaces.As the City continues to acquire more greenspace, land on the east side of Interstate 35 needs to be considered to serve those who live in this area. Action GRP-1.7. Consider adding restroom facilities at the entrances to the City's greenspace park properties. Recent additions of portable restroom facilities have been a necessary benefit to several entrances of the greenspace park properties.Thinking ahead,the City should consider how these temporary facilities can be transitioned to more permanent ones. Moreover, additional entrances which may also need restroom facilities should be identified. Action GRP-1.8. Identify additional resources to better respond to reoccurring maintenance and enforcement issues in the greenspace park properties. Two of the identified issues regarding the greenspace park properties were the excessive trash and list of unfinished maintenance projects. Additionally,there has been an expressed need for enforcement of issues related to user conflicts. Moving forward,the City should identify opportunities for additional resources(funding, staffing, and/or partnership agreements)to better respond to these reoccurring maintenance and enforcement issues in the greenspace park properties.The addition of park ambassadors to the greenspace areas would help to address these issues. Action GRP-1.9.Add a water quality land manager for the natural areas. Protecting the water quality of San Marcos is a top priority for the City in maintaining a desirable recreation area along the San Marcos River.A water quality land manager would be a designated position and would address issues related to water quality as they arise. Action GRP-1.10. Create a management plan for the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Ci) Since a large portion of San Marcos is in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, a plan must be created to protect this environmentally sensitive area.The management plan can consist of a prioritized list of projects that could be undertaken to improve and maintain the water quality of the Aquifer. Chapter 3 I System Analysis, Needs, and Recommendations 115