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

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Introduction Figure 3.1,Assessment Methods DEMAND-BASED ASSESSMENT An analysis of the parks and open spaces in San Marcos forms one of the main parts of this Plan. Without the physical locations that parks and open The demand-based assessment spaces provide, none of the programs, activities, and evaluates the expressed needs events that contribute to a dynamic and connected and desires of the San Marcos community can take place. Understanding the existing community and identifies the and target levels of services of parks is important types of facilities, amenities, when making decisions involving the acquisition of and activities they would like to park land as well as provisions for facilities and events see.This type of assessment also within the City. evaluates what the community is willing to support. The most important part of the parks planning process is the needs assessment.This involves a comprehensive understanding of the needs of the current parks and recreation system, and also a projection as to how those needs may change over ACCESS-BASED ASSESSMENT time.To determine the areas in the current system that need improvement, this assessment evaluates The access based assessment the demand,variety, distribution, and quality of evaluates the current quantity parks and recreation.The findings help direct the and location of park land and recommendations which address those identified facilities to determine if the needs. needs of the population are being This chapter evaluates the current and future needs met.The assessment uses locally of parks and recreation in San Marcos.A three-tiered created level-of-service ratios of assessment is included in the various plan elements facilities to population (usually of the chapter, and are as follows: shown as an amount of acreage or • Demand-based assessment facilities to every 1,000 residents) to decide what is available for • Access-based assessment the community now and into the • Resource-based assessment(see Figure 3.1, future.This involves a level of Assessment Methods) service assessment on the City's population today and as projected These assessments were developed using the for the future. accepted evaluation criteria set out by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department(TPWD)for local parks master plans. Separately, each assessment does not represent a comprehensive picture.The resulting recommendations take this into consideration when RESOURCE-BASED ASSESSMENT making suggestions for the future. It is important to note that the criteria and standards The resource-based assessment set forth serve only as a starting point and as evaluates the potential of man- such, can assist the City in determining if it has an made and/or natural resources appropriate amount and distribution of parks and to determine how they could be facilities.Although they set a target benchmark, these utilized to expand, diversify, or criteria and standards should be adjusted periodically connect the parks, recreation, and to meet changing conditions in the City. open space system. Q Chapter 3 System Analysis, Needs, and Recommendations 27