Lakewood is looking to put a fresh face on its 2008 community resources master plan and the public will have the opportunity to play a key role in how the future of the city’s parks and recreation facilities evolve over the next decade.
The city will spend the next few months gathering data from surveys and putting together a new plan that should have a shelf life of five to eight years to bring the people what they want to see out of its parks and recreation facilities.
Lakewood has more than 7,000 acres of parkland — accounting for about 25 percent of the total area in the city — and more than 1,800 programs and activities in its recreation purview.
“We have a lot of amenities around the city and we really want to figure out what kind of barriers people are facing in getting to facilities,” Lakewood community resources director Kit Newland said.
The city has mailed out a survey at random to 3,000 residents, which was done through a partnership with the National Research Center. Those residents should have received a postcard about being a survey recipient and may already have the survey in hand.
Those who didn’t receive a survey in the mail can complete one at starting Feb. 15.
“Our hope is that the random sample is more than likely people we are not speaking to. There are a lot of folks who do engage with us, and we have a lot of ways to reach them,” Lakewood marketing and community relations manager Allison Scheck said. “We’re hoping that the survey brings to light the big things to think about.”
Scheck noted the 2008 plan had run its course. Since the last plan, Lakewood has seen the development of the Surfside Spray Park at West Ninth Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard, the implementation of the Ray Ross Park master plan and several other upgrades to parks and recreation facilities.
“We want people to imagine what they want around the corner from their house,” Scheck said.
After community feedback is received, the community resources department will begin to put the plan together. It will also hold community meetings that will be available at some outdoor events this summer. The plan is to go to City Council for adoption in October.
Scheck said City Council has been interested in addressing gaps in accessing recreation facilities, especially with children.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Dana Gutwein, who has lived in Lakewood for seven years, has visited the parks and recreation facilities both with her children and as a councilwoman since her election in 2015 and said the feedback the city can get is very important.
“We have a great parks and open space program. That said, there’s always room to continually improve,” she said, adding that the best way for the city to maintain and acquire more open space land is for the people to tell the city that they want more parks and recreation opportunity and are willing to invest in it.
“In order to maintain the parks and open space we enjoy, we need to invest in open space. One of most important pieces people can contribute in the survey is to say that they want to see that and if they are interested in investing in it,” she said.
Gutwein also noted she would like to see more facilities such as the that is accessible for children of all ages and abilities.
Lakewood resident Laura Stevens has been active with the community resources department for several years and said she is generally pleased with the park facilities, but would like to see some more community gardens incorporated into the next plan.
“I think Lakewood is inclusive, but they’re always looking for ways to make the experience richer for everyone,” Stevens said.