Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
CC:	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Ernie Shaw, Interim Director, Parks & Recreation
DATE:	November 19, 2015
RE:	Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan - RFP

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the December 1st, 2015, meeting:

Project Description

The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department requests Commission approval to solicit proposals from consulting firms to update the department comprehensive master plan.

Project Background

The purpose of the project is to develop a comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City of Lawrence parks, recreation programming, staffing, open space, trails, facilities, marketing, natural/historical features and landscape. The goal of the project is to develop a community supported plan that provides guidance for future development, maintenance, funding and redevelopment of all these elements.  The Master Plan will guide policy development, funding, delivery of city services, prioritize demands, opportunities, and generate a strategic action plan to provide a 10 year vision for the City of Lawrence. It will support expansion opportunities for ground breaking amenities by creating a facility and space needs assessment using population growth, annexed areas, etc. and be rooted in innovative strategies including all-inclusive public engagement, cross boundary/collaborative approaches, and shared geo-referenced data collection. 

This plan was last updated in 2000 and has been identified as a high priority in the “Issues Action Report” in the updating of the Communities’ Horizon 2020 plan. 

Project Funding

Funding for these services is estimated at $55,000 and will come from Sales Tax Reserve.

Action Request

Authorize staff to request proposals from consulting firms for updating of the Parks & Recreation Department Comprehensive Master Plan.