City of Sacramento
Racial Equity Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-00775 4/2/2024 Discussion Item 3.
Draft Parks Plan 2040 Public Release
File ID: 2024-00775
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Review and comment.
Contact: Dana Repan, Senior Planner, (916) 808-2762, [email protected]; Jason Wiesemann, Park Planning, Design and Development Manager, (916) 808-7634, [email protected], Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment Presenter: Dana Repan, Senior Planner, (916) 808-2762, [email protected], Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment
Attachments:
1 - Description/Analysis
2 - Draft Parks Plan 2040 Circulation
3 - Draft Parks Plan 2040 Flyer
Description/Analysis
In 2019, Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment (YPCE) began updating the 2005- 2010 Sacramento Parks and Recreation Plan as an implementation action of the Department’s Strategic Plan and renamed it “Parks Plan 2040.” The Parks Plan 2040 guides the City and the Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment in prioritizing projects and programs to better meet the needs of Sacramento’s evolving community.
The Parks Plan 2040 was developed through a multi-year, four phased planning effort, which corresponded to the timing of Sacramento’s 2040 General Plan update. While the 2040 General Plan identifies overarching goals for youth, parks, recreation, and open space within the context of other City goals and initiatives, the Parks Plan 2040 provides more detailed directions for YPCE’s services to guide annual work planning. Following the General Plan process and schedule as a Subsequent Project under the Master Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan update, the Parks Plan 2040 has now reached an important milestone with the release of the Parks Plan 2040 public review draft. The draft Parks Plan is available for a 30-day public review and comment from March 8 through April 8 (see Attachment 2).
File ID: 2024-00775 4/2/2024 Discussion Item 3.
From the outset of the five-year update process for the Parks Plan 2040, extensive public engagement, diverse community outreach, and the involvement of advisory and care holder groups helped ensure the Parks Plan 2040 reflects the needs and desires of the Sacramento community.
The Parks Plan 2040 planning process kept residents, care holders and community groups engaged through information sharing, consultations on public opinion, involvement, and collaboration in decision-making, and it empowered residents, care holders, and community groups to help enhance the park and recreation system. Strategic touchpoints with five advisory groups and councilmembers provided direction for the Parks Plan 2040 at fundamental milestones. This comprehensive effort allowed community members to express how public spaces and programs impact their daily lives and how they envision the future of Sacramento’s parks and recreation system.
The outreach and engagement strategy employed by the Parks Plan team highlighted an important asset for creating positive change in the park and recreation system: that the individual was the important asset in creating change. The effort intentionally engaged as many people as possible, while staying focused to hear unique individual voices. It mixed representative data collection (e.g., surveying) with activities such open-ended online polling, art contests, drawing activities, and community focus groups to obtain community data and hear community voices that together helped identify broader, localized, and unique needs. Engagement also needed to be equitable. Four waves of engagement activities occurred in-person and online to reach a broad range of participants and diverse audiences, and to collect different types of feedback throughout the project.
Thousands of residents, interested persons, community groups, and city and community leaders shared their diverse insights into the needs, preferences, and priorities for Sacramento’s parks and recreation system through the different activities and events. A summary of the outreach and engagement strategy included:
· Community Needs
(June - October 2020): Early 2020, the city launched a social media campaign around “The Power to Improve” city parks. City residents were invited to identify outstanding parks and programs, as well as those that needed additional attention, improvements, or activities. Website updates, press releases, flyers, and social media posts on Facebook, NextDoor and other forums-some in five different languages-helped invite participation in a multilingual online questionnaire, called “Maptionnaire.” Data was collected and tracked with this survey and determined that more representation in underserved areas was needed; therefore, a more directed engagement strategy was required.
· Outreach to Underrepresented Groups
(January - August 2021): A second wave of
outreach targeted historically underrepresented communities and neighborhoods. The team built an extensive interested persons list and community organization database, inviting community-based organizations to participate in short meetings, briefings, pop-
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up events, and discussions. The project team called these groups, “Community Connections” and “Community Panels.” From these discussions, arose community and youth liaisons, who helped the project team share the outreach materials within their communities. This was followed by a “Youth Art Expo and Contest: Your Parks, Your Future” that invited youth to draw, paint, video, act, describe in poetry or prose, or otherwise share their views and aspirations for City parks, facilities, and programs. · Policy Refinement and Prioritization (October 2022 - April 2023): Advisory groups collaborated in this phase to develop and refine policies around the right services and levels of service for YPCE to provide. Recommendations were discussed with City Council members and cross-checked through a representative, random-sample survey to assess community priorities for action planning and implementation.
Participants included residents, park visitors, and community and City leaders ages 5 to 65+ representing all eight Council Districts, ten Community Planning Areas, various interests, and diverse demographic backgrounds. In addition, approximately 1700 people visited the Parks Plan 2040 webpage, in addition to receiving eblasts, social media, or other communications about the project.
The Figure below illustrates participation by outreach activity by race/ethnicity in comparison to city demographics.
The community priorities received from community panel and community connections discussions and technical analysis of the park and recreation system informed the development of nine Key Directions. The Key Directions will influence the way YPCE manages, develops, and enhances parks, facilities, and programs. They describe what YPCE will change or enhance in managing the City’s parks and recreation system and why it is important to support these key directions. They are meant to be straightforward and directly respond to the priorities of the community and vision of Sacramento’ park and recreation system over the next 20 years. These Key Directions will form the
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implementation actions that staff will use to carry forward the key directions for the life of the Parks Plan.
1. Safety and Maintenance
2. Quality Parks and Programs
3. Equitable Access
4. Health and Wellness
5. Youth Wellbeing
6. Nature and Trail Connections
7. Resiliency and Sustainability
8. YPCE Leadership and Collaboration
9. Park and Program Investment
The nine Key Directions were tested through a statistically valid bilingual (English/Spanish) survey conducted by EMC Research in early 2023 to gain representative feedback about key projects and funding priorities. The survey interviewed 600 adult residents of Sacramento via phone interviews (landlines and mobile) and online survey. There were 75 interviews per council district, which were weighted for representativeness to City of Sacramento resident demographics. Reponses helped identify priority projects, programs, and improvements to inform the action and implementation plan.
Topline results of the survey:
· A total of 90% of residents rate parks and recreation as important to the overall quality of life. · More residents (60%) prefer allocating funding equitably (where neighborhoods get money according to need) rather than equally (where all neighborhoods get the same amount of funding).
After receiving additional information about the disparity in parks, preference for equitable funding goes up to 70%.
· Most residents give a generally positive rating to a variety of park features, although that feeling is somewhat soft, with few responding in an intensely positive way. The number and variety of parks and recreation programs (59% positive), access to parks within walking distance (56% positive), and the role of the parks in supporting health and wellness for all ages (55% positive) are the highest rated features.
· Safety and cleanliness of park facilities are top concerns for residents, with 28% giving the safety of parks and recreation facilities a poor rating, and 22% giving a poor rating for the maintenance and cleanliness of facilities. In addition, crime, homelessness, and accessibility are the top concerns for parks in an open-ended question.
· Residents considered every potential park and recreation enhancements that was tested to be a priority, even though the priority level varied from “somewhat” to “extremely” important.
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· Residents generally favor improvements to safety and maintenance over investments in new programs or features.
· Improving the safety of parks and parks facilities is the top priority, both overall and in intensity, followed by fixing or replacing old, broken, or worn parks equipment and improving maintenance and cleanliness of parks.
· Residents use parks frequently, with 76% of residents report visiting parks, open space, or trails in Sacramento a few times a month or more, and more than a third saying they visit more than once a week. Nearly 25% use community centers or youth programs monthly or more often.
The Parks Plan 2040 was developed with a commitment to health, equity, and park and recreation access, with each of the plan’s eight chapters focusing on YPCE’s commitments and core values.
Throughout the plan, there is reference to initiatives, analysis, strategies, and recommendations that are intended to improve health, wellness, access, and inclusion for all members of Sacramento’s diverse community. The Parks Plan 2040 inventories existing physical and programmatic assets, identifies community needs and priorities, and refines the policies, actions, and tools that YPCE will use to guide the provision of parks, recreation facilities, programs, events, and services. By outlining a feasible investment approach and realistic projects and programs, this Plan provides implementable recommendations that align with YPCE’s core values, the City’s goals, and the community’s vision for the future.
Policy Considerations: The Draft Parks Plan 2040 policies which are consistent with the 2040 General Plan Goal YPRO 1: An integrated system of parks, open space areas, shared-use paths, and recreational facilities that are welcoming, well-maintained, safe, and accessible to all the diverse communities of Sacramento.
1.11 Pursue the equitable provision of parks-in terms of park safety, quality, level of development, and park condition, investing in unserved and underserved areas to bring sites up to a minimum standard of excellence.
1.12 Strategically increase recreation access and/or greenspace in park deficient areas.
1.13 Provide access to quality parks in new residential areas by adhering to Parks Plan standards and guidelines.
2.1 Provide a variety of recreation facilities to meet the diverse needs of the community, including residents and visitors, all ages and abilities, and diverse interests.
2.3 Ensure the equitable distribution of high-quality facilities in parks throughout Sacramento.
2.5 Identify and support unique park and facility needs in disadvantaged areas and vulnerable communities.
2.19 Design and amenitize parks to support the dignity of all park and facility users, including people who are homeless and marginally housed, disadvantaged, disabled or differently abled, and of different genders and family configurations.
3.1 Deliver a broad range of quality programs and events to support recreation and leisure,
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youth development and empowerment, and targeted community services that reflect the unique interests, needs, diversity history, cultural background, and socioeconomic makeup of the City of Sacramento.
3.7 Continue to provide equitable and inclusive programming that meets the unique needs of priority populations including children, teens, older adults, and persons with disabilities or special needs.
3.8 Target programs and services in communities and neighborhoods that are vulnerable or disadvantaged, providing events and programs in locations that are accessible by alternate modes.
3.9 Develop and provide programs that meet the unique recreation participation patterns and preferences of various ethnic, cultural, and language groups. Opportunities should be taken to incorporate local Native American heritage and culture.
3.10 Equitably invest in recreation facilities, programs, and services from a gender-perspective to adhere to Title IX requirements, support the athletic interests and abilities of all genders, and introduce youth and residents to non-stereotyped, gender-neutral programs.
3.11 Develop a fee philosophy for programs and services that ensures affordability and enables access for all segments of the population.
3.12 Identify and support facilities in Environmental Justice (EJ) communities or disadvantaged and vulnerable areas that may need added support for operations.
3.22 Engage youth to participate in youth development and empowerment programs, as well as recreation and leisure programs and events, ensuring that youth from lower income areas and communities of color have opportunities to participate.
5.2 Continue to ensure that YPCE’s staff reflect the diversity of the community.
Environmental Considerations: The informational update in this report is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it is an administrative activity that does not involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, as contemplated by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 15378(b)(2) and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c) (3). A Master EIR was prepared for the 2040 General Plan. The Parks Plan is one of the subsequent projects of the 2040 General Plan Master EIR and will be reviewed in accordance with CEQA Guidelines section 15183 prior to adoption.
Sustainability: Policies pertaining to sustainability have been incorporated into the Draft Parks Plan 2040.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: YPCE is requesting the Racial Equity Committee’s help to share the information regarding the release of the draft Parks Plan 2040 and ways to provide comment.
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Financial Considerations: This report does not have any financial impact to the City.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable
Public/Neighborhood Outreach and Comments: Public outreach is summarized in this report and in Chapter 4 of the Draft Parks Plan 2040.
Attachment 2 - Draft Parks Plan 2040 Circulation
The Parks Plan 2040 has reached an important milestone with the release of the public draft from March 8 through April 8, 2024. To simplify the collection and processing of feedback on the public draft plan, the Parks Plan project team has created a Plan Review Toolkit. Within this Plan Review Toolkit is a feedback form which has been designed to collect comments quickly and easily. This will be facilitated through a choice of three ways to provide comments with guidance on how to use each choice; 1) Comment Form:
http://bit.ly/parksplan2040comments , 2) a QR code on the Parks Plan flyer (Attachment 3), 3) Paper comment forms. The Parks Plan 2040 project website:
https://www.cityofsacramento.org/ParksandRec/Parks/Park-Planning-Development/ParksPlan contains the pdf of the draft Parks Plan 2040, and also has the short link for proving comments. Public comments may be submitted at any time during the public review period of March 8 through April 8. Additionally, questions can be submitted via email at [email protected].
Printed copies of the draft Parks Plan 2040 and comment forms are available at each of YPCE’s community centers and City libraries. The Plan Review Toolkit includes flyers that have been posted at community centers, libraries, and 4th R locations with instructions on where to review the Parks Plan 2040 and the three ways to submit comments. The Plan Review Toolkit includes marketing material for YPCE’s marketing team to post on social media sites, such as YPCE’s Instagram account, the Come Out and Play catalog, and press release material for City Minute and City Express. The Parks Plan project team notified the release through email to the Plan’s community connections contacts made during the outreach and engagement activities, the database of community groups and care holders, the city’s neighborhood associations, and the Department’s Active Net customers.
The Parks Plan project team will be announcing the availability of the draft Parks Plan and how to access the document for review and comment at city commissions and the Sacramento County Park and Recreation Commission (See schedule below). In addition, the Parks Plan project team has been collaborating with the Community Development Department’s Community Ambassador Program, the City Manager’s Office of Community Engagement, and cross departmental coordination meetings to share information about accessing the draft Parks Plan 2040.
The Parks Plan 2040 consultant, MIG, Inc., will be giving a presentation to the PCEC at the May meeting to review the comments that were shared and analyzed during the public review of the draft Parks Plan 2040. Staff will ask for the PCEC’s recommendation for City Council to approve the Parks Plan 2040 in June.
Schedule of upcoming presentations:
Commissions Meeting Date
Sacramento Youth Commission and Sacramento
Children’s Fund Oversight and Planning Commission
3/4/24
Disabilities Advisory Commission 3/6/24
Parks and Community Enrichment Commission 3/7/24
Arts, Culture and Creative Commission 3/11/24
Planning and Design Review Commission 3/14/24
Preservation Commission 3/20/24
Active Transportation Commission 3/21/24
Racial Equity Commission 4/2/24
Sacramento County Parks and Recreation
Commission
3/28/24
Parks and Community Enrichment Commission 5/2/24
City Council June
Attachment 3 – Parks Plan Flyer
The Public Draft Parks Plan 2040 is ready for your review! The City of Sacramento Draft Parks Plan 2040 is ready for your input. This long- range plan will guide City efforts to manage and enhance parks, recreation facilities, programs, events, and youth services over the next 20 years.
The review period for the Draft Parks Plan 2040 will be open for a four-week period from March 08 - April 08.
Access the Draft Parks Plan and the public comment form using the below QR codes, or find printed versions of the plan and comment form at your local community center
.
Comment FormDraft Parks Plan
For any questions,
please email the Y outh, Parks, and Community Enrichment Department (YPCE) at [email protected]
https://bit.ly/ParksPlan2040 http://bit.ly/parksplan2040comments