Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workplan, June 2025 – December 2026 1
PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN
WORKPLAN
June 2025 – December 2026
City staff with the support and guidance of consultant Gates+Associates, recently rebranded as Gates Studio, developed a proposed Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workplan, for June 2025 through December 2026. Given the scope of the project, the workplan is comprised of three phases.
Phase I: Establishment of Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workgroup and Workplan, June 2025 – December 2025
The focus is on establishing a Master Plan workgroup to develop a workplan and launch activities to identify the challenges, needs, preferences, and current usage patterns and the state of parks, amenities, and recreation services. In addition, embark on a robust outreach and engagement strategy to gather input from the community on their vision, interests, and needs for parks, open spaces, facilities, and recreational programming.
Key Activities:
A. Strategic Plan with Union City Staff and Parks and Recreation Commission
1. City staff-led workgroup and Gates Studio will develop a Parks and Recreation Master Plan workplan, with Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council input and feedback to provide project guidance, deliverables, and timelines.
2. City staff-led workgroup and Gates Studio will:
a. Align project with the City’s General Plan, Strategic Plan and Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
b. Establish ongoing workgroup meetings to achieve workplan tasks and timelines.
c. Establish the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as a standing agenda item at all the Parks and Recreation Commission Meetings, and City Council meetings, as appropriate, to provide ongoing updates.
B. Community and Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement
1. City staff and Gates Studio will implement a multipronged community outreach and engagement strategy to promote information about the Master Plan and to gather interests, ideas, and desires for parks, open spaces, and recreational facilities.
Community outreach and engagement activities will include:
a. Launch Union City website project page, social media, and related promotional activities citywide.
b. Disseminate paper and online multilingual citywide surveys. c. Conduct in-person outreach and education at community events.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workplan, June 2025 – December 2026 2 d. Host a virtual and in-person community meeting and focus groups with diverse sectors of the community.
e. Provide updates on the Master Plan at all scheduled Parks and Recreation Commission and periodic updates to the City Council meetings.
2. To assess and determine programming, usage patterns, and state of Union City parks, facilities, amenities, and recreation services, Gates Studio will:
a. Conduct site visits, inventory, and assessment of Union City parks, community centers, and amenities.
b. Inventory and review recreation and enrichment programming provided in City parks, community centers, and facilities.
C. Information and Data Analysis and Reporting
1. Gates Studio will prepare a preliminary summary report of findings from community input, site visits, parks and facility assessments, maintenance records, operating costs, emerging trends, and best practices, etc.
D. Deliverables
1. Formation and launch of Parks and Recreation Master Plan workgroup and workplan.
2. Project promotional and outreach efforts and activities (e.g., website, social media postings, logo, flyers, etc.).
3. Community and stakeholder outreach and engagement strategies and activities (e.g., surveys, community meetings, po-up events, etc.)
4. Preliminary summary report of findings from community input, data collection and analysis, research, assessments, etc.
City Council Action: Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council accept the Parks and Recreation Master Plan workplan.
Phase II: Draft Parks and Recreation Master Plan Vision, Priorities, and Recommendations, January – May 2026
The focus is on gathering secondary community input and feedback on preferences and priorities for the future of parks, open spaces, facilities, amenities, and recreation programming to inform the development of Parks and Recreation Master Plan priorities and recommendations.
Key Activities:
A. Continued Community and Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement
1. City staff and Gates Studio will implement a secondary community engagement strategy to gain a more specific and in-depth understanding of community interests, ideas, and priorities for parks, open spaces, facilities, and recreational programming. Community outreach and engagement activities will include:
a. Disseminate paper and online multilingual citywide surveys. b. Conduct in-person outreach and education at community events.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workplan, June 2025 – December 2026 3 c. Host an in-person and virtual community meeting and focus groups with diverse sectors of the community.
d. Provide updates on the Master Plan at all scheduled Parks and Recreation Commission and periodic updates to the City Council meetings.
B. Information and Data Analysis and Reporting
1. Gates Studio will prepare secondary summary report of additional findings from community input, site visits, parks and facility assessments, maintenance records, operating costs, emerging trends, and best practices, etc.
2. Gates Studio will prepare summary reports of all data and findings, and draft community preferences and priorities and preliminary recommendations with short-term (0-5 years) and long-term (10-15 years)
C. Deliverables
1. Project promotional and outreach efforts and activities (e.g., website, social media postings, logo, flyers, etc.).
2. Community and stakeholder outreach and engagement strategies and activities (e.g., surveys, community meetings, po-up events, etc.)
3. Preliminary summary report of findings from community input, data collection and analysis, research, assessments, etc.
City Council Action: Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council accept the Parks and Recreation Master Plan draft community preferences and priorities and preliminary recommendations.
Phase III: Develop and Finalize Parks and Recreation Master Plan, June – May 2026 The focus is on preparing and finalizing the Parks and Recreation Master Plan that includes opportunities for public review and input from City staff, Parks and Recreation Commission, City Council, and community.
Key Activities:
A. Draft Master Plan Document
1. Gates Studio with the support of City staff will prepare a draft Master Plan document that includes:
a. An overview of the plan goals, methodology, and intended use. b. A summary of existing conditions, inventory, and level of service analysis. c. Actionable recommendations such as but not limited to; policy and procedures, design guidelines, improvements of facilities and parks, enhancement and/or expansion of programming, etc.
d. A strategy with a prioritized road map for the enhancement, renovation, and/or development of parks, amenities, and community facilities.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Workplan, June 2025 – December 2026 4 e. Cost estimates for proposed enhancement and/or development parks, amenities, and community facilities, and programming. As well as a funding strategy to support priorities and recommendations listed in the final plan. f. Charts, graphs, maps, and other visual data as needed to support the plan and its presentation to the appropriate audiences.
2. City staff and Gates Studio will host opportunities for public review and comment of draft Master Plan document.
a. Community input and feedback from the public review period will be incorporated, as appropriate, in the final Master Plan document.
B. Finalize Master Plan Document
1. Gates Studio with the support, input, and feedback from City staff, Parks and Recreation Commission, City Council, and community will finalize the Master Plan document.
C. Deliverables
1. Public review opportunity for community on draft Master Plan document.
2. Final Union City Parks and Recreation Master Plan document.
City Council Action: Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council accept the final Parks and Recreation Master Plan that includes short-term (0-5 years) and longterm (10-15 years) priorities and recommendations.