2018-012 Attachment-2018 Comprehensive Plan Update
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The following list consists of key points from the 2013 needs analysis:
The City of Paris needs to focus on top quality upgrades and renovations to existing parks.
Trails are needed for more connectivity throughout the community and to encourage healthier
lifestyles.
Existing parks and facilities need to continually be upgraded and maintained at a high level in order
to keep Paris’s park system up to local standards and safe for all users. This includes making public
parks and facilities compliant with ADA guidelines.
A multi-sports practice field with lights needs to be constructed.
A sprayground/small water park is needed for water-based recreation.
Additional restrooms are needed throughout town at multiple different parks.
An indoor recreation center needs to be considered in Paris.
An indoor swimming facility is desired for both competitive and recreational use.
Nature trails, playgrounds, pavilions, enhanced landscaping, picnic areas at the parks and multi-use
trails all are needed to satisfy senior citizens’ recreational needs.
Additional and upgraded site amenities are needed throughout the park system.
All new park facilities need to be properly designed, well-built, and maintained at a high level.
The five-year update for 2018-2023 was drafted by a parks work group that met monthly for approximately
two years. The city council received public input at two regular, advertised meetings, on April 9 and May
14. In addition, the proposed update was distributed by direct mail to key stakeholders in the community,
and was placed for public inspection on the city’s website, in the municipal library, and in various social
media.
City of Paris Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan, 2018-2023 Update
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VII. PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The following table represents the projected recreational facilities priorities for the Paris Park
System. These priorities are based on the needs analysis, citizen survey, public input meetings,
focus group input, city staff, the City of Paris Citizen Advisory Committee and professional
opinion, including revisions made in 2018 following close review by a city staff parks work
group and opportunities for additional citizen input.
Priority Facility
1Playgrounds
2 Multi-purpose trails
3Amphitheater/gathering spaces
4 Picnic shelters/pavilions
5 Picnic areas
6 Restrooms
7 Nature trails
8 Spray ground/Small water park
9 Botanical/flower gardens
10 Lawn areas for general play
11 Indoor recreation center
12 Swimming pool /natatorium
13 Dog park
14 Water features (creeks, small lakes, etc.)
15 Nature areas
16 Tennis courts
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Recommendations
The following actions are recommended to be implemented within the next ten years to ensure that the
parks and open space system continues to meet the recreational needs of the city.2018 update in blue.
New Parks
Acquire and develop land at the southwest corner of Main Street and Graham Street. Property
acquired and cleared through an ILA with Lamar County (19 acres).
-Construct large open green lawn.
-Plant trees and landscaping.
-Construct Wagonmonument.
Acquire natural open spaces to be preserved as the opportunities are available. Expanded
developed area at lake Crook.
ExistingParks
Construct a spray ground. The city worked closely with the First United Methodist Church in
2016 to construct a joint use spray ground on FUMC property in downtown. The park is open to
the public, and includes a restroom facility constructed and maintained by the city.
Provide additional picnicking areas and tables.A picnic area was added to Lake Crook Park
in 2016; the picnic area at Oak Park was improved in 2018.Acquired and completed recon-
struction of former TXDOT park on US 82W.
old). Added a new playground to Lake Crook in
Replace playgrounds (older than 15 years
2016.Playgrounds at Oak Park and Wade Park were completely replaced in winter/spring
2018, utilizing a combination of voter-approved 2017 park bonds and local fundraising;
new playgrounds are ADA compliant and include new accessible equipment.
Increase level of maintenance. Staff levels in the parks division have been increased by two
th
Added safety fencing at 5 Street basketball court; established
FTE, effective April 1, 2018.
additional permanent water-creek crossing on archery lanes; finished building archery
lanes at Sports Complex property; mowed cleared large open spaces at lake Crook..
Construct multi-purpose and walking trails.Constructed new West Paris Trail (1.8 miles) in
2016-17, using a TXDOT grant of $515,193 and matching city funds. Reconstructed 7,203 linear
4,224feet, using TPWD grant of
feet of the Trail de Paris. Completed Trail de Paris extension of
$200,000 and city matching funds. Created nature trail at Lake Crook (~3 miles round trip).
Provide additional landscaping including irrigated turf in all parks.
City of Paris Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan, 2018-2023 Update
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Provide restroom facilities in high use parks. Constructed new restrooms downtown and at
city-owned fairgrounds. Enhanced restrooms at Lake Crook and Market Square.
Upgrade existing tennis courts—new surfaces, nets, windbreaks, etc. Five existing tennis
courts at Culbertson Park were refurbished in 2017. Backstop refurbished. One court to be
converted to basketball in 2018.
Construct lighted lawn areas for sports practice areas within existing parks. Soccer goals
added at Wise Field in 2017; also soccer field, softball backstop, and basketball goals at
police & courts building.
Provide and install attractive lighting at parks for safety.
Improved Market Square grounds; added shade shelter at contiguous Skate Park.
Improved historic Plaza: now ADA compliant;repaired historic fountain; upgraded electricity
and lighting.
Upgraded lights and improved landscaping at Gateway Park.
Improved Bywaters Park, including safety and electrical enhancements.
Athletic Facilities
The City of Paris needs to work closely with the Optimist Club to provide even more andbetter
baseball opportunities for the youth.Began providing grant funds to club in 2017.
Construct an indoor swimming pool for both competitive and recreation use.Upgraded
deteriorating issues at existing outdoor pool; installed new fencing and sidewalks;
pumps and filter to be replaced in 2018. Meeting with NPO regarding possible joint
operation of a recreation facility with an indoor pool.
Established in-house girls’ softball program in 2015; added Field #7 to Sports Complex
for softball.
Natural Open Space
Preserve the most valuable and aesthetically pleasing natural open spaces.Provided better
access to open spaces at Lake Crook and encouraging multiple uses.
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Indoor Recreation
Center
Construct an indoor recreation center at the Sports Complex for multiple recreational
opportunities. Financial resources may not allow the city to construct and operate such a
facility. Therefore, the city will seek opportunities to partner with other jurisdictions and non-
profits to more efficiently offer these much-needed recreational opportunities. Existing
facilities may also be the most efficient way to create a functioning center. Work has begun to
develop this sort of facility re-use(s) and joint programming at two possible locations.
SeniorCitizens
• Provide facilities such as: multi-use trails, nature trails, playgrounds, botanical gardens,
picnic shelters/pavilions, benches and picnic areas for senior citizens at all new and upgraded
parks. The city assumed control of the former fair association exhibit hall in 2015, and
began passive programming for seniors in 2017. Bench swings were added at Lake Crook.
Plan to add a garden photo spot at or near Love Civic Center; need a non-profit partner to
plant and manage. Planning pickle ball within an existing facility. Developing new pro-
gramming in conjunction with the library.
Maintenance
The City of Paris currently has one maintenance employee for approximately every 25 developed park
acres. In addition, this same staff maintains all the rights-of-way, medians, ditches and treeson public
land inside the city limits. The staffing levels have slowly been falling behind andneed to increase in
order to keep the maintenance of parks and facilities at a high level. The following two bullets are
necessary in order for the city to provide well maintained areas at anefficientcost:
Prepare and adopt a statistically-based maintenance study that will increase the maintenance staff
and budget as the park system continues to grow. Staff levels in the parks division have been
increased by two FTE, effective April 1, 2018, reducing park acres/employee to approximately
21.
Develop parks that are not overly maintenance intensive by including more natural
areas, native
plantings and natural play (play opportunities with limited or no playground equipment). Staff
has adopted an internal policy to always tie added staffing to any new programs, services,
schedules, or responsibilities. Emphasizing xeriscaping with new plantings.
Trails
Develop trail linkages throughout Paris to connect schools, residential areas, commercialareas,
parks and adjacent communities.Completed two grant-funded Safe Routes to School projects,
including bike lanes.
City of Paris Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan, 2018-2023 Update
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Construct minor trail and sidewalk connections in order to connect largesegments of trails for
better access throughout the community. Used pavement markings and signage to connect West
Paris trail and Trail de Paris along existing paved roadways.
Sidewalks are to be used in conjunction with trails to connect different nodesthroughout the
community.Constructed 5,300 feet of new sidewalk on Graham; connection to West Paris Trail
scheduled for 2018.
City of Paris Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan, 2018-2023 Update
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VIII. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
The following table depicts the project priorities with suggested completion dates. It is important to note
thedevelopment of parks and
that the following schedule is intended to be a flexible guide for
recreational facilities over the next ten years for the City of Paris. Thecity should evaluate and take
advantage of any unforeseen opportunities that may arise that arenot identified in the schedule or
change the order of implementation if necessary.The information below is organized based on specific
needs from the City of Paris citizens, and revised in 2018.Thegeneral idea is to create one great and
city.This will allow all residents the opportunity
easily accessible park in each of four major areas of the
to recreate at a large redeveloped park within the community. The four specific parks, Wade Park,
Market Square Park, Oak Park, and the Sports Complex/Dragon Park, werechosen based on their
locations within the city, size, accessibility, and community usage.
Beyond the plans ten year time-frame:
As is true of city planning in general—of which parks, recreation and open spaces planning isa
component—this implementation schedule should be evaluated, modified as necessary, andupdated to
address ten-year periods that begin after 2013. The Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment suggests ten-
year plans should be updated every five years; however, the City ofParis should review the plan
annually in order to have a current, meaningful and implementable plan. This will aid the Paris park
system to: continually work to achieve the park plans Goalsand Objectives; allow this plan to remain
current with other City of Paris planning efforts; serveto address on-going financial needs; address parks
needs in conjunction with future population growth, and keep the users, citizens and businesses
continually aware of the city’s commitment to achieve and maintain an outstanding parks, recreation
and open space system and program.
Projects Year Estimated cost Possible funding source(s)
2018-22 580,000 TPWD grants
Wade Park
New playgrounds General Fund appropriations
Renovate pavilion Private donations
Soccer field Bond proceeds
Walking trail Partnerships
Open lawn areas, picnic areas
Small pavilion
Water feature
Oak Park 2018-22 200,000 TPWD grants
New playground General Fund appropriations
Renovate pavilion Private donations
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Plan restroom facility Partnerships
Tree planting and landscaping
2017-19 247,000 TPWD grants
Market Square Park
Playground, climbing General Fund appropriations
Landscaping Private donations
Amphitheater General Obligation bond proceeds
Enhanced parking, crosswalks Partnerships
Library grounds
Downtown restroom
Sports Complex 2019-21 810,000 TPWD grants
Pump track trail & bike lanes Partnerships
Playground Private donations
Add lighting to field #7 Bond proceeds
Signage General Fund appropriations
Relocate skate park
Creek trail, Dragon to Erickson bridge
Lake Crook 2017-20 NA General Fund appropriations
Master plan Private donations
Trails development Bond proceeds
Relocate disc golf Partnerships
Update US 271 signage TPWD grants
Programming into Parks & Rec 2017-19 NA General Fund appropriations
Seniors Private donations
Special needs children programs Partnerships
Library programming TPWD grants
Online enhancements
Enhanced swimming
Improved, expanded sports
Spray features & landscaping at pool
2017-22 190,000 TPWD grants
Culbertson Park
Renovate tennis courts General Fund appropriations
Renovate basketball court Private donations
Walking trail Bond proceeds
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Renovate pavilion Partnerships
Open lawn area
Dog park
Landscaping & site amenities
New small playground
Convert baseball field to soccer
2019-21 350,000 General Fund appropriations
Main & Graham
Open lawn area Private donations
Landscaping, garden Partnerships
Courthouse wagon pocket park
Picnic area, benches, swings
Short trail
Dragon Park 2022 350,000 TPWD grants
Spray park General Fund appropriations
Soccer fields (8) Private donations
Trail enhancements Bond proceeds
Relocate Frisbee golf Partnerships
Bridges, trails
2013-23 500,000/mile TPWD grants
Trail linkages
West Paris Trail General Fund appropriations
Creek trail, Dragon to Erickson bridge TXDOT enhancement grants
NETT completion Private donations
Walking track @ new Fire Station #3 Bond proceeds
Sidewalks/TDP to downtown, et al Partnerships
Schools, neighborhoods, etc.
Comprehensive bike & trail plan
Renovate & update Leon Williams 2023-27 500,000 TPWD grants
Open lawn area General Fund appropriations
Expand/update playground Private donations
Landscaping Bond proceeds
Site amenities Partnerships
Indoor recreation & aquatic center 2019-20 NA General Fund appropriations
Feasibility study Private donations
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Partnership Partnerships
Wise Field 2017 NA General Fund appropriations
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