DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Brackenridge Park Master Plan
SUMMARY:
This ordinance approves the adoption of the Brackenridge Park Master Plan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
During the FY 2015 Budget process a budget amendment request was made on behalf of the Brackenridge Conservancy for $250,000.00 to update the 1979 Brackenridge Park Master Plan for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing investment in the park through current land use planning and design guidelines. In April 2015, City Council approved the development of a master plan for Brackenridge Park through a professional services agreement with Rialto Studio, Inc.
In developing the draft master plan the project team conducted asset mapping of the park, held a public workshop in July 2015, and engaged feedback from numerous established park stakeholder groups. The consultants presented the draft master plan to the public on April 26, 2016 and highlighted five (5) strategies to transform the park into a more walkable, enjoyable place while balancing the traditional use of the park and its history. These strategies included: 1) restoring natural park features and improving water quality; 2) preserving and restoring the park’s cultural and historic features; 3) increasing the park’s visibility and pedestrian access; 4) recapturing green space in lieu of impervious cover; and 5) reducing vehicular traffic to improve pedestrian mobility.
Subsequent to the public presentation, Councilman Treviño was contacted by local park stakeholders regarding limited opportunities for citizen input, especially those who historically utilized the park. Through his and other Councilmember’s engagement the Parks and Recreation Department facilitated six (6) additional public meetings that were highly advertised and held throughout the community. From that effort the community publicly endorsed three (3) draft master plan strategies to include: 1) restoring natural park features and improving water quality; 2) preserving and restoring the park’s cultural and historic features; and 3) increasing the park’s visibility and pedestrian access. Strategy elements that did not garner public support and are not included in the proposed master plan include the closure of park roads with implementation of a tram system and removal of existing parking and development of a grand lawn.
Those public meetings were then complemented by six (6) events-based master planning activities to assist people in understanding and visualizing on site the three (3) draft master plan strategies. That community engagement process concluded on November 19, 2016, and overwhelmingly reaffirmed the supported master plan strategies underscoring the importance of having a plan to guide the preservation and enhancement of Brackenridge Park. These supported strategies will focus on preserving the park’s cultural, historic, and natural landscapes while allowing the public to continue direct access to amenities through the use of existing park roads and parking.
ISSUE:
The proposed master plan for Brackenridge Park will serve as the base document for guiding future development consistent with publicly endorsed strategies by focusing investments on its cultural, historic, and natural landscapes. Through a public process these strategies align with the preservation, enhancement, and sustainability of Brackenridge Park to meet the needs of the growing San Antonio community.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could elect not to approve the current proposed park master plan in lieu of prioritizing park investments through a maintenance needs basis. However, this would forego the project team’s expertise in sustainable land use planning as well as the City’s investment to establish a current master plan to guide future park capital improvements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the proposed Brackenridge Park Master Plan.