The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department invites and encourages you to GET INVOLVED in the development of the new System Plan. We want to hear from you, we need your ideas, solutions, and support so that we can continue to be a national leader in parks and recreation.

History and Background

The Parks and Recreation Department is developing a new long range planning document called the System Plan. The new System Plan project will be a 16-month comprehensive process that will shape the direction, development and delivery of the city’s parks and recreation services over the next 20 years. The new System Plan will be a supplement to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Raleigh (Comp Plan). The Comp Plan was updated and adopted by Raleigh City Council in 2009. The 2009 Comp Plan includes a significant update for the delivery of park and recreation services. Multiple elements of the Comp Plan relate to the Parks and Recreation Department’s mission for services and facilities. The System Plan seeks to expand on those elements.

On June 5, 2012, the City Council approved a contract awarding AECOM as the prime consultant for the System Plan. AECOM is a national leader in comprehensive park planning and has a strong reputation for being innovative while creating realistic plans.

Project Scope

The project began in late summer of 2012 with the creation of a planning committee (PlanCo) consisting of community leaders representing different services of the parks and recreation department. The committee is a consensus seeking group that will help guide the development of the system plan.

Along with city staff, AECOM will conduct a five part process including:

   I.         Existing System Analysis – Fall/Winter 2012

   II.        Needs and Priorities Assessment – Winter/Spring 2013

   III.       Long Range Vision – Spring/Summer 2013

   IV.      Implementation/Action Plan – Fall/Winter 2013

   V.       Parks and Recreation Master System Plan Document – Early 2014

The city will extensively engage the public to understand the current state of the park system needs and desires of where and how the park system should grow. Opportunities to participate will include:

• City Website and Interactive Online Engagement
• Citywide and Online Surveys
• Focus Groups
• Community Visioning Meetings
• Presentations to boards and commissions

The DRAFT System Plan documents will be presented for public comment throughout the city at multiple locations. In addition presentations will be given to the Parks Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board, Raleigh CAC, and City Council. The Parks and Recreation System Plan public process has been designed to be inclusionary and transparent. Final approval is anticipated to occur in early 2014.