Marble Falls updating its parks master plan
Marble Falls is updating its parks master plan, and creating a trail master plan. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissey.
Marble Falls is refreshing its parks master plan and creating a new trails master plan as continued population growth drives the desire for improved public spaces. City leaders hope the update to the plans will open the door for future grant funding for more improvements.
Marble Falls City Council approved in a 5-1 vote on Tuesday, May 5, a $206,000 contract with the Parkhill design firm to update its existing parks and recreation and open space master plans, and to create a new trails master plan.
The plans will assess current parks and trails, identify gaps, and set priorities for future improvements over the next decade. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department suggests updated master plans every five years to enhance grant eligibility. The city’s current parks plan was adopted in March 2017.
Since then, the city’s population has grown by about 30 percent, according to Parks and Recreation Director Lacey Dingman.
Council members who supported the plan said the upfront cost is necessary to unlock future funding opportunities.
“We have to spend money to make money,” councilmember Craig Magerkurth said in the council meeting.
Mayor John Packer cast the lone dissenting vote, citing concerns about the overall cost.
“I think it’s too much money. I feel like we’re starting from scratch spending this kind of money. We’ve got a decent plan now that needs to be updated,” Packer said.
The parks master plan cost was reduced from an initial estimate of $230,000 to about $175,000, with the Trails Master Plan adding $31,000, according to Dingman, who said further reductions would be difficult after months of cutting costs while maintaining quality.
“We know the value already. We’ve been the recipient of two parks and recreation grants in the last three years to the tune of $1.5 million,” Dingman said.
Dingman pointed to Mormon Mill Nature Park as an example of how planning efforts can translate into funding success. The city secured a $726,207 grant from the TPWD toward the park’s $1.9 million total cost. She said that that grant was secured, in part, due to community input and clear, long-term planning done by the city.