Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Master Plan

1-1 Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Master Plan Section One ‐ Introduction 2014 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Master Plan) is based on the guiding principle that parks, recreation facilities, programs, trails, and open space are important resources within the City of Pleasanton. Across the nation, organizations such as the California Park and Recreation Society1 describe the many important ways recreation facilities and programming can help in creating healthy lifestyles and livable communities, including:  Strengthen community image and sense of place  Support economic development  Strengthen safety and security  Promote health and wellness  Foster human development  Increase cultural unity  Protect environmental resources  Facilitate community problem solving  Provide recreational experiences A park or a recreation facility means different things to different people. To some residents, parks are active sports fields; others have images of passive open spaces where one can walk, rest, and enjoy nature. Still others may envision parks as places for community gatherings and events. Indeed, parks and recreation facilities are used for all of these purposes and more. A diverse, vital recreation system is therefore necessary in sustaining Pleasanton’s visionary course: Pleasanton: “The City of Planned Progress” 1.1 Purpose of the Master Plan The Pleasanton General Plan 2005‐2025 (adopted in 2009) envisioned a future in harmony with the environment with an emphasis on economic opportunity, community health, welfare and sustainability. Key questions discussed in this Master Plan include: What parks, recreational facilities, and programs does Pleasanton have? What role do parks, facilities, open space, trails and recreation programs have in the lives of residents? What types of parks, facilities, and programs does Pleasanton need and what are the most important priorities? What changes should be made to existing parks, facilities and programs? Where will new parks, facilities, and programs be placed and how will they be funded and maintained? 1 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) VIP Project: Creating Community in the 21st Century, www.cprs.org Highlights: The Master Plan is an implementation tool providing strategies for addressing the General Plan’s goals and policies The purpose of the Master Plan is to provide a realistic guide for the creative, orderly development and management of recreation facilities and pro‐ grams for the City Demographic characteristics such as age, presence of children, ethnicity, and income have a relationship to recreation patterns and program needs In addition to the General Plan, there are a number of other existing documents and plans that relate to the Master Plan