Why

In Indiana, communities must have a five-year Master Plan on file to be eligible for the Land and Water Conservation Fund monies established by Congress in 1964. In addition to meeting Indiana Department of Natural Resources guidelines, the Town desired to explore additional funding and revenue considerations, programmatic reach, and how to best balance existing system investment with new development.

HOW

The Master Plan process was separated into four phases:

1. Discovery. Data collection and review, internal stakeholder engagement, service area population analysis, parkland inventory and analysis, and program inventory and analysis.
2. Needs Assessment. External stakeholder engagement, industry best practices benchmark analysis, and gap analysis.
3. Strategic Development. Vision and mission alignment and action plan development.
4. Master Plan Finalization. Final presentations, final deliverables, and I-DNR and Park Board approvals.

What

The final Master Plan outlines specific strategies for operations, maintenance, programming, and financing in addition to project-specific capital investment/re-investment needs. Additionally, the Master Plan process coincided with the Town’s five-year update to the Recreation Impact Fee (RIF). As a result, funding and revenues strategies was a vital component as the Town prepares for an influx of continued population growth.

Reference
Will Lacey, MPA, CPRP, AFO, IMN
Assistant Town Manager & Parks Director
(317) 745-4180 x5101
wlacey@danvilleindiana.org
49 North Wayne Street
Danville, IN 46122