Parkland in the ETJ

City of College Station

Parks and Recreation Department----------------------------------------------------------------

Parkland in the ETJ – August 10, 2017

Why are public parks (& rec) important?

Parks & Recreation Master Plan:

• Neighborhood & Community Character

• Property Value & Tax Revenue Enhancement

• Health & Wellness

• Protection of the Environment

Why look at land in the ETJ for parks?

• Get out front of future city growth

• Purchase when land costs are lower

• “Land Bank” for future park use or protection of the land

in a natural state

Parks & Greenways Properties

• # of Parks: 58 (50 Developed)

• Park Acreage: 1,374

• Greenways Acreage: 650

• Total Acreage: 2,024

2016 NRPA Field Report

METRIC NRPA FIELD REPORT COLLEGE STATION*

Park land per 1,000 residents 9.5 acres 12.5 acres (18.5 acres with greenways)

Park per residents 1 park per 2,277 1 park per 1,888

Staff members per 10,000 residents 7.4 6.2 (FT only); 9.78 (FT & PT FTEs)

Operating expenditures per capita $76.44 $84.38

Recovery of operating expenditures through

revenue generation29% 11.8%

*Based off of a population of 109,500

Acres of Park Land per 1,000 Residents (USA)

Parkland Dedication Ordinance

• Proposed Changes: Recommendations by Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

• Planning & Zoning on September 7 meeting

• City Council Public Hearing on October 12 meeting

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Master Plan Projections

To stay at current park service levels, an additional 218 acres of community parkland is needed by 2020.

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Current Parkland Acquisition Efforts

Zone B: in negotiations for park land in ETJ, adjacent to city limits

Zone A: currently searching for property and making inquiries to developers

Funding Sources for Parkland Purchases

• General Fund / Debt

• Parkland Dedication Ordinance

• 2008 Bond “Revolving” Fund for Parkland Purchase ($1 M)