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Wednesday's Internet Edition, January 07, 2009.
Parks master plan needs citizen input
Survey being conducted – have you taken it yet?
By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
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As the director of the Galt Parks and Recreation Department for more than 20 years, Boyce Jeffries has seen the style, amenities and certainly the price of municipal parks change over the years, but the one thing he says hasn’t changed is the love a community has for its parks and the desire families have for clean, safe parks that meet their needs.
To that end, Jeffries, and the city, are seeking community input on the design and construction of parks in Galt for the future. The parks and recreation department has set up an ad hoc committee to study parks in Galt, but they also want to know what the people of the city envision for parks of the future in their city.
“The bark park is a direct result of community input by the residents in that area,” said Jeffries. “They told us that’s what they wanted, and that’s what they got, and that park has been a huge success now because it was what the people said they needed and wanted.”
In conjunction with the Parks Master Plan Update, the city is conducting a survey designed to obtain your views on services and facilities offered by the city of Galt’s parks and recreation department. Participation in this survey is intended to give city planners an idea of what the people of Galt would like to see in the culture and recreation department in the future.
Questions in the extensive survey focus on the overall park and recreation experience in Galt. Whether the parks are well maintained and clean, or if the city has enough parks to meet the needs of the children and teens to play, or whether or not the public feels Galt’s parks are a safe place for families to go.
Other portions of the survey will ask your opinion on the development and funding of new parks in Galt. For example; which does Galt need more, neighborhood parks of three to five acres within an easy bike ride for residents, or does Galt need more 10-25 acre community parks? How about 25-plus acre regional parks for the area?
Should the city of Galt even build new parks, or shouldit focus its parks revenue on rehabilitating and/or redesigning Galt’s existing parks? What do you think?
The city wants to know.
In addition to giving input on the size and location of potential new parks, the city survey also allows you the chance to rank Galt’s existing parks in terms of safety, facilities and cleanliness.
Along the same lines, you will also be able to rank current parks and recreation programs and events on their importance to your family, and on your experiences as you have participated in city parks and recreation activities.
“All of this information will give us the insight to meet the needs of the people as they tell us, not as planners decide the space needs to be filled,” said Jeffries. “This is a great chance to really take part in shaping one of the most critical elements of a city to families, its parks, and all you have to do is share your opinions and ideas with the people who can make a difference.”
Have you always wanted to see a public gymnasium in Galt? How about a BMX bike track, or an amphitheater for Galt? Perhaps community gardens or more natural open space are important to you and your family.
“That is the type of input we really, really need,” said Jeffries. “If we can zero in on what the people want and where they want it, I think we can do the best with their public dollars for outdoor recreation in the city.”
Not generally considered when thinking about Galt parks is the Galt Market. However, the Galt Market is the single greatest revenue stream for all of Galt’s parks and recreation programs, banking the several million dollars each year needed to run city recreation programs.
Would you like to see changes at the market? What would you like to see offered at the market? Fresh flowers? More used items, or perhaps more large items, such as furniture and home improvement items?
“We won’t ever know how to make changes at the market to suit the people of Galt unless they tell us how they want it changed. We hear frequently that people want to see changes at the market, we just don’t hear what they want changed,” said Jeffries. “Again, this is a unique opportunity where the city is asking the people it works for what they want us to do. It just can’t get any better than that.”
Finally, the survey will seek your input on special events for the city. Do you think a winter bird festival is good for Galt? How about photography shows, or even Shakespeare in the park?
“All of these things could be possible if the people let us know that’s what they want,” said Jeffries. “It’s your money. They’re your parks, and its your families and free time. Let us know what you want to do with the money, space and time, and we will do our best to make it happen.”
You can pick up a survey at the parks and recreation department located at 610 Chabolla Avenue, at Gora Aquatic Center located at 630 Chabolla Avenue, or at the Galt library on Caroline Avenue or online at www.ci.galt.ca.us.
The city will also be conducting a random phone survey. So please take a few minutes to respond to the questions and make your parks and recreation desires for the city of Galt known.
There will be a community workshop on the Parks Master Plan Update on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Chabolla Community Center.
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