City asks for community input on parks
Survey for adults, teens will be used to shape five-year plan
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The City of Kokomo maintains more than 30 parks and 12 miles of walking trails. But does the community need more? Are there amenities that need to be added? Are there programs the community desires?
These are questions the Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department (KPRD) hopes to have answered through a survey it will use to help build a five-year plan for development. The survey is available now for residents to share their opinions, and in a twist, the department is focused on soliciting input from teens in the community as well.
“The thing we look for the most is really public input,” said Torrey Roe, KPRD superintendent. “This is really one opportunity that the public gets to portray what they feel like the city needs to do as far as our parks go.
“The neat thing that we're doing this time is we're actually doing a teen survey as well. This is the first time that we have done anything like that. So, we’re really excited about getting to hear what the youth in our community want to see and want to do.”
The survey asks participants to rank things they like about the parks and things they would like to see added or changed. It also asks participants to identify what activities they currently enjoy at the parks and what might prevent them from using the parks.
The teen survey differs from the adult survey. For instance, when asked what amenities a teen might like to see in the parks, things like study spaces, Parkour courses, bouldering, and a mural wall are among the choices which do not appear in the adult survey.
“I think hearing the teens and hearing what they want is important,” said Roe. “If you look at park departments across the state, one of the areas that is pretty difficult to program towards is that teen group.
“I think we do a really good job of gearing towards youth. We really want to hone in on the teens and give them something to do. It's important for families who want to move here that they've got things for their kids to do.”
Some of the suggested improvements in the survey are already in the works, Roe explained. The survey will help KPRD confirm that the previous five-year plan is still in line with the desires of the community.
“We've got some things lined up to do in the next couple of years,” said Roe. “We’re starting this year with some trail cameras and additional lights at Jackson Morrow Park, and playgrounds at Championship Park. We’re doing playground renovation at Highland Park. And we're always looking for improvements along the trail extensions.
“With the pump track coming in along the trail at Northside, I think that's just going to be a huge amenity for our trail users and give the team something to do. Every year, there's something new that pops out. I'm excited to see what comes out with this survey and where it leads us for the future.”
The biggest news in public parks is the proliferation of Pickle Ball courts. All across the country, the sport attracts people to it, regardless of age. Kokomo jumped on the trend early, adding four dedicated Pickle Ball courts in Bon Air Park and another at Foster Park in the past two years. It’s on the survey as well, and Roe anticipates demand will grow for the sport.
“Pickleball is certainly the fastest growing sport in the nation,” said Roe. “So, as the demand grows, I think our need will eventually grow with the sport.”
The parks department’s five-year plan comes at a pivotal point in the city’s history. The impending arrival of the Stellantis/Samsung battery plant, along with supporting businesses, will add jobs and attract new residents to Kokomo. The city’s boundaries already are expanding to accommodate that growth. Will this translate into the addition of new parks?
“We're always looking at new things to do and new things to add to keep our parks vibrant,” said Roe. “With the recent growth and the anticipated growth with the new battery plant and people coming into town, maybe adding a park is something that we identify that we need to do. This is a great time for citizens to have their voice heard and help shape that direction.”
Roe explained that the survey responses will be compiled by an engineering firm that is assisting in development of the five-year plan. KPRD will receive the results of both surveys in a public document, and discussion on an action plan will follow.
The surveys can be found here for adults and here for teens, or people can track them down on the City of Kokomo and Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department Facebook pages. Roe urged people to participate early, as the survey period won’t last long, and there may be a little money at stake.
“The sooner you can get it in the better,” said Roe. “I think they want the survey in by the beginning of June so that they have some time to compile all the results and then meet the deadlines that the state puts on us.
“The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has deadlines that they have to meet in order to get these master plans in for review and approved before the end of the year. There's not necessarily funding that goes along with it, but there is funding that can be awarded through grant money for having a five-year plan. So, the main purpose is to get that master plan and get the public surveys done so that we are eligible for DNR funding.”