This discussion is being brought forward as the result of a FAIR request that was previously approved by  Council.
 
The City of Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Master Plan, adopted in 2013, defines a pocket park as a park that is generally less than two (2) acres in size and may include ball fields, ramadas, sport courts and playgrounds.  The City’s current park inventory contains ten (10) pocket parks with a variety of amenities.  The Master Plan recommended that all existing pocket parks be reclassified as a neighborhood park as the two park types house very similar amenities; in addition, the Master Plan recommends that no additional parks smaller than two acres be developed or accepted into the Parks inventory. The main reason for this is the amount of resources required to maintain the small space is disproportionate to the size of the amenity.  
 
Since the adoption of the Master Plan,  no new parks have been developed including what was formally defined as a pocket park; however, recent discussions have sparked both interest and need for small parks in specific location(s) based on current land use and a lack of park amenities in those locations, for example, the Southside neighborhood. 

The Master Plan serves as a roadmap for future development decisions in a document that is to include analysis, recommendations, and proposals for the City’s population, economy, housing, transportation, community facilities, and land use.  The Council can direct staff to amend the Master Plan with new guidance or recommendations based on current and future development needs.