Sean Wozny, Kimley Horn and Associates

Adopt Resolution No. 2023-2366 adopting the 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-2366 ADOPTING THE 2023 PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN. (Nathan Torres, Parks and Recreation Director)

There are no fiscal impacts by adopting the plan. Future projects will be presented during the annual budget process for funding.

On July 14, 2014, City Council adopted the 2014 Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan.

On October 18, 2023, the Goodyear Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission unanimously approved the 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan to move forward for Council consideration.

The 2014 Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan laid the foundation for parks and recreation planning for the past 10 years.  The purpose of the plan was to offer strategies and operational policies that provide guidance to meet the needs of current and future City of Goodyear residents.  This plan identified short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.  Of the 394 goals that were established in this plan, 367 of them were completed achieving a 93% completion rate.

In 2022, Kimley Horn and Associates was contracted to update the comprehensive 10-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This updated plan provides guidance on how to meet the demands for future recreational, programming, environmental, and maintenance needs, as well as to establish priorities for facility improvements, future park development, and land acquisitions. 

A consistent theme throughout the development of this plan has been the City’s commitment to a quality parks and recreation system that delivers high-quality parks, trails and recreation programs, facilities, and events for all residents, while contributing to the economic well-being of the city. To meet this commitment to its residents, this plan is organized around the following themes:
 

• Providing high-quality parks and recreational facilities
• Connected, accessible trail system
• Economic development through park development
• Keeping up with growth
• Resilient parks and open space opportunities
• Investing in the current park system

The 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan was developed through a highly interactive process involving public forums, stakeholder meetings, surveys, site evaluations, benchmarks to like communities and meetings.  This plan is aligned with the 2022-2024 City Strategic Plan and the primary focus areas: Quality of Life, Economic Vitality, Fiscal and Resource Management and Sense of Community. Additionally, the plan has been closely coordinated with the Transportation Master Plan and the 2035 General Plan.

A variety of community outreach efforts were used to ensure that the plan reflects the needs and desires of the Goodyear community.  These include:
 

• 40 stakeholder meetings with various internal staff, special interest groups, sports groups, Commissions, and other user groups
• 8 public meetings
• 6 community events
• Dedicated project website
• Statistically relevant survey

As a result of the extensive community engagement, nearly 23,000 inputs were received.  The top-rated amenities that participants would like to see include:
 

1. Swimming pools/ splash pads	2. Trails	3. Playgrounds	4. Urban Fishing Lake*
5. Recreation Center	6. Sports Complex	7. Sport Courts	8. Dog Park
9. Multi-use Fields	10. Skate Parks	11. BMX facility	12. Ballfields

* Although an urban fishing lake was a desired community amenity, this plan is recommending that a lake not be pursued at this time as a result of the changing water climate in the state.

Notable participant statistics:

• 91% of participants felt that “quality park and trail experiences were important to their quality of life”
• 94% of participants stated “Parks and Recreation services make Goodyear a desirable place to live”
• 88% of participants indicated “Parks and Recreation services enhances quality of life and builds a sense of community”
• 72% of participants indicated “Parks and Recreation services promotes tourism to the city and region

Plan Priority Projects

Existing Parks (2023 cost projection ≈ $15M):

• Falcon Park – additional parking, playground improvements, add a maintenance facility, and improve connections to Bullard Wash Trail
• Goodyear Community Park – improve and expand the dog park, renovate restrooms, and splash pad improvements
• Portales Park – neighborhood sidewalk connections, looped pathways, and strategic turf reduction
• Wildflower North and South Parks – provide connectivity to Wildflower Elementary School/neighborhood and strategic turf reduction
• Loma Linda Park – replaster pool and deck surfaces, convert baby pool to a splash play feature, enhance turf, legacy tree replacement, and irrigation improvements

Future Parks (2023 cost projection ≈ $92M):

• Goodyear Recreation Campus Phase II – completion of remaining 46 acres
• Bullard Wash Trail Extension – McDowell to Goodyear Ballpark
• Foothills Community Park Phase II – completion of remaining 17 acres
• I-10 Basin Sports Complex Feasibility Study – currently underway in FY24
• Land acquisition – future parks/trails