Background

With open space in short supply, the city has launched an initiative to find out the best way to expand and improve current park and open space and maximize recreation programs to meet residents’ needs and desires. With only opportunities ahead, the city is asking community stakeholders to “Dream Your Park”.

In October 2016, the City contracted with GreenPlay, LLC to develop San Gabriel's first comprehensive Parks and Open Space Master Plan known as Dream Your Park.

The Master Plan Process

As a part of the process, a team of staff Community Services, Public Works, and Community Development, along with Community Services Commissioner Senya Lubisich, formed the Master Plan Committee and worked closely with GreenPlay on the development of the draft plan.  A key component of the master plan process was to gather input from residents and stakeholders on San Gabriel's parks and recreation facilities, services, and programs.  Over several months, the team gathered public input through intercept surveys gathered at community-wide special events and park pop-up events, focus group meetings and a public forum, a public presentation to the Community Services Commission, surveys mailed to a random sample of San Gabriel residents, and open link surveys available online. 

Another important component of them looked at the profile of the community, including population growth, demographic changes, and trends.  This, along with the information gathered through the surveys, helped to identify the needs of the community and guide the efforts to improve the delivery of parks and recreation programs and services. 

Also key to the development of the draft plan was the inventory of existing parks and facilities, the completion of the level of service analysis, and the identification of possible opportunity sites.  Together with the public input and the community profile information, the consultant team also completed a financial analysis and identified possible funding sources to help meet the existing needs and future opportunities. 

Review of the Plan

The Community Services and Planning Commissions reviewed the draft plan in a joint meeting held in February 2018.  The team incorporated their revisions and suggestions and presented a revised draft to the City Council in a study session held in April 2018.  Incorporating comments from both the Joint Commission Meeting and the Council Study Session, the GreenPlay team drafted the final plan.  The Community Services Commission has reviewed the final draft of Dream Your Park at a public meeting on Monday, June 4.  The City Council approved the final plan at the September 4, 2018 Council meeting.