Open Space, Trails and
Greenways Master Plan Update
Document Changes
Background
The Open Space, Trails and Greenways Master Plan was originally adopted in September 2004.
Planning documents typically have a “shelf life” of five to seven years before they become
outdated. The Plan has functioned very well for guiding Council, the Planning Commission and
staff in prioritizing trail connections and open space land acquisitions. It has provided guidance
to development review staff in preserving important open space properties and integrating them
with our built environment. This Plan also provides integral background for grant requests.
The Town has held a number of public meetings to receive input from the public as well as the
Planning Commission and Town Council. Following is a list of the dates that meetings were held.
Planning Commission Meetings
•December 10, 2009
•January 14, 2010
•February 25, 2010
Town Council Meetings
•August 31, 2009
•February 8, 2010
•March 8, 2010
Public Workshops
•October 14, 2009
•October 15, 2009
•November 10, 2009
Cimarron Middle School
•November 18, 2009
Copies of the draft document can be found on our website at www.parkeronline.org. Please take the time to
review the document and provide any comments to either Bryce Matthews – 303-805-3174,
[email protected] or Mary Munekata - 303-805-3339, [email protected] by Tuesday
May 11, 2010.
Once comments are compiled, the Town will make changes to the document and will schedule public hearings
before the Planning Commission and the Town Council.
2009 Open Space: 1920 Acres
Over 3 Square Miles!
2009 Trail Miles: 65 Miles
End to End – Parker to Georgetown!
Draft Changes
Significant changes between the current draft document and the Open Space, Trails and Greenways Master
Plan approved in September 2004 are as follows:
•Updated Acknowledgements
•No Executive Summary – The document has been significantly shortened to eliminate the need for an
Executive Summary.
•Appendices to be on file at Town Hall and not to be a part of the printed document – The appendices
are primarily used by staff for research and background. The Appendix will be available to the public if
requested. This will save on printing costs and make the document less overwhelming to users.
•Chapter 1: Mission Statements, Chapter 2: Definitions & Chapter 3: Introduction & Background have
been merged (Now Chapter 1) – The first three chapters of the original document are short chapters
and the content could easily be merged.
Section 3.1 Growth Trends and Section 3.2 Study Area have been removed. The original plan was
developed prior to the Parker 2025 Master Plan. Growth Trends are better addressed in the Parker
2025 Master Plan. The Study Area will match the Parker 2025 Master Plan, as amended.
Definitions have been tweaked, but maintain the same general content
•Chapter 4: Parker’s Values: Issues and Qualities & Chapter 5: Connecting the Built Environment with
Open Space and Trails have been merged (Now Chapter 2)
The merged chapter title “What Parker Values” includes Sections 4.3 Open Space Qualities, Section
4.4 Trail Qualities and Chapter 5 text regarding the importance of the interconnections between the
built environment and open space and trails.
Section 4.1 Open Space Issues and Section 4.2 Trail Issues have been moved to the Appendix –
These sections are important background information, but they are not used in the day to day
implementation of the Plan.
• Chapter 6: What We Have Preserved to Date has been renamed and updated (Now Chapter 3) Chapter 6 has been renamed to “Our Current Open Space and Trail System”. The data and
information in this chapter have been updated to reflect our current open space and trails.
•Chapter 7: Goals and Strategies has been updated (Now Chapter 4) – Updates are based on input from
the public, Planning Commission and staff. The draft attached has redlined copies of the current draft
changes, staff will walk the Commission through the proposed changes in the Study Session.
•Chapter 8: How Do We Decide What to Buy and Build in the Future has been divided into two (2)
chapters and updated (Now Chapters 5 & 6) – Chapter 8 addressed how we determine which open
space to acquire and which trail links are priorities. The criteria set forth in this chapter are a very
important component of the Plan.
The new Chapter 5: Open Space Acquisition Criteria sets forth the process and criteria for
evaluating important open space acquisitions or reservations. The criteria in the text are redlined to
reflect the proposed changes. Staff will present the changes in tonight’s update.
The new Chapter 6: Trail Development Criteria and Missing Trail Links sets forth the process and
criteria for evaluating needed trail connections. The criteria in the text are redlined to reflect the
proposed changes. Staff will present the changes in tonight’s update. Also included in this Chapter is
the updated Missing Trail Links.
•Chapter 9: Choosing the Tools and Paying for It has been moved to Appendices - This document
provides an in depth evaluation of the Town’s options for funding open space acquisition and trail
connections. This information will be on file at Town Hall, but will not be a part of the printed
document.
•Chapter 10: Managing our Open Space and Trail System has received minor text changes (Now
Chapter 7)