Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) Parks and Recreation Department is seeking public input through a city-parish online survey to inform the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, another action item identified in PlanLafayette.
According to Director of Parks and Recreation Gerald Boudreaux, “Planning for future parks and recreation needs is hindered by the lack of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan, identifying park development priorities and tools to objectively determine them.” Those priorities could include the creation of a set of Level of Service (LOS) standards for parks and recreational facilities, and for park spacing, tailored to the recreational preferences and participation rates unique to Lafayette, based on a recreational preferences and participation surveys.
“The survey is an important first step to assist in obtaining feedback for the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan,” stated Chief Development Officer Carlee Alm-LaBar. The survey asks 19 basic questions on topics such as park utilization, facilities, programming, park improvements and current and future funding priorities.
“Funding for parks and recreation is a challenge as there is no dedicated millage in the parish and the city millage has remained at the same rate since 1961,” said Boudreaux. According to Alm-LaBar, “The Community Assessment for the comprehensive plan, completed in 2012, found that per capita park spending in Lafayette was lower than comparable communities, about $54 per person, compared to $180 per person in Baton Rouge, and $140 per person in Raleigh, NC.”
The LCG Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains the parish’s 35 parks, 10 recreation centers, pools and golf courses, totaling over 1,500 acres. Most of LCG’s parks are located within city boundaries and are considered moderate sized parks, ranging between 18 and 70 acres. The Parks and Recreation Department has a staff of about 118 in five divisions. During the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the department had an adopted budget of approximately $12 million, of which approximately one-fourth was allocated to operations and maintenance.
The survey can be taken online athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KQWLB9T.
