Project Overview

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is initiating the process of developing its next 10-year Vision Plan. This update will provide a vision and roadmap for the future of recreation programming and services, parks, facilities, trails, waterways and open space planning that scales the city’s recreation and parks system equitably to match Columbus’ place as the 14th largest city in the U.S. This plan will also serve as a guidebook for the department’s programming, development and policies to drive quality-of-life improvements for all Columbus residents.

Thank you!

Thank you to the thousands of people that completed the Playbook Columbus survey July 19 to October 1 and continue to provide your input at Community Centers.

Findings from initial community engagement will be available on this website soon along with upcoming plan creation meeting dates.

System Map

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department operates 422 parks throughout the greater Columbus region. This equates to 14,069 acres of parkland containing 230 miles of regional trails, 171 playgrounds, 25 nature preserves, 28 community centers and eight outdoor pools and an aquatics center.

System Map

Project Schedule

This process is anticipated to take roughly one year. See all of the opportunities for you to get involved below!

Summer 2024

Establish a Foundation of Understanding

Engagement Window #1:
Awareness Building and Stakeholder Initiation

  • Community Navigators
  • Project Awareness Building

Summer-Fall

Assessment and Analysis

Engagement Window #2:
Identifying Opportunities and Challenges

  • Focus Groups
  • Community Survey
  • Pop-up Tabling
  • Outreach to Underrepresented Groups and Organizations

Winter-Spring

Plan Visioning

Engagement Window #3:
Needs and Values Discovery

  • Neighborhood Meetings in a Box
  • Virtual Community Meeting
  • Plan Framework Polling

Spring-Summer 2025

Final Plan

Engagement Window #4:
Plan Sharing

  • Draft Plan Presentation
  • Pop-Up Tabling and Neighborhood Meetings
 

Community FAQ

  • This Playbook is a long-range, visionary planning tool that identifies community values and goals to achieve through extensive community outreach.


    PLAN CREATION PROCESS

    • Residents feel they’ve had a voice in creating the plan, and there is representation from the community.

    • Residents, visitors and participant needs and wants are collected, understood and reflected clearly in the plan.

    • Use play to engage, educate to build awareness and data to ground the plan.

    • Columbus Recreation and Parks Department staff and City leadership have meaningful involvement and support the goals and implementation of this plan.

    • Refine the image and tell the story of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department through project branding and visuals.

    • The process is transparent, and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department has a clear understanding of next steps.

    • The City leadership and staff have support for practical implementation.


    PLAN DOCUMENT CONTENTS

    • Fulfillment of our Mission: “Connecting Our Community to Nature, Wellness and Creativity.”

    • Advance a system that provides access and opportunities equitably for community members.

    • Protect and enhance the natural environment.

    • Present a vision that excites the community for the next 10+ years.

    • Communicate clear and sustainable strategies to address gaps in parks, trails, community centers, programs, open space and blueways.

  • The project process will begin by looking at the existing conditions and identifying the challenges and opportunities of the current recreation and parks system. Then, through extensive community engagement and listening to a diverse range of voices, the project team will identify what the community wants and needs. Based on all of that, a plan is developed on how to reach united community goals.

  • The last adopted Master Plan was in 2014. Since then, conditions such as community demographics, national and regional trends in parks and recreation, and community desires have changed. This Playbook will assess and respond to such changes and provide a fresh guide for decision making.

Stay Involved

Community member feedback is critical to help guide the Playbook. Your input will support Columbus Recreation and Parks Department in improving our current recreation and parks offerings and proactively planning for the future. Fill out the form to stay involved in this process, and help shape the future of Columbus’ iconic park system.

How do you imagine Columbus to be 100 years from now? We’d love to hear from you, write your response below!

Project Documents