A Parks Master Plan is a dynamic, long-range planning document that establishes a vision, goals, and strategies to guide decisions and improvements 10 to 20 years into the future for the entire parks and recreation system.

The City of San Carlos developed its last comprehensive Parks Master Plan in 2009 with the accompanying community needs assessment completed in 2008. As the previous Parks Master Plan is nearing the end of its lifespan, the development of a new Parks Master Plan will address current and future community needs. The 2023 Strategic Plan for the City identified the completion of a parks, open space, and other recreational opportunities master plan assessment as a goal. This project also includes an update to the Parks and Recreation Element of the General Plan.

The San Carlos Parks Master Plan will guide the City in enhancing the current park system to accommodate the needs of the existing and growing community and visitors for the next 20 years.

The goals of the project are to:

  • Assess the existing inventory of parks, open space, recreational facilities, and recreation programs 

  • Understand community needs and establish a vision for future recreation opportunities in San Carlos

  • Develop strategies and an action plan for enhancements to parks, open spaces, community facilities, and recreation programs

The final product will be a planning document to guide the City in making decisions in the future. The San Carlos Parks Master Plan will include the following:

  • An overview of the City of San Carlos and the current context of the parks, open spaces, recreational facilities, and recreation programs

  • An assessment of the existing conditions

  • A summary of community engagement efforts and input

  • A set of strategies to guide City Staff and future designers, planners, and developers

  • An implementation and funding plan to guide the City in planning future enhancements

San Carlos Parks Master Plan - Project Schedule

Creating a comprehensive plan that is successful and realistic while also ensuring the recreational needs of the community are met requires a multi-step planning process. As mentioned above, this process includes a needs assessment to understand existing conditions and areas for enhancements, public outreach to hear from the community about preferences and priorities, strategies and cost estimates to plan for implementation and construction, and approval of the final master plan by City Council. 

The development of this plan relies on thoughtful input from the community!

At various stages throughout the planning process, we’ll offer public engagement opportunities to help create a plan that is right for the San Carlos community.

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