The Thomasville Parks and Recreation Master Plan will guide City leadership and staff involved in the decision-making process on how to best meet short-, mid-, and long-term goals for enhancing the City’s recreational facilities and programs.
A thorough and viable planning document informed by community engagement
This effort considered these main sources of information:
- Previous Planning Efforts and Documents
- Individual Park Analyses
- National Benchmarking and Level-of-Service Assessment
- Goals of the Parks and Recreation Department
- Community Engagement
The plan develops a strategic vision for recreational opportunities in Thomasville.
Considering site amenities and overall programming
The WithersRavenel project team took inventory of the network, breaking down each park experience by the amenities and programs offered. The existing conditions assessment focuses not only on the park facilities themselves, but also the programming offered by the Recreation and Parks Department and current department staffing levels and operating budget.
Community-driven planning
To best gauge park user experiences, the team conducted field evaluations and stepped into the shoes of a Thomasville park-goer. The team then reached out to the community to determine how field observations and the community’s vision aligned. Interactions with the community included participation at the 2023 Everybody’s Day event, an online survey, and interviews with stakeholders that included City leadership, which all helped to form a vision for the plan.
Setting the stage for future improvements
The final document makes community-defined recommendations for improvements and increased efficiencies and identifies trends for the enhancement of delivery of services. Recommendations include a city-wide dog park, pickleball/tennis facility enhancements, and community center rehabilitation. Further suggestions include future facility and greenway plans, along with recommended expansion of programming and department staffing.