Parks System Master Plan

Context

The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners recognize the social, economic, health and environmental benefits of parks, as articulated in the 2011 Land Use Plan. The funding of this plan demonstrates the Town's dedication to investing in parks and recreation facilities to ensure that Pittsboro is enhanced as a location of choice for visitors, residents, and businesses.

This plan envisions active public engagement and participation in a planning process which will guide policies, inform decisions, and provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the myriad values of parks, recreation, greenways and open-space.

Project Purpose

A parks and open-space plan outlines a systematic approach to providing parks and recreation services to a community. Parks and open-space resources within a community include environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, historic, and urban design elements.

Reasons to Prepare a Parks & Open Space Plan

January Gehl (1987), the Danish urbanist and architect, states, "The proper hierarchy of planning is life, space and buildings, not buildings, space, life." Therefore communities need to plan for open spaces that provide a multitude of public functions before development occurs. These functions are numerous and may include:

• Protection of natural resources and biodiversity
• Creation of places for recreation
• Support for economic development opportunities
• Development of neighborhood gathering spaces
• Promotion of public health benefits
• Creation of civic and cultural infrastructure
• Shaping patterns of development through open spaces

Eysenbach/American Planning Association, M. E (2006). Parks and open space plans. In Planning and urban design standards (page 38). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.