Strategic Plan

The Department of Recreation and Parks has created a Strategic Plan that will serve as a comprehensive report for sharing the department’s strategic initiatives. This is a five-year plan with regular updates based on yearly goals. Developed in response to the department’s post-pandemic transition and under new leadership, the Strategic Plan reflects a detailed process to reframe goals and strategy to better service the community. Initiatives for developing the plan included:

  • Extensive listening sessions with staff and consultants
  • Leadership training
  • The establishment of new mission and vision statements
  • Public engagement sessions
  • Collaborative work groups focusing on 10 identified goals

The Strategic Plan provides residents with a glimpse into the future initiatives designed to enhance community well-being and alignment with the County Strategic Enterprise Plan.

UPDATES

The Department compiled quarterly updates for the plan's first year.  Subsequent updates will be published annually or as warranted.  

The Department released its Year One, Quarter One updates in May 2024.

  • Of the 31 Year One strategies, 13 are complete and 17 are in progress.
  • 42 percent progress completed in Quarter One.

View the full Quarter One update.

The Department compiled its Year One, Quarter Two updates in late 2024.

  • Of the 31 Year One strategies, 16 are complete and 17 are in progress.
  • 52 percent progress completed in Quarter Two. 

View the full Quarter Two update.

The Department compiled its Year One, Quarter Three updates in late 2024.

  • Of the 31 Year One strategies, 25 are complete and 6 are in progress.
  • 81 percent progress completed in Quarter Three.  

View the full Quarter Three update.

The Department compiled its Year One, Quarter Four updates in late 2024.

  • Of the 31 Year One strategies, 30 are complete and 1 is unmet.
  • 98 percent progress completed in Quarter Four.  

View the full Quarter Four update.

2024 Goals

  1. Review the program inventory to ensure programs and events have a direct tie to the mission, vision, values and core program areas.
    Action Plan: Implement a program proposal form to track and document direct ties.
  2. Implement a variety of new offerings of events and programs that meet the needs and desires of the community.
    Action Plan: Engage a consultant to conduct and complete a Countywide needs assessment.
  3. Focus on inclusivity and efficiencies to ensure access to spaces, programs, events and services are intentional.
    Action Plan: Create a therapeutic recreation program inventory.

  1. Create and develop policies for onboarding, training, interviews and evaluations.
    Action Plan: Create an onboarding matrix, training documents, procedures for interviews and an evaluation training.
  2. Establish and implement a current base of standard operating procedures. (SOPs)
    Action Plan: Transfer department directives to standardized SOP format.
  3. Develop a knowledge base to host all internal standard operating procedures.
    Action Plan: Work with the Office of Information Technology to identify a pathway to create an intranet.

  1. Implement a registration software system.
    Action Plan: Secure and finalize a contract with the vendor.
  2. Identify tools and software available to create efficiencies.
    Action Plan: Research report function and abilities within Workday.
  3. Identify efficiencies for collection and use of data.
    Action Plan: Consolidate all goals and metrics for tracking to create data points.

  1. Establish and implement modern standards and updates to deferred maintenance of older facilities.
    Action Plan: Require site inspection process (SIP) to be launched at all department sites to capture the current site and asset conditions.
  2. Make equitable decisions in planning capital improvements and acquisitions.
    Action Plan: Create a departmentwide process to report and implement capital improvement requests and needs.
  3. Ensure public input and updates are standard in design and construction process.
    Action Plan: Create a capital update page on the website with updates quarterly, or as needed.
  4. Design and construct all new facilities to a high quality of standard.
    Action Plan: Establish protocol, to include sign-off, on projects and modifications by operations.

  1. Increase training opportunities offered annually.
    Action Plan: Survey the staff biannually to determine training, certification and development needs/wants.
  2. Create a succession plan through staff development.
    Action Plan: Establish a job shadow or mentorship program.
  3. Establish policies regarding training and development expectations, and guidelines.
    Action Plan: Establish who should take which training and what trainings are required.

  1. Establish policies and plans that promote and protect natural resources and sustainability.
    Action Plan: Develop a natural resource management plan for three of the seven nature centers and parks.
  2. Increase habitats for native species of flora, fauna and bees by 15 percent in five years.
    Action Plan: Identify areas to shift from regular to seasonal mow cycles at six new sites and in all new designs.
  3. Increase environmental education opportunities across all nature sites and in Recreation Activity Center (RAC) curriculums.
    Action Plan: Ensure all RAC summer camps visit each nature site for trips.

  1. Establish processes to review, analyze and recognize all positions and duties within the department annually.
    Action Plan: Establish a format and conduct annual reviews and edits of each position description with employee.
  2. Increase workplace balance and culture through retention rate of 80 percent.
    Action Plan: Establish and create a morale and culture committee.
  3. Increase opportunities for staff engagement and communication.
    Action Plan: Establish monthly, open input sessions with the leadership for all levels of employees to attend.

  1. Establish and implement communications and marketing policies and plans.
    Action Plan: Hire a part-time social media content creator and a graphic design artist.
  2. Establish tools to assist with external and internal communication.
    Action Plan: Create a request process for employees to submit social and web posts.
  3. Increase brand recognition and awareness to internal, external and partnered customers.
    Action Plan: Create and establish a logo use policy.

  1. Establish definitions for partnership and agreement pathways.
    Action Plan: In consultation with the Law Department, define all agreement types.
  2. Increase standardization for partnerships and agreements.
    Action Plan: Create and establish MOUs with recreation and nature councils.
  3. Develop a process for program and for-profit vendors at programs and sites.
    Action Plan: In coordination with partner agencies, identify requirements for vendors.

  1. Establish a mechanism for determining cost recovery at facilities, programs and events.
    Action Plan: Research and develop a cost recovery tool, whether in house or via a vendor.
  2. Create and establish a revenue structure of measurement and tracking.
    Action Plan: Streamline budget appropriation and cost center numbers (consolidate 3901 and 3902).
  3. Standardize format for increased revenue collection and generation.
    Action Plan: Develop a standardized permit process for all rental and permit types.