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Subjects › Parks and Recreation › Park Planning, Design and Open Space
Updated 02/2012

Park Planning, Design, and Open Space

Contents

Introduction

This page includes a range of information on parks, recreation, and open space planning and design. Information on the benefits of parks and recreation can be used as background information in developing a comprehensive park plan. This page includes general guidelines for preparing park plans and information regarding local standards for parks and recreation facilities. It also contains selected examples of city and county comprehensive parks, recreation, and open space plans and plan elements. Links to broader county and regional open space and trails programs are also provided.

Benefits of Parks and Recreation

Parks and recreation provide many benefits to a community and its citizens, including economic, health, environmental, social, and overall quality of life. This section emphasizes the economic and health benefits of parks and recreation.

Park Planning Guidelines

This section includes general guidelines for developing comprehensive park and recreation plans, including parks and recreation elements of GMA comprehensive plans (RCW 36.70A.070(8))

  • Manual 2: Planning Policies and Guidelines (), Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, January 2011 - The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board’s how-to manual for developing a park plan. Local jurisdictions seeking funding from this agency are required to have a plan that is consistent with these guidelines
  • Planning for Parks and Open Space in Your Community (), by Susan C. Enger for CTED (now Washington State Department of Commerce) and Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, February 2005 - Comprehensive growth management guidebook for preparation of parks and open space plans and preservation of open space. Emphasizes the creation of an integrated open space system

Comprehensive Park and Open Space Plans and Elements

This section includes examples of standalone comprehensive park plans as well as sample parks and recreation elements from GMA comprehensive plans. The requirements for GMA comprehensive plans include a parks and recreation element (see RCW 36.70A.070(8)). Although this element is not mandatory until adequate funding is available, many jurisdictions have adopted a parks and recreation element as part of their comprehensive plan. For guidance on the preparation of the parks and recreation element (see WAC 365-196-440).

Park Design and Standards

This includes information on general park and recreation standards and resource information as well as local design standards for different types of park development.

General Reference

Local Government Design Standards

Miscellaneous Design Resources

  • Handbook for Public Playground Safety (Adobe Acrobat Document), Publication #325, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, November 2010
  • NatureGrounds - A comprehensive program that provides best practice guidelines for creating and retrofitting play environments for parks and school grounds that integrate manufactured play equipment and the living landscape.
  • Field Building Standards - U.S. Soccer Foundation
  • American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) - National organization for builders, designers, and suppliers of materials for tennis courts and other athletic facilities

County and Regional Open Space Programs

This section includes selected open space preservation programs, including conservation futures. Conservation futures are a funding source authorized by state statute that may be implemented by counties to preserve lands of public interest (see RCW 84.34.200 – 84.34.240).