Residents asked to help plan future of Redlands parks at upcoming workshops

REDLANDS, Calif. – A plan to preserve and enhance Redlands' parks is being developed and the city of Redlands is asking residents to share their thoughts at two upcoming workshops in March.

Why it matters: A Parks Master Plan will be the blueprint for the future of the city's parks, open spaces, and recreational services. Input from a wide range of residents is wanted to develop a plan that reflects the diverse needs and desires of the community.

Details: The city's Parks and Recreation Department is leading the effort to develop a strategy and roadmap for renovations, improvements, expansion, and development of parks over the next decade.

In October 2023, the City Council approved a contract with RHA Landscape Architects-Planners, based in Riverside, not exceeding $248,890, to develop a Parks Master Plan.

According to Tabitha Crocker, facilities and community services director, an essential part of the process is getting feedback and input from residents. The ETC Institute, a national leader in community engagement, will assist in "ensuring every voice that wants to engage can do so through surveys, community discussions, and planning sessions," according to a statement from Crocker.

The upcoming community listening are the first step in helping consultants develop questions and ideas for upcoming surveys that will ultimately drive the final Parks Master Plan, according to city spokesperson Carl Baker.

These sessions will be interactive. Participants will be able to use their mobile devices to engage during the meeting, according to Baker.

Opportunities to submit comments and take the community surveys later this year will be made available at the Parks Master Plan website.

Community response: Residents are already sharing their thoughts on the process. In a social media post by the city of Redlands announcing the workshops, some made suggestions for increased accessibility at parks, walking trails and park improvements. Others shared concerns about the meeting time and the ability of working families to attend a weeknight meeting.

In an email to Community Forward Redlands, Baker confirmed that the meetings will be recorded. In addition, residents will be able to watch and engage with the same interactive tool used during the live meeting for up to weeks after the sessions.

Moving forward: Two "Community Listening Sessions" will be held in March.

• 6 p.m. on March 13 at the Redlands Community Center, 111 W. Lugonia Ave.
• 6 p.m. on March 14 at the Contemporary Club, 173 S. Eureka St.

Go deeper: Ahead of the workshops, residents are encouraged to take a self-guided virtual tour of the city's park system. The city of Redlands released the Redlands Park Map Tour Storymap to display all of the city's park resources and infrastructure in one place. The Parks Division maintains 22 parks, which make up about 800 acres of land, and all median islands along city streets.