The Lebanon City Council unanimously approved the Lebanon Parks & Recreation Master Plan, Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell announced on Friday.
On first reading at Tuesday’s meeting, Lebanon City Council approved a professional service agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates to develop a Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
The City of Lebanon has never had a master plan for Parks and Recreation. Now that it is completed, the Lebanon Parks and Recreation Master Plan will help create a roadmap for the parks system over the next decade and help meet the requirements of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Local Parks and Recreation Fund (LPRF) grants.
Parks and Recreation continue to play a pivotal role. The Cairo Bend Community Park opened on the west side of Lebanon in conjunction with Goodall Homes. The Lebanon City Council approved the Fred Burton Community Park (currently under construction) and the Lebanon Sports Complex (Phase 1), slated to open in Spring 2024.
The 108-page Lebanon Parks and Recreation Master plan was based upon community feedback and professional development from Kimley-Horn and Associates. The documents presented included information from the Bicycles and Pedestrian Master Plan (adopted in 2002) and the 2040 Lebanon Comprehensive Plan. It analyzes the previous plans and existing recreational assets, current parks, benchmark analysis of peer communities, staffing, and recreation programming assessments.
The Lebanon Parks and Recreation Master Plan concluded from surveys that the parks and recreation facilities in the City of Lebanon are above average. The top feedback from respondents mentioned adding more parks, trails, greenways, and better safety. In addition, citizens said they would enjoy more open space, additional dog parks, accessible restrooms, and more connections between parks and communities.
The Lebanon Parks and Recreation Department has “kept the parks maintained and clean and have a clear focus on excellence,” according to the conclusion of the Master Plan. In addition, the report said, “Lebanon will need to increase the annual parks and recreation budget to implement and sustain the proposed recommendations adequately.”
Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter
