Page 13 - KCMO Parks Master Plan 2032

recommended, along with pursuing
Needs Assessment
The system needs assessment included
conducting a recreation and leisure trend
analysis, park level of service analysis, community
benchmark analysis, and financial analysis. The
findings of this examination were:
• In 2022, the five most popular activities
in Kansas City included exercise walking,
exercise with equipment, hiking, aerobic
exercise, and swimming.
• Kansas City’s park system generally
meets or surpasses level of service
standards for agencies of comparable
size, with the notable exception of trail
mileage.
• An update of the Trails KC Plan is
revised target miles as outlined in the new
plan.
• Implementation of a dedicated fund for
trail maintenance and replacement is
advised.
• KCMO boasts a larger park system than
its peers, evident in metrics like park
acreage per resident and total park count.
• The Department heavily depends on
park sales tax for covering its operating
expenses.
Implementation
This park master plan reaffirms the current
department mission statement:
“To improve the quality of life, health, and
wellness of our community by providing socially
equitable, community-driven programming
and environmentally sound natural resource
management.”
The four pillars of the department which
collectively serve to achieve the above mission
are:
1. Social equity
2. Health and wellness
3. Conservation
4. Organizational stability
Based upon the findings learned during this
process and detailed in this report, the consultant
team has revised the objectives and strategies
to serve these pillars and guide the department
for the next 10 years. Those objectives are listed
on the following page. A broader discussion of
the objectives and their strategies is found in the
Implementation chapter.
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