City of Upper Arlington
Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan
| Location: | Completed: | Project Type: | Partners: |
| Upper Arlington, Ohio | November 2018 | City-Wide Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan | OHM Advisors Williams Architect ETC Institute |
The City of Upper Arlington’s Parks & Recreation Department underwent a comprehensive planning process from the summer of 2017 through the close of 2018, with the goal of developing a document that would inform and guide decision-making relative to the department’s oversight of parks, facilities and programming into the next decade and beyond. PROS Consulting was contracted to perform the study on the City’s behalf. The process was multi-pronged, including detailed assessments of the parks and existing facilities, department programming and procedures, benchmarking comparisons with other communities, analysis of Upper Arlington’s demographics, consideration of national trends, and extensive community engagement to gather feedback directly from residents and community stakeholders relative to needs and opportunities for improvement.
A healthy network of parks, facilities and recreational opportunities are a vital contributor to a community’s vibrancy, sense of place, and desirability as a place to live, work and play, which ultimately supports the community’s economic stability. Public parks are the community’s front yard, providing space for enjoyment of the natural environment, community gatherings, family activities, educational opportunities, sports leagues, fitness and wellness activities. They improve public and environmental health, create safe neighborhoods, educate and inspire our youth, and connect the community.
As an older, fully developed community, Upper Arlington’s park system—and the facilities within it—has long been established. By national standards, the system is deficient in its acreage per 1,000 population; however, the parks are considered a community treasure and are filled with a range of passive and active outdoor recreational facilities. With a total coverage of 182 acres, the system is comprised of seven larger community parks (totaling 156 acres) that serve multiple functions, 14 neighborhood parks (totaling 26 acres) that typically feature one or two facilities such as playgrounds and benches, and pocket parks—smaller green spaces that enhance the community’s aesthetic appeal with landscaping and unique features. All parks are situated within residential neighborhoods, and residents have a strong attachment to them and how they are used. Few opportunities exist to expand park acreage within Upper Arlington’s borders, especially to the extent necessary to facilitate a significant addition to the system, such as a field sports facility. High land costs in Upper Arlington add to the challenge.
As a result, this Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan has been developed to systematically guide the City in its provision of exceptional parks, park amenities, recreational facilities and programming that meet the wants and needs of the Upper Arlington community. By providing detailed assessments of existing conditions, demographics and emerging trends, coupled with extensive feedback from citizens, the plan placed the Administration and City Council in an informed position when prioritizing future investment.
