RESOLUTION NO. ____-----------_----______, SERIES 2022
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A RESOLUTION URGING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARKS FOR ALL ACTION PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS TO EQUITABLY INVEST IN AND ADVANCE THE LOUISVILLE METRO PUBLIC PARKS SYSTEM AND THE LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. (AMENDMENT BY SUBSTITUTION)
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS FOWLER, ARTHUR, PIAGENTINI,
DORSEY, AND PRESIDENT JAMES
WHEREAS, the Louisville Metro Council (the “Council”) has a desire to advance equity across the Louisville Metro area; and
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro is known as a city of parks; and
WHEREAS, since August 2021, the Parks For All Initiative (the “Initiative”) has been underway, completing a comprehensive examination of the Louisville Metro Public Parks System (“Parks System”) to gain a full understanding of the planning, budget process, existing plans and strategy documents, parks and recreation operations, and elected official priorities; and
WHEREAS, the results of the data gathering process for the Initiative were presented to the Parks and Sustainability Committee at its October 20, 2022 meeting; and
WHEREAS, the Parks For All Action Plan (“Action Plan”) is shaped by three categories of Louisville Metro data: park and recreation site data, community data, and public input data; and
WHEREAS, parks, trails, and recreation were identified by Louisville Metro residents as among the top three factors that make a community a “great place to live”; and
WHEREAS, 95% of households in Louisville Metro have visited parks in Louisville Metro within the last year; and
WHEREAS, investments in the Parks System are significantly lower than 17 comparably-sized peer cities with parks and recreation public spending at 37% of the peer-city average, parks and recreation staffing at 53% of the peer-city average, and the most recent 5-year average of total parks and recreation spending (operations + capital) at 45% of the peer-city average; and
WHEREAS, per acre spending in the Parks System is 47% of the average spending of all park systems in the United States; and
WHEREAS, over the past 20 years, 20% (30) of Louisville public parks have received $0 in capital investments, 50% (58) have received less than $100,000 in capital investments and 67% (79) have received less than $500,000 in capital investments; and
WHEREAS, Louisville Metro has 13% more public parkland per 1,000 residents than the average of all park systems in the United States; and
WHEREAS, in the two years the Initiative has been underway, the Initiative has also built relationships while gaining an understanding of the critical facets of the local government to ensure the Plan framework and recommendations align with the Metro Government’s agenda, strategies, budget structure, and future options and opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the Initiative has adopted final recommendations that represent and support equitable allocation of resources and service delivery in seven categories: maintenance, rehabilitation, capital, recreation, policy, operations, and financing/fundraising, a copy of which is attached as amended Exhibit A to this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the Council supported the Parks Alliance with an allocation of $200,000 for the Parks For All study, only the third city across the country to initiate this comprehensive analysis of their Parks System; and
WHEREAS, the Council Budget Committee allocated $100,000 for the first year of Transition Support Services to oversee implementation of the Action Plan Recommendations; and
WHEREAS, the Council Budget Committee allocated $24,000 for the executive search for the Louisville Parks and Recreation Director, who will be instrumental in implementation of the Action Plan Recommendations; and
WHEREAS, given the value and impact that parks and recreation plays in daily lives of all Louisvillians, the Council is committed to reinvesting in the Parks System ensuring:
• increased operating and capital park financial investments to reach the national average for cities of comparable size;
• investments, policies, and operations are grounded in equity;
• the Louisville Parks and Recreation Department’s organizational structure, operations, and practices are based on industry best practices and support equitable investments; and
• a coordinated strategy is implemented amongst the park nonprofits and the Louisville Parks and Recreation Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (“THE COUNCIL”) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Council fully supports the Parks for All Action Plan Final Recommendations.
SECTION II: The Council urges Louisville Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with any other necessary Metro agencies, to move forward with implementation of the Parks for All Action Plan Final Recommendations at time of hire of a new Louisville Parks and Recreation Director.
SECTION III: The Council requests the administration follow the Parks for All Action Plan funding recommendations to provide for increased resources to care for the Parks System.
SECTION IV: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval or otherwise becoming law.
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_______________________________ Sonya Harward Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ David James President of the Council |
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_______________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: ____________________________
R-189-22-v.2 Parks for All - 12-08-22 mhh