NEWS RELEASE
The Hays County Commissioners Court has approved the Parks, Open Spaces and Natural Areas Master Plan, which was a year in the making and is expected to guide the parks planning process in the unincorporated areas of Hays County for the next 10 years.
“Hays County is growing fast, and quality of life for the people who live here generally includes parks and recreation facilities,” said Jeff Hauff, Grants Administrator for the county. “Through the planning process, our residents were able to tell us what they consider to be priorities in the county. As funds become available, the county can move forward with creating or adapting spaces that provide for both active and passive recreational activities. Not only will we have a map to follow in providing these areas, we have a plan that we can provide for potential funders.”
The plan recognizes the need to fill unmet needs in unincorporated areas of the county and to complement the work being done by municipalities. Among the priorities is a need for parks and public spaces that preserve water corridors and special areas that reflect the attributes of the Hill Country that initially attracted residents to the area. It calls for Hays County to take a leadership role in addressing the priorities in the plan and to seek collaborative ways for parks funding and development.
In order to be considered for Texas Parks & Wildlife Department grants, counties are required to have a new parks master plan every 10 years, with updates to existing plans every five years. Hays County developed its first master plan in 2002.
A copy of the plan is available at www.co.hays.tx.us/parksmasterplan.
Buda plans
The Buda area responses indicates preference for more active recreation and community facilities. as in all planning areas, trails and river and creek access were high priorities/preferences. the Buda area had some satisfaction with active recreation activities but dissatisfaction with passive activities. the city of Buda’s location allows for more direct connections to the highway and opportunities for more active recreation partnership. the following are priorities/preferences for the Buda Planning area:
- river and creek access
- multi-use trails
- community gardens
- recreation center and sports complex
- shooting sports complex
Kyle plans
The demand assessment for the kyle area indicates the desire for community spaces and passive recreation activities. there was a strong emphasis in the kyle area on the importance of community facilities but also general satisfaction with them. there was overall dissatisfaction with existing passive activities in the area. as in all planning areas, trails and river and creek access were high priorities/preferences. the kyle area’s location along a major highway provides opportunities larger gathering facilities that require access and nearby amenities to support them. due to these factors, the following are priorities/preferences for the kyle Planning area:
- multi-use trails
- river and creek access
- camping
- recreation center and sports complex
- festivals and special event spaces
