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1 ORDINANCE NO. 18,528
2
3 AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A MASTER PARKS PLAN
4 FOR THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; TO
5 REPEAL THE PARKS SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, AS
6 AMENDED, APPROVED IN LITTLE ROCK, ARK.,
7 ORDINANCE NO. 14,517 (OCTOBER 4,1983); TO DECLARE
s AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
9
10 WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, has enjoyed a rich history of
ii support for the development, maintenance and operation of parks and recreation
12 facilities for the citizens of the City, and such history includes having
13 commissioned John Nolen of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1913, to develop a
14 general chain of parks concept, particularly parks along the City's northern
15 boundary with the Arkansas River, and
16 WHEREAS, Arkansas law permits the City to engage in appropriate
17 planning to assure a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development, and
is one aspect of such planning includes the adoption of an appropriate for the
19 development, creation, construction, operation and maintenance of parks and
20 recreation facilities within the City, and
21 WHEREAS, the City approved a parks, playgrounds, and recreational
22 areas plan for the City that was officially referred to as the Parks System Master
23 Plan 1983 ( "Parks System Master Plan "), in Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No.
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1 14,517 (October 4, 1983), and at that time repealed ordinances that dealt with
2 previous parks and recreation plans, and
3 WHEREAS, since that time this ordinance has undergone numerous
4 amendments in order to add property, to clarify the jurisdiction of the City over
5 certain kinds of park facilities, and the City has also divided the responsibilities
6 for its Parks and Recreation Department, and its Zoo Department, and
7 WHEREAS, after a competitive process, the City engaged the firm of
s Wallace, Roberts & Todd, LLC, to help formulate and articulate a master plan for
9 parks that utilizes the natural landscapes, scenic waterway, lowlands and
to mountain lands that converge in the Little Rock area, and
11 WHEREAS, after public discussion and presentation of this plan, it has
12 been determined that this Little Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan of July, 2001,
13 which incorporates the overall goals for the City to create "a city in a park," and
14 other features, while maintaining a vision for the chain of parks concept, should
15 be formally adopted by the Little Rock Board of Directors,
16 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF
17 DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
Is Section 1. Adoption of Master Plan. The Little Rock Parks and
19 Recreation Master Plan of July 17, 2001, as set forth in Exhibit A to this
20 Ordinance, is hereby adopted by the Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock,
21 Arkansas, and shall be known as the "Little Rock Master Parks Plan."
22 Section 2. Repeal of Previous Plan. Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No.
23 14,517 (October 4, 1983), and the Parks System Master Plan of 1983 created in that
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1 ordinance, and any amendments to that ordinance which have occurred since its
z adoption, are hereby repealed.
3 Section 3. Definition of a Park. As used in this ordinance, and the
4 above referenced Little Rock Master Parks Plan, the term "park" means any area
s within the jurisdiction of the City which by reason of location, natural features,
6 scenic beauty, or historical interest, possesses in the opinion of the governing
7 body distinctive physical, aesthetic, intellectual, creative or social values. Any
s further definitions of parks contained in this ordinance are supplemental to, and
9 complimentary of, this definition.
io Section 4. Little Rock Master Parks Plan Definitions. As used in this
u ordinance, and the Little Rock Master Parks Plan, the following terms have these
12 listed meanings:
13 (a) Aquatic Center: An indoor facility, and any associated outdoor water
14 facilities, which includes a variety of water- related recreational facilities
is and programs for multiple age groups.
16 (b) Community park: A park that serves community-based recreational
17 needs and may also preserve unique landscapes and open spaces.
is Typically larger in size than neighborhood parks, community parks serve
19 several neighborhoods and may include facilities which are too large to be
20 sited in neighborhood parks. Generally, a community park is between 20
21 and 50 acres in size.
22 (c) Community center: A center that facilitates a diverse range of
23 recreational and educational opportunities and is available for use by the
24 general public.
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1 (d) Community garden: A parcel of land that is designated for the
2 common use of nearby residents to propagate ornamental plants, or crops,
3 or a combination of such flora.
4 (e) Competition field: A sports field that is suitable for competition play
5 in an identified sport. Such fields should have regular maintenance and
6 appropriate parking available, and may have lighting for nighttime
7 competitions, practices, or play. The term "competition field," may be
s used interchangeably with the term "game field."
9 (f) Cultural resource: Any structure or area with historic, archaeological,
to architectural, artistic, or entertainment significance to a particular
11 community or culture.
12 (g) Equestrian Center: A facility oriented toward the care, exercise, and
13 recreation of horses. Such a facility may include boarding, training, or
14 even facilities, and may permit the rental of horses, or horse rides. An
15 equestrian center, if large enough, may also provide equestrian trails.
16 (h) Facility: Any structure or equipment designed, constructed, or
17 required for participation in recreational activities.
18 (i) Greenway: A natural or relatively undeveloped linear area which
19 links parks and open space. Greenways are intended to tie park systems
20 components together to form a cohesive park environment. Greenways
21 are ideal for trial development.
22 (j) Horticultural center: Any facility or kiosk that presents information
23 of an educational or interpretative type to explain its surroundings.
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1 (k) Linkage: A connection, generally between two or more parcels of
2 land, which allows for easy movement from one point to another.
3 (1) Mini -park: The smallest park classification for the type of park that
4 typically addresses limited or isolated recreational needs. A mini -park is
5 sometimes referred to as a "pocket park." Mini -parks may be founding
6 residential or commercial areas, and may include active or passive
7 recreational opportunities, or a combination of such activities.
s (m) Natural amenity: Any natural resource that may be considered to
9 have recreational, conservational, or scenic value.
10 (n) Neighborhood park: A park that serves the basic recreational needs of
11 an identified neighborhood. A neighborhood park is developed for both
12 active and passive recreational activities and is specifically programmed
13 for those persons who live within the its immediate service area. A
14 neighborhood park is generally a minimum of five (5) acres in size, and
15 usually is anticipated to be no larger than twenty (20) acres.
16 (o) Open space: Land, water, and atmosphere, private or public that is
17 predominately natural and undeveloped.
18 (p) Programs: The organization of events, activities, or facilities
19 associated with particular forms of recreation, or particular parks. The
20 programming of a park is to create, organize, modify, or implement, such
21 events, activities, facilities, for recreational or other park purposes.
22 (q) Regional Park: A regional park is one that serves the entire City, or a
23 larger region. A regional park is typically built around a unique
24 landscape, natural area, or specialized recreational opportunity. Regional
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1 parks are generally in excess of 50 acres in size, and could easily be more
2 than 100 or 200 acres in size. Such parks may include areas for typical
3 active recreation, but are largely focused upon passive recreational
4 opportunities.
s (r) Riparian: Something that is of, on, or pertaining to the bank of a
6 natural course of water.
7 (s) Senior center: A center that includes recreational facilities and
s programs for mature, and usually older, adults.
9 (t) Tournament field: A sports field, or competition field, that is suitable
10 to accommodate tournament play within a particular classification for a
11 sport. A tournament field includes night lighting, parking, and seating for
12 spectators. A tournament field may be located within a large sport
13 complex.
14 (u) Trail: Any path, passage, or route specifically designated,
1s developed, and managed for trail activities.
16 (v) Urban plaza: A publicly- accessible open area located within an urban
17 context. An urban plaza is generally designed for the use of a large
18 number of people for a short period of time. Such use may be very formal
19 in nature.
20 (w) Water- Related park: A park that contains any number of water -
21 related recreational facilities. Such facilities may include, but are not
22 limited to, spray pools, swimming pools, marinas, beaches, or interactive
23 fountains.
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1 Section 5. Vision & Goals. The vision and goals of the Parks &
2 Recreation Master Plan shall be focused upon an overall desire to create a "city in
3 a park," and shall include three major components:
4 (A) The creation of a citywide system of parks, open spaces and
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natural areas;
6
(B)
The provision of facilities and programs to serve all user
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groups, communities, and age groups within the City;
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(C)
The advocacy, creation and maintenance of the "city in a
9
park" vision through partnerships, creative financing
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mechanisms, and education programs.
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Section 6.
Four Point Strategy. The four point strategy to articulate the
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goals of the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and to guide specific actions
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necessary to create
a "city in a park" are as follows:
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(A)
Creation of an interconnected multi- functional open space
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system comprised of parks, greenways, riparian areas and
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flood - plains, streets, sidewalks, and trails to link public and
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private facilities, and to provide an ecologically responsible
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green infrastructure for the "city in a park ";
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(B)
Construction of signature parks and facilities that will be
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regional banner parks and facilities which provide new and
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expanded recreational opportunities to the citizens of Little
22
Rock, and which will also provide opportunities for the
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citizens of central Arkansas;
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i (C) Provision of neighborhood services through a park or green
2 space within an eight -block radius of each resident of the City
s which will accommodate the recreational needs of the citizens
4 at the neighborhood level;
5 (D) Creation of a diversity in recreational programs that will be
6 capable of serving a City resident's interests from childhood
7 through maturity.
8 Section 7. Park and Recreation Uses. City parks and recreational
9 facilities may be used for any purpose set forth in the master plan, city
to ordinance, state statute, or such purposes as are used in recognized parks and
ii recreational facilities in other parts of the State of Arkansas, or the United States,
12 that are, in the opinion of the governing body, consistent with this Little Rock
13 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and any applicable planning and zoning
14 ordinances or state law provisions.
is Section 8. Amendments to Little Rock Parks and Recreation Master
16 Plan. The governing body may, by resolution, amend certain parts of the Little
17 Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan by resolution as long as such change
18 does not amend a formal section of this ordinance.
19 Section 9. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph,
20 item, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged
21 to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or adjudication shall not affect
22 the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and
23 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional
24 was not originally a part of the ordinance.
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1 Section 10. Repealer. All laws, ordinances, resolutions, or parts of
2 the same not otherwise specifically repealed herein that are inconsistent with the
3 provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such
4 inconsistency.
s Section 7. Emergency Clause. The ability to have an enforceable and
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visionary plan for the development, construction, creation, maintenance, and operation of
a viable municipal parks and recreation system is essential to protect the public health,
safety and welfare; the existing parks master plan is in dire need of being updated to meet
the continuing and growing needs of the citizens of the City of Little Rock, and the
numerous persons who are not citizens, but who regularly enjoy and are attracted to
various City parks and recreation facilities; the master plan approved in this ordinance
fulfills this need; an emergency is, therefore, declared to exist and this ordinance shall be
in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage.
PASSED: July 17, 2001
ATTEST:
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17
is Nanc Wood, ity Clerk
19 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
20
21 C'41LO � 6aA
22 Thomas M. Carpenter, City �ttorney
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APPROVED:
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Brad Cazort, Vice -Mayor