HomeMy WebLinkAbout21957 1 ORDINANCE NO. 21,957
2
3 AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE 2020 PARKS AND RECREATION
4 MASTER PLAN AND 2020-2024 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE CITY OF
5 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS; TO REPEAL THE MASTER PARKS
6 PLAN APPROVED IN LITTLE ROCK, ARK., ORDINANCE NO. 18,528
7 (JULY 17, 2001); TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER
8 PURPOSES.
9
10 WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, has enjoyed a rich history of support for the
11 development, maintenance and operation of parks and recreation facilities for the citizens of the City, and
12 such history includes having commissioned John Nolen of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1913, to
13 develop a general chain of parks concept, particularly parks along the City's northern boundary with the
14 Arkansas River; and,
15 WHEREAS, Arkansas State Law permits the City to engage in appropriate planning to assure a
16 coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development, and one aspect of such planning includes the
17 adoption of an appropriate for the development, creation, construction, operation and maintenance of
18 parks and recreation facilities within the City; and,
19 WHEREAS,the City adopted a parks, playgrounds and recreational areas plan for the City that was
20 officially referred to as the Master Parks Plan for the City of Little Rock, Arkansas ("Master Plan"), by
21 Little Rock, Ark. Ordinance No. 18,528 (July 17, 2001), and at that time repealed ordinances that dealt
22 with previous Parks and Recreation Plans; and,
23 WHEREAS, since that time this ordinance has undergone amendments in order to add property, to
24 clarify the jurisdiction of the City over certain kinds of park facilities, and the City has also divided the
25 responsibilities for its Parks and Recreation Department, and its Zoo Department;and,
26 WHEREAS, after a competitive process, the City engaged the firm of Lose & Associates, to help
27 develop a Ten (10)-Year Comprehensive Master Plan for the Little Rock Parks and Recreation
28 Department; and,
29 WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Master Plan was funded through funds received from the 3/8-Cent
30 City Sales and Use Tax; and,
31 WHEREAS, after public discussion with input from residents, staff, and stakeholders along with an
32 analysis of existing conditions helped formulate the 2020 Comprehensive Master Plan that will provide
33 guidance to the Parks and Recreations Department while making improvements throughout the City from
34 2021 to 2030; and,
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1 WHEREAS,the 2020-2024 Parks Strategic Plan emanates from this Comprehensive Master Plan and
2 provides a five (5)-year plan of action to achieve the goals set in the Master Plan while maintaining a
3 vision for the chain of parks concept, and should be formally adopted by the Little Rock Board of
4 Directors.
5 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY
6 OF LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS:
7 Section 1. Adoption of Master Plan. The Little Rock Parks and Recreation 2020 Master Plan and
8 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, as set forth in Exhibit A to this ordinance, is hereby adopted by the Board of
9 Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and shall be known as the "Little Rock Parks and
10 Recreation 2020 Master Plan and 2020-2024 Strategic Plan."
11 Section 2.Repeal of Previous Plan. Little Rock, Ark., Ordinance No. 18,528 (July 17,2001),and the
12 Master Parks Plan created in that ordinance, and any amendments to that ordinance which have occurred
13 since its adoption,are hereby repealed.
14 Section 3. Vision & Goals. The vision and goals of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation 2020
15 Master Plan and 2020-2024 Strategic Plan shall be focused upon an overall desire to create a "City in a
16 Park," and shall include three(3)major components:
17 (A)To maintain the creation of a Citywide system of parks, open spaces and natural areas;and,
18 (B) The provision of facilities and programs to serve all user groups, communities, and age
19 groups within the City; and,
20 (C) The advocacy, creation and maintenance of the "City in a Park" vision through partnerships,
21 creative financing mechanisms and education programs.
22 Section 4. Parks Strategic Plan. The 2020-2024 Parks Strategic Plan emanates from the
23 Comprehensive Master Plan and provides a five (5)-year plan of action to achieve the goals set in the
24 Master Plan.
25 Section 5. Par/ and Recreation Uses. City parks and recreational facilities may be used for any
26 purpose set forth in the Comprehensive Master Plan, City Ordinance, State Statute, or such purposes as
27 are used in recognized parks and recreational facilities in other parts of the State of Arkansas, or the
28 United States, that are, in the opinion of the governing body, consistent with this Little Rock Parks and
29 Recreation 2020 Master Plan and any applicable Planning and Zoning Ordinances or State Law
30 provisions.
31 Section 6. Amendments to Little Rock Parks and Recreation 2020 Master Plan. The governing
32 body may, by resolution, amend certain parts of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation 2020 Master Plan
33 by resolution as long as such change does not amend a formal section of this ordinance.
34 Section 7. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or
35 word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or
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1 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and
2 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional was not originally a part
3 of the ordinance.
4 Section 8.Repealer. All laws, ordinances, resolutions, or parts of the same not otherwise specifically
5 repealed herein that are inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent
6 of such inconsistency.
7 Section 9. Emergency Clause. The ability to have an enforceable and visionary plan for the
8 development, construction, creation, maintenance, and operation of a viable municipal parks and
9 recreation system is essential to protect the public health, safety and welfare; the existing Parks Master
10 Plan is in dire need of being updated to meet the continuing and growing needs of the citizens of the City
11 of Little Rock, and the numerous persons who are not citizens, but who regularly enjoy and are attracted
12 to various City parks and recreation facilities; the Master Plan approved in this ordinance fulfills this
13 need; an emergency is, therefore, declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect
14 from and after the date of its passage.
15 PASSED: February 2,2021
16 ATTEST: APPROVED:
17 /,►
18 �� ,th1/l
19 Allison Segars, puty City Clerk Frank Scott Jr., Ma
20
21 APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
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23
24 l/
25 Thomas M. Carpenter,City A orney
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