Cookeville Recreation Master Plan Approved

Cookeville City Council approved the development of a systemwide recreation master plan Thursday night.

The contract with Nashville firm Kimley-Horn will not exceed $99,500. Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said the plan will provide an assessment of the services offered by the department, including input from local citizens.

“To continue to be eligible for state grant funding, we must develop a system wide master plan for our department, a plan that will evaluate our facilities, our programs, processes and the community needs for recreation,” Woods said.

Woods said the analysis will look at the overall operations of Leisure Services, including staffing, facilities, programs and financial analysis. It should be complete within six months.

“They will produce for us a final master plan report, which will meet our requirement to be able to be eligible for the next round of (grants),” Woods said.

Woods said the city may request up to two park designs if needed for any additional new parks or parts of new park. The systemwide assessment will also incorporate other plans already developed by the city including Dogwood Land Use Plan and the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

Kimley Horn is currently working with the state on a similar plan across the Volunteer State, Woods said.