Share Your Input About Dutchess County Parks!

Share Your Input About Dutchess County Parks!

Participate in Online Survey and Public Outreach Events
to Help Craft Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Dutchess County Division of Parks is developing a new Dutchess County Parks and Recreation Master Plan and County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro encourages residents and visitors to participate in the plan’s development by sharing feedback and ideas about county parks. The public can take part by participating in this online Parks and Recreation Community Needs Survey and by attending public engagement events on June 4th & 5th at multiple locations throughout the county.

“The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be our guide for parks programming and investment over the next several years. Public engagement is critical to creating a vibrant and relevant plan that reflects what our residents and visitors need and want,” said the County Executive. “We are proud of our award-winning parks, but we want to continue to improve and enhance the quality of life in our community. Our parks are accessible and inclusive for residents and visitors of all abilities to enjoy.”

The Dutchess County Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be a roadmap for ensuring an appropriate balance of recreational facilities, amenities and programs throughout County parks, now and into the future, with a special emphasis on creating universal access at park facilities, including buildings, playgrounds and trails.

The online Parks and Recreation Community Needs Survey will help identify community needs and issues concerning County parks, recreational programs and facilities. Survey results will be used as a baseline for determining needs, desires and support for facilities usage and program participation. The survey is available online and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Public outreach events will also be held in June for residents and visitors to participate in. The events will include an Open House component where the public can get an overview of the Master Plan project. There will also be interactive stations with maps and idea boards to gather input from the public about the facilities, programming and opportunities for the various County parks. The event schedule is as follows:

Monday, June 4, 2018 – Bowdoin Park Pavilion #5, 85 Sheafe Road, Wappingers Falls

• 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Self-guided Public “Drop-in” Session with activity stations to learn about the project and provide feedback about all Dutchess County Parks

• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Public Open House with activity stations facilitated by project team members to learn about the project and provide feedback about all Dutchess County Parks

• 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Presentation by Project Team and Dutchess County Staff

Tuesday, June 5, 2018 – Town of Milan Town Hall, 20 Wilcox Circle, Red Hook

• 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Self-guided Public “Drop-in” Session with activity stations to learn about the project and provide feedback about all Dutchess County Parks

• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Public Open House with activity stations facilitated by project team members to learn about the project and provide feedback about all Dutchess County Parks

• 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Presentation by Project Team and Dutchess County Staff

Tuesday, June 5, 2018 – Quiet Cove Park, 1 Clear Water Drive, Poughkeepsie

• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Walk and Talk Session with Project Team

Director of Parks Steve Olsen said, “We are committed to providing modern, safe, convenient and accessible parks and recreational resources to our community members. We have a wide-range of popular amenities and programs, but there are many fresh ideas and opportunities we want to explore. This Master Plan will help us identify immediate and long-term improvements that can enhance the overall experience for all of our park visitors."

Dutchess County’s Park and Recreation Master Plan team includes Dutchess County officials and staff, parks and recreation professionals, and advocacy representatives. The County has contracted with M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C. (MJ) of Clifton Park to facilitate the master planning process, with support from PLACE Alliance.

For more information about Dutchess County Parks, visit www.dutchessny.gov.