The Planning Unit within the Planning & Capital Development Branch (“PCD”) of SPR is tasked with identifying acquisition, access, and capital needs to support and expand this system. PCD does this work through comprehensive capital planning to manage existing asset classes with regular renovations or replacement to provide high-quality, sustainable, and safe use for all while identifying opportunities to fill service gaps. One way in which this work is completed is through regular updates of SPR’s Parks & Open Space Plan (“Plan”). The City’s comprehensive plan (more here)—updated every 10 years, is required by the State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) to ensure that land use regulations accommodate growth in a manner that does not exhaust existing infrastructure, including the parks and recreation system. This is primarily done through a “Capital Facility Plan” that must include: An inventory of existing facilities A forecast for future needs of these facilities A 6-year plan for financing the maintenance of existing and development of proposed facilities The proposed location and capacity of expanded or new facilities for the City to maintain a minimum level-of-service for the parks and recreation system based off how many public facilities or services are needed to meet the needs of the current and projected population.
