Abilene Parks and Recreation Board discuss Master Plan

ABILENE, Texas — The next 10 years of Abilene Parks and Recreation was the main item during Tuesday’s board meeting as they discussed the departments’ master plan.

The plan lays a groundwork for how the parks in the city can be improved. Lesli Andrews, the Director of Parks and Recreation, told us, "We spent an extensive year hearing from the citizens of Abilene on what was important to them here in Abilene. So, we wanted to make sure that this plan addresses what our citizens want and also why do they travel to other cities? What can we offer here to get them to come?”

The plan was approved by the board and will now go to the City Council before any work can be done. It includes over 100 recommendations varying in size, ranging from increased community involvement to replacing recreation centers.

Andrews explained that timing is key to getting everything done, “We can’t do 122 recommendations in year one and so the plan does break it up into one to two, three to five and six to ten years. But even in the one to two or three to five years, some of those things, has to start today to be able to do it in five years. The next step, once city council approves the plan and gives us their recommendations, is really focusing on the next steps for Abilene looking forward, developing the plans and looking for funding sources to be able to bring it to life.”

If the plan is approved by City Council, funding could come from several sources, like private donations, grants and even potential bonds.

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