Page 20 - parks-master-plan

D ublin residents strongly desire beautiful parks, greenways, trails,

recreation facilities and programs. This chapter of the Master Plan will analyze the approach and organizational system the City uses to deliver its services. The tool used to analyze the approach and organizational system is “Excellent Park System Characteristics,” created in 2002 by the Trust for Public Lands under the leadership of its director, Peter Harnik.

In 1984, the City of Dublin organized its park system and recreation program under the leadership of a Director of Parks and Recreation. The department operated in this manner until 1996, when City Council eliminated the single position of Parks and Recreation Director and created the Grounds & Facilities and Recreation Services divisions within the Department of Service. These decisions were made to address concerns that either parks or recreation would be slighted under the direction of just one person. At the time the Dublin Community Recreation Center had just opened and the park system was rapidly developing, creating a full slate of capital improvement program projects.

In 2004, another reorganization created Parks & Open Space. Paired with Recreation Services, the divisions became the Department of Parks and

Recreation under the immediate supervision of the City Manager. In 2007, these two areas were placed under the supervision of the Deputy City Manager/Chief of Police.