What is a PROST Plan?
A Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails (PROST) Master Plan is an essential tool for communities to guide the development, maintenance, and improvement of their recreational spaces. Completing a PROST Master Plan offers numerous benefits and follows a systematic process to ensure that it reflects the needs, desires, and capacities of the community.
A PROST Master Plan ensures a structured and forward-thinking approach to developing recreational spaces, promoting healthy living, environmental protection, and community engagement. By following a transparent and inclusive process, the plan creates a shared vision that supports long-term sustainability and enhances the town’s livability for residents and visitors alike.
Benefits of Completing a PROST Master Plan
The plan provides a clear framework for the development and enhancement of parks, trails, open spaces, and recreation facilities. It ensures that growth is well-organized and aligned with the town's long-term vision.
By involving residents, stakeholders, and user groups in the planning process, the town ensures that the plan reflects the needs and preferences of the community. It fosters a sense of ownership and connection between the residents and their recreational assets.
A thoughtfully developed parks and recreation system promotes physical activity, social interaction, and mental well-being by providing residents with access to green spaces, trails, and recreational programs.
A strong parks and recreation system often contributes to the local economy by drawing visitors and residents to events and outdoor activities. An attractive and well-maintained parks system can increase property values and attract new people to the area.
A PROST Master Plan often includes goals for preserving natural habitats, protecting green spaces, and encouraging sustainable land management. This helps maintain ecological balance and supports biodiversity.
A PROST Master Plan often emphasizes connecting parks and open spaces to other key locations, often through the use of trails. This creates an accessible system that serves residents of all ages and abilities, while improving mobility and encouraging active transportation.
Having a formal and adopted plan can make the town eligible for grants and other funding opportunities. It shows that the town has a strategic approach to the development of its parks system, making it more competitive when applying for state, federal, or private funding.
What the PROST Plan Will Include:
A description of the planning or area, including the physical setting, the community profile (or demographics), other mutually supportive planning efforts, and a summary of conditions of the complete inventory of each existing outdoor recreation asset or program.
A description of how the planning process gave the public ample opportunity to guide the future direction of parks, recreation, open spaces, and trails and to be involved in the plan development and adoption.
An analysis that takes your inventory work and public engagement into consideration, balancing public demand with Elizabeth's current capacity and future expectations.
The plan will highlight goals and policies that capture Elizabeth's desired outdoor recreation resources and future vision.
A list of the desired capital improvements or capital facility programs that lists and prioritizes desired land acquisition, development, renovation, and restoration projects.
A resolution, ordinance, or other adoption instrument showing formal approval of the plan and planning process by the governing entity.
