Polk School SummitPlaying Together for Future Generations

Andy Palmer, CPRPCity of Winter Haven Leisure Services Division

How Many People

Planning for Recreation & Parks• We all have our mantras – “County of

Choice”, “Premier”, “Place to Live, Work, and Play”, etc…

• Quality of life dictates mantras. • Many quality of life services are provided

through parks and recreation & school programs.

• That quality of life is up to our governmental agencies to provide.

Parks and Recreation & School Extra Curricular Activities

Amenities and niceties

vs.

Necessary infrastructure and services

Planning for Recreation & Parks

• Prioritize our services– Needs and Public Input

• Quantify Priorities

• Short Term Vs. Long Term

Planning for Recreation & Parks• Implement Priorities. • Remember Polk Vision – We don’t want to be a

bedroom community. We want to offer a sense of place.

• Look at the way that you conduct business. It is ok to try something new. Really – it is.

Planning for Recreation & Parks Implement

• CIP• Cost Recovery• Financing• Alternative sites/providers• School Sites

Execute• Instead of continuing to ask why we can’t, let’s

start to ask how can we make it happen.

Planning for Recreation & Parks Case Study

• County Road 653 Area of Winter Haven• Until the last five years, it was a sleepy area.• With the school and recent development, has become

very populated. • Approximately 2000 units today.• Possibility of at least another 1000 units that have been

platted.• Potential for even more with zoning and land use

approvals.

Possibility