Brunswick Parks & Recreation Master Plan by Designing Local

Ohio

Acknowledgments

The City of Brunswick extends gratitude to the hundreds of community members who gave of their time to provide feedback into this plan.

CITY STAFF

Ron Falconi Mayor

Nick Hanek Vice Mayor

Carl DeForest

City Manager, Safety Director

Todd Fischer Finance Director

Taylor Petkovsek Director, Parks and Recreation Department

Thomas Adams Lead Parks Technician

CITY COUNCIL

Mike Abella, Jr. Ward 1

Nick Hanek President of Council, Ward 2

Brandon Lambert Ward 3

Keith Kuczma

Ward 4

Joe Delsanter

Council-at-Large, Council President Pro Tem

Kristy Piper

Council-at-Large

Tim Smith

Council-at-Large

ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS

Dom DePompei

Brunswick Youth Baseball and Softball Association

Paul Behe

Brunswick Pickleball

Nathan Eppink Director, Medina County Parks District

Julius Bohrer

Brunswick Soccer Association

Judy Galo

Brunswick Historical Society

Laura Toth, Sue Jones & Joanne Meincke

Medina County Senior and Adult Services

Jason Niedermeyer

Brunswick City School District

CONSULTANT TEAM

Matthew Leasure, AICP PLA LEED AP Principal, Designing Local

Meredith Reed

Urban Planner, Designing Local

Korbin Steinbrunner

Intern, Designing Local

Ryan Smalley, PE AICP Principal, Envision

Austin L. Hochstetler, CPRE Principal, Zec Eight Insights

January 3, 2025

Dear Brunswick Community:

Public spaces are the reflection of the values of the community in which they exist. In Brunswick, there is no more important public space than our parks — we have 23 distinct parks covering over 335 acres of land. Our parks serve connections between neighborhoods, for recreational activities, and as gathering places.

Brunswick is one of the top fifty largest cities by population in Ohio and the largest city in Medina County. While Brunswick has grown and evolved over time, it remains a place that cares deeply about families and each other. Our parks are a reflection of those values – such as the recent addition of the inclusive playground at Neura Park that allows for all types of children to play together in an accessible and inclusive environment.

It is important that we take the care and thought to approach our future strategically and with logical planning. To do this, we have engaged in a parks master planning process to ensure we are taking the best steps forward. As a community, we must operate with logical decision making processes backed with careful thought and consideration. This planning process reflects that mindset and, although it may take time to implement, planning leads to better outcomes.

Over the preceding year this plan has been developed with the assistance of an outside team of dedicated parks design professionals and with the input of so many in our community. Surveys, events, and public feedback have all been provided by the residents of Brunswick throughout the year The amount of feedback and the number of responses from the citizens of Brunswick has been tremendous and reflects how deeply we care about our public spaces and parks. Thank you to all of you who participated as you have helped to shape our future.

The resulting plan is a living document that takes into account your feedback and is a blueprint forward that we can follow to improve our community and to create great public spaces that reflect the values of Brunswick.

Together, as a community, we can use this document as a guide toward a brighter future. This will require a continued commitment, more discussion, and citizen engagement to bring the details of this plan to reality but we now have the path forward. The decisions we make together, based upon this plan, will enrich our community and create great public spaces in our parks.

Nicholas J. Hanek

Council President/Vice-Mayor

Phone: (330) 558-1743

Cell: (330) 204-4103

nhanek@brunswick.oh.us

4095 CENTER ROAD — BRUNSWICK, OHIO 44212 CITY HALL PHONE: (330) 225-9144 — FAX: (330) 273-8023 — POLICE & FIRE PHONE: (330) 225-9111 —FAX: (330) 225-6002 http://www.brunswick.oh.us

Table of Contents: Plan Narrative

Table

Table of Contents: Maps, Figures & Tables

Executive Summary

This section summarizes all the key elements of this plan and its recommendations.

The Plan & Planning Process

CITY OF BRUNSWICK PARKS & RECREATION

The City of Brunswick — a growing, family-oriented community — currently offers its residents and visitors 23 park sites totaling 335 acres. It also operates the The Recreation & Fitness Center, which provides members access to an indoor pool, basketball courts, indoor track, cardio equipment, free weights and weighted machines, meeting spaces, and other amenities. The department further delivers a diverse array of year-round sporting opportunities, youth camps, and cultural activities. Brunswick's parks and recreational facilities provide people with places to enjoy nature and time with friends and family while improving their health, reducing crime, and preserving property values. They are essential to preserving a high quality of life for all who call Brunswick home.

ABOUT THIS PLAN

The City of Brunswick now seeks to develop its parks and recreational offerings, as there is widespread agreement within the city that these amenities have been under-resourced and require attention to achieve parity with nearby communities. City leadership commissioned this Parks & Recreation Master Plan to ascertain community priorities for parks and recreation over the next five years and facilitate an efficient use of resources to address them. To those ends, this plan includes an asset inventory of all city parks and the Community Recreation Center, a supply (i.e., benchmarking) analysis comparing Brunswick against other parks systems, a community needs assessment, recommendations for the park system and individual parks, and implementation and funding strategies.

THE PLANNING PROCESS

The consultant team mobilized in June 2024 with introductory meetings with City of Brunswick staff, a tour of Brunswick's parks and Community Recreation Center, and a review of discovery materials provided by city staff. Through July and August, the consultant team held 30–60-minute one-on-one conversations with 15 community stakeholders via Zoom (an additional 2 interviews were held in November), and an online survey was promoted to community members. On July 29, residents were invited to an Open House–style engagement event at the Community Recreation Center, where more than 90 attendees participated in a mapping exercise and indicated their preference for various amenities using sticker dots, gold "coins," and handwritten notes. During the fall of 2024, a Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) benchmarked Brunswick's supply of parks and recreation services and amenities against communities nationwide that are similar in size and in the number of parks they maintain. The survey closed with 1,382 responses (i.e., from approximately 4% of the total community). And on October 16, community members were invited to a second Open House event, this time to react to draft recommendations; more than 55 people attended. The consultant team then prioritized its recommended capital expenditures and identified potential funding sources to facilitate the implementation of each. The final plan and its recommendations, which incorporated feedback from almost 1,500 community members, was formally adopted by Council in early 2025.

The Plan & Planning Process

Community engagement events on July 29 and October 16, 2024. Photos: Designing Local

The Plan & Planning Process

FEEDBACK ANALYSIS

Common themes emerged from the community engagement efforts associated with this plan, which were then reinforced by the supply analysis. Overwhelmingly, it is clear there is a deep passion for parks in Brunswick, and an appetite to grow their offerings and impact. Brunswick community members feel the Brunswick Parks & Recreation Department has done a remarkable job with its limited resource, but they are frustrated that nearby communities have better parks and recreation offerings than they do. They feel that Brunswick's park maintenance is inadequate and that its amenities, facilities, communications, and programs are not of sufficient quality or quantity to meet their needs. Indeed, the supply analysis reveals that Brunswick is understaffed and underfunded for what it provides and, were it not for nearby county-operated parks, the impact of this would be even more pronounced.

When asked what parks-related investments they would like to see, community members coalesced around several priorities. Topping the list were upgrades to the Community Recreation Center, better aquatics facilities and programs, parking and restrooms at Hopkins and Mooney Parks, new trails and walking paths, and additional pickleball capacity. There was also interest in having more non-sports youth programs and family-friendly community festivals and events, as well as additional shade and benches in the parks and better communication about department offerings.

Encouragingly, Brunswick residents are aware that the improvements they hope for will require an additional investment on their part, and seem willing to provide it. There is strong interest in volunteerism within the community, and survey results suggest an openness funding capital parks projects through a tax levy.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for the park system and individual parks were derived from the community engagement described above, and can be viewed on the following pages.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN & FUNDING STRATEGIES

The plan concludes with project implementation tables that provide cost estimates, timeframes, and funding sources for each capital project recommended herein. These are broken out according to whether they are maintenance/renovation projects (such as product lifecycle replacement or equipment repair), improvement projects (primarily one-time investments to upgrade particular amenities), or "major" capital projects (for example, upgrading the Community Recreation Center or creating a sports complex).

The Plan & Planning Process

Park System Recommendations

1. Invest in staffing and volunteer development to increase operational capacity.

1.01. Hire a full-time Assistant Parks Lead as soon as possible to train under the current Parks Lead for at least one full year before his retirement. Hire two additional full-time maintenance staff as soon as feasible.

1.02. Hire a full-time Recreation Coordinator to ensure that ball fields and courts are maintained and scheduled fairly and that contracted sports leagues are effectively enacting their missions on behalf of the city.

1.03. Hire a full-time Programming & Special Events coordinator to facilitate new programs and community events.

1.04. Facilitate the creation of a Friends of Brunswick Parks volunteer organization to support park maintenance and beautification and help deliver recreation programs (for example, intergenerational activities at summer camp). Hire a full-time Volunteer Coordinator when necessary to support coordination with this organization and other volunteers.

2. Provide amenity and accessibility upgrades at all parks and at the Community Recreation Center.

2.01. Make restroom upgrades an immediate priority for all community parks, and add restrooms to all neighborhood parks when possible. Use wooden shelters to shield portable restrooms in an attractive manner.

2.02. Make parking lot expansion and resurfacing an immediate priority for all community parks, and resurface all neighborhood lots when possible.

2.03. Repair the basketball and tennis courts and nets at all parks that offer them.

2.04. Repair current walking paths and add new walking paths (some paved, some natural) through the wooded areas of all parks that feature them.*

2.05. Ensure that all parks are ADA accessible throughout.

2.06. Continue to invest in upgrading playgrounds and making them accessible to toddlers and those with physical handicaps.

2.07. Add seating in both passive and active areas of all parks, in particular along trails and adjacent to playgrounds and ponds.*

2.08. Ensure that all playgrounds and seating areas are adequately shaded with trees and/or canopies.*

2.09. Beautify the parks and increase their ecological diversity with native plantings, including wildflowers and food-bearing plants.*

2.10. Conduct a feasibility study to determine how best to update the Community Recreation Center, with suggested options as outlined on page 18.

2.11. Address the additional park-specific needs outlined on pages 16–17.

*This item might be appropriate for a volunteer organization to raise funds for or otherwise help implement.

3. Ensure the timely maintenance of all parks grounds, facilities, and amenities.

3.01. Create a maintenance schedule that more proactively addresses mowing and weeding, mulch replacement, trash build-up, invasive species, water quality, vandalism, and similar issues. (It is assumed that this recommendation will be achieved as a natural consequence of hiring additional maintenance staff.)

Park System Recommendations

4. Expand the city's trail network.

4.01. Continue expanding the city's trail network until it connects all Brunswick parks, the Community Recreation Center, and essential Brunswick destinations (for example, shopping centers, schools, and the library), as well as the trail systems of Medina and Cleveland.

5. Offer additional community events and programming for youth and families.

5.01. Offer non-sports youth programs (for example, art or cooking classes and chess, book, or gaming clubs) during evenings and weekend hours. Prioritize tween/teen and adult programming during after-school hours.

5.02. Continue to support and work to expand participation in youth sports leagues. Consider supporting adult sports leagues as well (for example, for pickleball).

5.03. Provide seasonal, family-friendly community events at least once a month.

5.04. Open the Community Recreation Center gym to non-basketball activities, including evening pickleball.

5.05. Offer youth swim lessons, open swim hours, and lap swim hours on a predictable, readily communicated timetable.

6. Make it easier for people to learn about what the Parks and Recreation Department offers.

6.01. Create a printed brochure that maps all city parks and lists their amenities.

6.02. Ensure that the Brunswick Parks Department Facebook page is updated frequently with programming information.

6.03. Cultivate an email list and send monthly messages informing people of upcoming programs and events.

6.04. Publish a seasonal guide to all programs and activities available through the Parks & Recreation Department, as well as the eligibility, registration, and programming information of all sports leagues with which Brunswick is affiliated.

6.05. Undertake a branding and wayfinding exercise to update signage at entryways and throughout all parks and trails, and use plantings to make park entrances more attractive and noticeable.

7. Further explore the idea of developing a Brunswick Sports Park.

7.01. Explore long-term plans for a potential Brunswick Sports Park featuring:

• Baseball/softball diamonds

• Soccer fields

• Tennis/pickleball courts

• Concessions, restrooms, and picnic shelters

• A walking path

• Playgrounds

• A skate park and/or bicycle pump track

8. Grow the amount of resource available to maintain the park system and undertake significant parks and recreation projects.

8.01. Educate the community regarding what is required to successfully operate a park system for a community of Brunswick's size.

8.02. Consider a capital levy to fund the major parks projects identified herein, and an operating levy to fund park staff, maintenance, and programming.

8.03. Pursue more local, state, and federal grants to fund parks upgrades.

8.04. Check in regularly with potential community partners, especially the school district, library, and Medina County, to explore resource sharing when possible.

Individual Park Recommendations

1. Boston Knoll Park Recommendations

A.01 Replace the bleachers.

A.02 Install a higher safety net.

A.03 Update the baseball field.

2. Bridgeport Park Recommendations

B.01 Repair or replace the water fountain.

B.02 Add a toddler playground.

3. Dog Park Recommendations

C.01 Add dog waste and water stations.

C.02 Upgrade the dog obstacles and add new ones; expand the fenced area as necessary to accommodate additional equipment.

C.03 Create a walking path from the dog park through the woods.

C.04 Address drainage issues that render the park too muddy to use.

4. Heritage Farm Park Recommendations

D.01 Continue to pursue the concept of making this unused land into a Brunswick Sports Complex.

5. Hopkins Park Recommendations

E.01 Address problems with the soccer fields:

• Aerate them regularly and otherwise mitigate flooding issues.

• Fill holes to provide a flat playing surface.

• More frequently mow them and remove dog feces.

• Ensure field lines are visible during games.

E.02 Create a walking path from the parking lot to the fields.

E.03 Replace torn goal nets.

6. Huntington Circle Recommendations

F.01 Create a hub for nature-based education and community building with the following amenities:

• Wildflower meadow/pollination garden

• Community garden plots

• Butterfly houses

• Walking path

• Shade trees

• Seating

• Pavilion

• Parking lot

7. James Park Recommendations

G.01 Replace the wooden bridge over the creek.

G.02 Install walking paths to the playground.

8. Mooney Park Recommendations

H.01 Add safety nets to all fields.

H.02 Add lighting.

H.03 Upgrade the concession stands.

H.04 Add a storage unit on site.

H.05 Repair or replace the scoreboards.

H.06 Level out holes in the outfield.

H.07 Repair the sink in the women’s restroom.

9. Neura Park Recommendations

Individual Park Recommendations

I.01 Replace the tennis courts with dedicated pickleball courts that feature, at minimum:

• Wind screens

• Seating areas

• LED lights

• An entrance from the parking lot (remove the rear entrance, which sticks and floods)

• Movable nets on wheels

I.02 Add an artistic crosswalk at 303.

I.03 Add shade structures to the playground.

I.04 Install a water fountain near the playground.

I.05 Replace the rotting steps and bridge from Neura Park to the baseball fields.

I.06 Replace ball field bleachers.

I.07 Add a safety net at the ball field.

I.08 Add a restroom facility closer to the baseball/ softball fields.

I.09 Repair or replace the broken scoreboard.

10. North Park Recommendations

J.01 Repair or replace wooden bridges along the paths.

J.02 Repair or replace the pavilion and its picnic tables.

11. Pepperwood Park Recommendations

K.01 Add toddler play equipment.

K.02 Create a healthy environment for fish in the pond and ensure fishing access and availability.

12. Pumpkin Ridge Park Recommendations

L.01 Update the baseball field.

L.02 Undertake a landscaping and "facelift" process to freshen the park's appearance.

L.03 Consider a new use for the park.

13. Rolling Hills Park Recommendations

M.01 Add a walking path to and around the lake.

M.02 Create kayak/paddleboard access to the lake.

M.03 Create a healthy environment for fish in the pond and ensure fishing access and availability.

M.04 Install a disc golf course.

14. Shenandoah Park Recommendations

N.01 Replace the pavilion.

N.02 Replace the swing set.

N.03 Fill in the site of the former playground.

15. Venus Park Recommendations

O.01 Repair or replace the bridge over the creek.

O.02 Add a fence to prevent basketballs from rolling into the creek.

Community Recreation Center Recommendations

1. Option 1: Minor Updates

1.01. Expand the lobby and give it a fresh coat of paint and new furniture.

1.02. Undertake cosmetic updates and routine maintenance to the building.

1.03. Replace 2 HVAC units and the sprinkler line, pool boiler, and elevator.

2. Option 2: Natatorium Expansion

2.01. Expand the building footprint to replace the defunct splash pad area with a new indoor pool that features a slide and a zero-entry area with small fountains.

2.02. Add a therapy pool, a hot tub, and lounge chairs alongside the new pool.

2.03. Use the pool balcony as a flex space that offers seating and concessions during aquatics events.

3. Option 3A: Senior Center (Outdoor Pickleball)

3.01. Create a new addition to the southern side of the building that accommodates a senior center featuring:

• Meeting rooms, a multi-purpose room, and an expanded

• Warming kitchen

• Secure office space (for Medina County Office on Aging and Brunswick City Parks & Recreation staff)

• Community lounge

• Outdoor pickleball courts with benches and lighting

• Restrooms

• Parking

3.02. Expand the building's main lobby to accommodate increased flow.

3.03. Enhance the building's grounds to remove Tiny Town, green and landscape the lawn, and add fencing.

4. Option 3B: Senior Center (Indoor Pickleball)

4.01. Create a new addition to the southern side of the building that accommodates a senior center featuring:

• Meeting rooms, a multi-purpose room, and an expanded art room

• Warming kitchen

• Secure office space (for Medina County Office on Aging and Brunswick City Parks & Recreation staff)

• Community lounge

• Indoor pickleball courts

• Locker Room & Restrooms

• Parking

4.02. Expand the building's main lobby to accommodate increased flow.

4.03. Enhance the building's grounds to remove Tiny Town, green and landscape the lawn, and add fencing.

Community Recreation Center Recommendations

The City of Brunswick

Parks & Recreation

Master Plan

This section outlines the purpose and content of this plan, as well as the process and inputs that facilitated its creation.

Plan Overview

The City of Brunswick is emerging from a period of fiscal constraint with the goal to thoughtfully resume investments that improve residents' quality of life. This will include those to develop the city's parks and recreational offerings, as there is widespread agreement within Brunswick that these amenities have been under-resourced and require attention to achieve parity with nearby communities. City leadership has commissioned a Parks & Recreation Master Plan to ascertain community priorities for parks and recreation over the next five years and facilitate an efficient use of resources to address them. This plan includes the following elements:

PARKS INVENTORY

Each park in the system is profiled with a brief descriptor, a GIS map, a table of amenities and facilities with their conditions indicated, and photographs.

SUPPLY ANALYSIS

Brunswick's parks and recreational offerings — in terms of programming, facilities, staffing, and budget — are compared against parks systems of similar size nationwide to provide context for what more appropriate levels investment might be.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Results from the community survey and engagement events identify Brunswick residents' most pressing unmet needs.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Community feedback and other data is compiled into a series of global recommendations and those that are specific to each park.

IMPLEMENTATION MATRICES

Recommended capital projects are compiled in a table that offers possible timelines and potential funding sources for each.

A community member provides park feedback to a member of the consultant team at a community event on July 29. Photo: Designing Local

Plan Process & Inputs

The project team employed various methodologies to capture the data necessary for a responsive, community-oriented plan.

BACKGROUND RESEARCH

STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS

Through July and August, the consultant team held 30–60-minute one-on-one conversations with 15 community stakeholders via Zoom. An additional 2 interviews were held in November 2024.

ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY

Also during summer 2024, an online survey was promoted to community members through various Facebook pages, a ValPak coupon mailing, a flier mailed with refuse bills, direct emails, and other means. The survey received 1,382 responses (i.e., from approximately 4% of the total community).

SUPPLY ANALYSIS

A Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) benchmarked Brunswick's supply of parks and recreation services and amenities against communities nationwide that are similar in size and in the number of parks they maintain.

FISCAL ANALYSIS

The consultant team prioritized its recommended capital expenditures and identified potential funding sources to facilitate the implementation of each.

ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

On July 29, community members were invited to an Open House–style engagement event at the Community Recreation Center to share their thoughts regarding the center and Brunswick's parks. Attendees participated in a mapping exercise and indicated their preference for various amenities using sticker dots, gold "coins," and handwritten notes. Ninety-two people signed in at this event.

On October 16, community members were again invited to an Open House event, this time to react to draft recommendations. Fifty-five people signed in at this event.

PLAN APPROVAL

Upon review of the plan and its recommendations, which factored in comments from hundreds of community members, the first Brunswick Parks & Recreation Master Plan was formally adopted by Council in early 2025.

The well-attended July 29 community engagement event at Brunswick's Community Recreation Center was a testament to how much the community cares about its parks. Photo: Designing Local

The City of Brunswick Parks & Recreation Department

This section profiles the City of Brunswick's population, its parks, and its Parks & Recreation Department.

Brunswick Demographics

The City of Brunswick is located in northern Medina County, Ohio, just 15 minutes south of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. With its direct access to I-71 and the City of Cleveland, Brunswick has experienced steady residential growth over the past several decades. The city now boasts 35,426 residents, making it the largest city in the county. Residents' median age is 40.5; more than 90% are White and 28.9% have attained a Bachelor's degree or higher. Brunswick is more affluent than the rest of Ohio, with a much lower poverty rate.

(SINCE 1990)

SOURCE

INCOME & POVERTY (2020)

$81,780 vs $67,769 Median household income

5.9% vs 13.3% Median household income

SOURCE

in Ohio

in Brunswick

in Ohio

Figure 1: Brunswick Population, 1990–2020

Figure 2: Brunswick Income & Poverty as Compared to Ohio, 2020

Figure 3: Brunswick Age Distribution, 2020

Figure 4: Brunswick Race, 2020

Figure 5: Brunswick Estimated Educational Attainment, 2023

The Parks & Recreation Department

The Brunswick Parks & Recreation Department's mission is to improve the quality of life for all Brunswick residents by providing an opportunity for individuals to spend time on leisure, culture, social, educational and recreational activities that encourage health, relaxation, fitness, enjoyment and learning.

BRUNSWICK PARKS & RECREATION

The City of Brunswick currently offers its residents and visitors 23 park sites — including community parks, neighborhoods parks, and undeveloped open space — totaling 335 acres. It also operates the The Recreation & Fitness Center, which provides members access to an indoor pool, basketball courts, indoor track, cardio equipment, free weights and weighted machines, meeting spaces, and other amenities. The department further delivers a diverse array of year-round sporting opportunities, youth camps, and cultural activities. Brunswick's parks and recreational facilities provide people with places to enjoy nature and time with friends and family while improving their health, reducing crime, and preserving property values. They are essential to preserving a high quality of life for all who call Brunswick home.

COMMUNITY PARKS

Brunswick has 7 community parks, which are 15–100 acres and serve the entire community with both active and passive uses. Amenities at these parks include athletic fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, walking trails, picnic areas and pavilions, and undeveloped natural areas.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Brunswick has 8 neighborhood parks, which are 3–10 acres and located within a residential neighborhood. These parks serve a ½–1-mile radius with amenities similar to those at a community park.

UNDEVELOPED OPEN SPACE

Brunswick has 1 open space, which is mowed twice per year but not otherwise maintained or utilized.

• Dog Park

• Heritage Farm

• Hopkins Park

• Mooney Park

• Neura Park

• North Park

• Brunswick Lake/ Nature Center*

*This site is managed by the Medina County Parks District, not the City of Brunswick.

• Boston Knoll Park

• Bridgeport Park

• James Park

• Pepperwood Park

• Huntington Circle

• Pumpkin Ridge Park

• Rolling Hills Park

• Shenandoah Park

• Venus Park

Brunswick's Parks

CITY OF BRUNSWICK

Bridgeport

Pepperwood Park (Open Space)

Shenandoah Park

Neura Park

Heritage Farm Park

County)

Rolling Hills Park (Lake)

Pepperwood Park (Lake)

KEY DEPARTMENT STATS

acres

3�8 trail miles

1 community center

DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION Mayor

City Manager

(FT)

Year-Round

Parks Lead Technician (FT, Union) Lifeguards (10–15 PT)

Seasonal

Water Safety Instructors (2 PT)

Figure 6: Brunswick Parks & Recreation Departmental Structure

Neura Park's new inclusive playground is a point of pride in Brunswick. Photo: Designing Local

Parks & Recreation Asset Inventory

This section maps and inventories the assets at Brunswick's Community Recreation Center and all the parks within its system, and provides an assessment of their condition.

The Brunswick Recreation Center offers members an opportunity to get fit at the lowest price point in the city. Membership offers access to the center's pool, basketball courts, indoor track, cardio and strength equipment, and community spaces. Aerobics and water aerobics classes and personal training are available for an additional fee, as are access to dry saunas and a hot tub. Members save on aerobics passes, room rentals, party packages, and programs.

RECREATION CENTER AMENITIES

Boston Knoll Park

Map 3: Boston Knoll Park

Boston Knoll Park is 5.19-acre neighborhood park at 107 Weathervane Lane that can be reached by car via Weathervane Lane or by a forested walkway off Berkeley Lane from North Park. The park offers active uses with a baseball diamond and playground.

Boston Knoll amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Map 4: Bridgeport Park

Bridgeport Park is a 5-acre neighborhood park at 404 Winchester Lane that can be accessed by car via Suffolk and Winchester Lanes or by a walkway off Portsmouth Drive across from Bristol Lane. The park offers a mix of active and passive uses, with a playground and basketball court and also open space in which to observe various grassland bird species.

Bridgeport Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Dog Park

HADDOCK

SITE DESCRIPTION

Dog Park is a 17-acre community park that can be accessed at Cross Creek Drive. The park is largely undeveloped, forested area, but features a .75-acre off-leash area for dogs that includes a dog playground.

PARK AMENITIES

Dog Park amenities. Photos: Designing Local

SITE DESCRIPTION

Heritage Farm Park is a 32-acre community park at 4613 Laurel Road that preserves part of the history of Brunswick through a joint effort between the city and the Brunswick Historical Society. Most of the park is undeveloped land, though a segment of the site features a restored 1860s family farm with a house, corn crib, granary, barn, milk house, and chicken house, as well as a gazebo from the former Towslee Elementary School and a historic bell tower from the First Christian Church.

PARK AMENITIES

Heritage Farm amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Hopkins Park

LAUREL

PINEWOOD DR

Hopkins Park is a 32-acre community park at 3089 Laurel Road/1721 Diana Drive that can be accessed by car via Laurel Road or Diana Drive or by a walkway from Barbara Drive. The park offers wooded areas for passive use, but is best known for its soccer fields.

Hopkins Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Map 8: Huntington Circle

SITE DESCRIPTION

Huntington Circle is a 4-acre site at 1870 Berkshire Drive that can be accessed via car from Berkshire Drive, though there is no parking lot, and a walkway from Huntington Circle; it is within walking distance from Huntington Elementary School. Currently, the land is undeveloped open space that is maintained only by mowing twice a year.

PARK AMENITIES

Huntington Circle, with Huntington Elementary School in the background. Photos: Google Maps

James Park

JAMES BLVD

CHARGARY DR

James Park

SITE DESCRIPTION

James Park is a 1.58-acre neighborhood park at 3602 James Boulevard that can be reached via car from James Boulevard and Chargary Drive and a walkway from Charlotte Drive. The park offers a playground and open space.

PARK AMENITIES

James Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

VINCENT DR

Mooney Park

Mooney Park is a 11.34-acre community park at 1980 Windsor Drive that can be accessed from Windsor Drive and a bike path that connects to Plum Creek Park North. The park is open during organized baseball games and features a concession stand.

Mooney Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Neura Park

Neura Park is a 19.82-acre community park at 4637 Center Road that can be accessed via car from Center Road. The park offers wooded areas along a creek for wildlife viewing, as well as tennis courts, baseball fields, and a new inclusive playground the community rallied to install in 2022.

Neura Park amenities. Photos: Designing Local

SITE DESCRIPTION

North Park is a 65.2-acre community park at 3595 Grafton Road that can be accessed via car from Grafton Road and by walkways terminating at Boston Knoll Park, Magnolia Drive/Astor Place, and several nearby subdivisions. The park offers passive uses centered around a 4-acre lake that is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, trout, and catfish and surrounded by a paved walking path. This lake is currently being dredged, and the park is closed until the completion of this project (anticipated spring 2025). Two miles of walking and biking trails weave in and out of the park's beech–maple forest and lead to a sledding hill.

PARK AMENITIES

North Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department and Designing Local

SITE DESCRIPTION

Pepperwood Park is a 17.1-acre neighborhood park with three parcels, two of which are open green space off Pepperwood and Linden Drives and one that offers various active and passes uses at 555 Linden Drive/625 Pepperwood Drive. This parcel can be accessed by walkways from Pepperwood Drive, Baywood Drive, and Marsh Way and offers several large open areas, woods, and a small lake that is stocked with bass and catfish, as well as sports facilities.

PARK AMENITIES

Pepperwood Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Pumpkin Ridge Park

Map

Pumpkin Ridge Park

SITE DESCRIPTION

Pumpkin Ridge Park is an 8.29-acre neighborhood park at 3062 Grafton Road that can be accessed via car by a driveway off Grafton Road or by walkways from Salem or Marguerite Ways. The park offers open space and a new playground, as well as sports facilities in need of repair.

PARK AMENITIES

Pumpkin Ridge Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Rolling Hills Park

Map 15: Rolling Hills Park

SITE DESCRIPTION

Rolling Hills Park is a 30.4-acre neighborhood park with four parcels, two of which have facilities. The largest parcel, located at 787 Westminster Drive, can be accessed via car at the terminus of Westminster Drive. It is mostly wooded. Another parcel nearby consists of a small lake; it is accessed by walkways off Ambrose or Canterbury Drives. The park offers some active use amenities but mostly unmaintained trails and nature.

Rolling Hills Park amenities. Photos: Designing Local

Shenandoah Park

Map 16: Shenandoah Park

SITE DESCRIPTION

Shenandoah Park is a 7.4-acre neighborhood park at 4036 Roanoke Drive that can be accessed by car via a driveway off Roanoke Drive or a walkway off New Market Trail. The park has a variety of active and passive uses, and its proximity to natural areas attracts a variety of birds.

PARK AMENITIES

Shenandoah Park amenities. Photos: Designing Local

SITE DESCRIPTION

Venus Park is a 9.06-acre neighborhood park at 3901 Venus Drive that can be accessed off Venus Drive via Starview Drive, or by three walkways. The park offers a playground and basketball court, but otherwise features passive, nature-oriented uses, including a creek that divides the park.

PARK AMENITIES

Venus Park amenities. Photos: Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department

Parks & Recreation Supply Analysis

This section benchmarks the City of Brunswick's Parks and Recreation funding, programming, facilities, amenities, and staffing against those of other, similar parks systems nationwide.

Park Land & Trails

Each year, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) compiles data from municipalities and parks and recreation agencies across the country via their Park Metrics database. This process is selfselected, meaning parks and recreation agencies choose to participate and upload their own information. Nonetheless, benchmarking against this database can help an agency understand how they “stack up,” or compare, to agencies of similar size, nature, and scope. The Brunswick benchmark analysis below compares the city's parks and recreation offerings against those of all agencies nationwide, against those that serve a population of 20,000–49,999 residents, and against those that maintain between 10–19 parks. Within each category the median statistic, based on NRPA's agency performance benchmarking tool, is presented.

PARK LAND & TRAILS

Brunswick’s level of service for the number of residents per park aligns with industry averages; however, the number of park land acres available is below benchmark averages. Brunswick would need another 90–110 acres of park land to increase the acres per 1,000 residents to 10.6. In terms of trail miles available, when combining unpaved and paved trails within the parks, Brunswick offers nearly 4 miles, a figure about half of the median average for a system of its size and scope.

*This number decreases to 2,200 when including Brunswick Lake Park.

**This number increases to 9.7 when including Brunswick Lake Park.

Table 1: Brunswick Park Land and Trails Benchmark

The strength and cardio equipment at the Community Recreation Center is outdated. Photo: Designing Local

Outdoor Facilities

OUTDOOR FACILITIES

Table 2 shows the percentage of agencies that offer a given type of outdoor facility/amenity based on the benchmark characteristics, while Table 3 shows the related population-based LOS metric (i.e., 1 facility/ amenity for every X number of people). The facilities included in the following tables are defined by NRPA; there may be other outdoor amenities not operated by Brunswick in the area that are not reflected here.

Brunswick aligns well with other agencies of similar size and scope in terms of outdoor facility provision. Translating facility provision to a population-based level of service metric, Brunswick is above average in terms of basketball courts and multi-use courts, but below average in terms of inclusive playgrounds, outdoor restrooms, playgrounds, and rectangular fields. The city will need to be mindful of diamond field and dog park levels of service as its population grows.

Table 2: Brunswick Outdoor Facilities Prevalence Benchmark

Table 3: Brunswick Outdoor Facilities Population-Based Level of Service Benchmark

There are no walking paths to enable easy access from the parking lot to the soccer fields at Hopkins Park. Photo: Designing Local

Indoor Facilities

INDOOR FACILITIES

Table 4 shows the percentage of agencies that offer a given type of indoor facility/amenity based on the benchmark characteristics, while Table 5 shows the related population-based LOS metric (i.e., 1 facility/ amenity for every X number of people). The facilities included in the following tables are defined by NRPA; there may be other indoor amenities not operated by Brunswick in the area that are not reflected here.

Brunswick offers a recreation center, indoor restrooms, and a shared nature center with the Medina County Park District. According to percentages, it is less common for agencies of similar size and scope to offer a nature center, meaning Brunswick offers a unique facility relative to its size.

*Includes the nature center operated in partnership with Medina County Park District

Table 4: Brunswick Indoor Facilities Prevalence Benchmark

Table 5: Brunswick Indoor Facilities Population-Based Level of Service Benchmark

General Programming

GENERAL PROGRAMMING

Table 6 shows the percentage of agencies that offer various types of recreation programming based on the benchmark characteristics. Brunswick’s recreation programming primarily focuses on special/community events, fitness enhancement classes, and team sports. Agency benchmarks suggest that other parks offer more in the way of arts and culture classes, health and wellness education, and performing arts.

Table 6: Brunswick General Programming Benchmark

Targeted Programs & Staffing

TARGETED PROGRAMS

Brunswick does not offer many targeted programs, as tracked by NRPA Park Metrics; however, Brunswick contracts with the Medina County Senior and Adult Services to provide senior service coordination at the Brunswick Recreation Center.

Table 7: Brunswick Targeted Programming Benchmark

STAFFING

Brunswick’s staffing level is slightly below other agencies of similar size and scope, in terms of total fulltime equivalents (FTEs) available and FTEs per 10,000 residents. To arrive at the 22 FTE count, 3 fulltime employees (at 2,080 hours each), 7 year-round part-time employees (at 1,500 hours each), and an additional 60 part-time and seasonal employees (at 500 hours each) were combined and then divided by 2,080. Brunswick utilizes many part-time and seasonal employees for recreation center operations, recreation programming, and park maintenance; the number of these employees and the hours attributed to each position varies from year to year.

Table 8: Brunswick Staffing Benchmark

Budget & Operations Expenses

BUDGET METRICS

Brunswick operates on a $1.8 million annual budget, which is well below that of agencies of similar size and scope. This number combines Funds 127 (Parks) and 131 (Recreation Center); Brunswick operates at a low operating expenditure per capita, acre, and FTE. Conversely, Brunswick exhibits a higher cost recovery percentage than its peers, most likely attributable to its recreation center. Including the recreation center in the budget benchmarks indicates that Brunswick's lower level of operating expenditures cannot all be attributed to park land. The $6,800 per acre cost includes the recreation center — and this number would be much lower if the recreation center’s operating costs were omitted.

Table 9: Brunswick Budget Metrics Benchmark

DISTRIBUTION OF OPERATING EXPENSES

Brunswick’s distribution of operating expenditures does not align with agencies of similar size and scope when including “Other” expenses; however, the distribution does (with the exception of a slightly higher "Capital Expense (Not in CIP figure)" when excluding “Other” expenses (Table 10)

Table 10: Brunswick Distribution of Operating Expenditures Benchmark

Operations & Capital Expenditures

SOURCES OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES

Brunswick generates much more operating income compared to agencies of similar size and scope, and the industry in general (Table 11). But benchmark statistics demonstrate that it is common for parks and recreation agencies to have multiple dedicated funding sources, which Brunswick does not.

Table 11: Brunswick Sources of Operating Expenditures Benchmark

CAPITAL BUDGET

The median statistic for capital improvement spending is $12 million over a 5-year period for all agencies, but that number decreases dramatically to around $5–6.5 million for agencies of similar size and scope. Based on capital expense projections for 2024–2028, Brunswick will expend approximately $464,150 on improving the park system, an amount much lower than industry benchmarks. Of note, Brunswick’s projected capital budget dollar amount does not include any potential future grant funding awards.

FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Brunswick uses its capital budget less for system improvements and more for equipment acquisitions compared to industry benchmarks.

Table 12: Brunswick Capital Budget Benchmark

TARGET

Table 13: Brunswick Target for Capital Expenditures Benchmark

Discussion & Implications

DISCUSSION & IMPLICATIONS

The following summary and recommendations were based solely on the industry benchmarks assessment detailed in this chapter. They are intended to support bringing the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department into better alignment with national industry standards.

Parks and Trails

Brunswick residents are fortunate to be served by a rather robust county parks system, in addition to their city-operated parks — Brunswick Lake Park, Plum Creek, and Princess Ledges are all either within the city’s borders or adjacent to them. This means the level of service statistics presented for the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department alone are lower than the actual level of service provided to residents from all local and nearby facilities and amenities. Brunswick should factor in the county park system when developing its ideal level of service provision, and evaluate its percentage of park land, parks (in general), and trail miles in relation to Medina County Park District as a target. The city's trail mileage and connectivity could also be increased to better align with industry benchmarks.

Program Enhancements

The Brunswick Community Recreation & Fitness Center opened in 1991 and has served the community well over the years. To enhance its offerings, Brunswick can examine how to incorporate arts (visual, literary, and performance), culture, and wellness programming. Offering therapeutic recreation and family-focused programming is also encouraged.

Staffing

Brunswick is understaffed for what it provides, and would be even more so if not for all part-time recreation staff attributed to the recreation center. Brunswick spends approximately 46% of its operating budget on personnel services (fully loaded costs – salary, retirement, insurance, other benefits, etc.), a lower-than-expected percentage that may be attributable to contracted services costs and/or a slightly increased capital expense (not found in the CIP) compared to industry benchmarks.

Funding and System Investments

With a lower operating budget (comparably) and less money available for capital improvements, it is imperative that Brunswick manage its costs effectively while forecasting facility lifecycle needs. Best practices indicate a minimum of 2–4% of the value of the entire park system inventory (less land) should be put back into the system annually in terms of operations and maintenance to facilitate assets achieving their estimated (or expected) useful lifecycle. Brunswick should explore the possibility of developing another one or two dedicated funding sources that the system can rely on each year, beyond those already sourcing its general fund. This will help increase the operating expenditures per capita, acre, and FTE to align more with industry benchmarks.

Community Engagement Outcomes

This section details the significant community feedback received through an online survey and at an community engagement event.

Stakeholder Interviews: Common Themes

The consultant team held one-on-one interviews with 15 community leaders to ascertain the key opportunities and challenges facing the City of Brunswick and its Parks and Recreation Department. Taken together, these conversations yielded an overarching story of the city's past struggles, current reality, and desired future. Themes from them include the following:

1. Brunswick is a growing, family-oriented community.

The City of Brunswick has been growing steadily for decades, and continues to be a draw for people looking to raise families in a safe place with good schools and friendly neighbors.

2. Brunswick's longstanding fiscal issues have recently eased.

An unfunded city services mandate approved by residents more than 20 years ago rendered Brunswick unable to invest much in other city amenities. With this situation improved, the city is cautiously beginning to consider what new investments might make sense.

3. Brunswick residents and leaders favor an extremely conservative approach to taxpayer-funded initiatives.

The Brunswick community is generally averse to increasing taxes to pay for city services and would prefer that grants and fundraising from private sources be used to pay for them instead. Leaders noted that a major impetus behind this plan was to avoid wasting money by ensuring that implemented projects are closely tied to community needs.

4. Brunswick's Parks and Recreation Department has done a remarkable job with its limited resource.

The Parks Department is widely praised for efficiently utilizing its limited resources to provide the community with quality parks, facilities, amenities, and programs.

5. Community members are frustrated that nearby cities have better parks and recreation amenities than those in Brunswick.

People cite Strongsville and Medina as places with better ballfields, aquatics, and community centers than Brunswick, and they are frustrated by the comparison.

6. Maintenance of Brunswick parks is inadequate.

With just one full-time maintenance employee and a handful of part-time and seasonal staff, maintaining parks to the desired standard has proven an impossible task. Contracted youth recreation leagues have been tasked with helping maintain the fields on which they play, but these efforts are insufficient as amenities age and falter.

7. Parks and recreational offerings in Brunswick are not meeting the community's needs.

Whether they believe the answer is a better community center, a new sports complex, more pickleball courts, or aquatics, everyone agrees that what the Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department currently offers does not align with what community members are demanding of it.

8. There is a deep passion for parks in Brunswick and an appetite to grow their offerings and impact.

People in Brunswick love their parks and seem ready and willing to do what it takes to make them community amenities of which they can be proud.

Dog Park is a key amenity that residents would love to see upgraded. Photo: Designing Local

Community Survey: Respondents Profile

SurveyMonkey was used to develop an online survey that respondents could access through a direct link or at www.BrunswickParksPlan.com, the website set up to host plan information. The survey ultimately received 1,382 responses. Of these, the majority were Brunswick residents in the 44212 ZIP Code (93%). Almost half (47%) have lived in Brunswick for more than 20 years, and more than half (54%) were aged 35–54; a majority (71%) are female. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) have at least one child living in their home.

ARE YOU A BRUNSWICK, OH RESIDENT?

Yes = 1,273

No = 99

No response = 10

WHAT IS YOUR 5-DIGIT ZIP CODE?

44212 = 1,264

Other ZIP Codes = 94

No response = 24

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRUNSWICK?

1–4 years = 125

5–9 years = 210

10–14 years = 173

15–19 years = 158

20+ years = 587

No response = 113

Figure 7: Survey Respondents, City Residency

Figure 8: Survey Respondents, ZIP Code

Figure 9: Survey Respondents, Length of Brunswick Residency

Community Survey: Respondents Profile

WHAT IS YOUR AGE?

< 18 = 0

18–24 = 25

25–34 = 147

35–44 = 368

45–54 = 231

55–64 = 152

65–74 = 150

75+ = 42

Prefer not to say = 14

No response = 253

WHAT IS YOUR GENDER?

Male = 320

Female = 783

Non-Binary = 1

Prefer not to say = 23

No response = 255

HOW MANY CHILDREN AGED 18 AND UNDER LIVE WITH YOU THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME?

None = 488

1 = 157

2 = 321

3 = 111

4+ = 31

Prefer not to say = 20

No response = 254

Figure 10: Survey Respondents, Age

Figure 11: Survey Respondents, Gender Identity

Figure 12: Survey Respondents, Children in Home

Community Survey: Parks Usage

Almost all survey respondents (95%) used a park facility in the past year, and almost half (47%) reported one or more visits a week. The parks most often visited were Brunswick Lake — though this park is operated by Medina County, not the City of Brunswick — Neura Park, North Park, and Mooney Park, while the most-used amenities are Trails (Paved and Unpaved), Playgrounds (Standard and Inclusive), the Community Recreation Center, and Picnic Shelters.

HAVE YOU VISITED ANY PARK OR FACILITY IN BRUNSWICK DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS?

Yes = 1,289

No = 73

No response = 20

HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU VISITED PARKS OR FACILITIES IN BRUNSWICK DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS?

Less than once a month = 223

1–3 times a month = 426

Once a week = 205

2–4 times a week = 285

5+ times a week = 107

Don't know = 34

No response = 103

Figure 13: Survey Respondents, Park Visitation (Prior 12 Months)

Figure 14: Survey Respondents, Park Visitation Frequency

Community Survey: Parks Usage

WHICH PARK(S) OR FACILITIES IN BRUNSWICK HAVE YOU VISITED DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS? PLEASE SELECT ALL THAT APPLY�

WHAT TYPES OF BRUNSWICK PARKS AMENITIES HAVE YOU USED DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS? PLEASE SELECT ALL THAT APPLY�

Figure 15: Survey Respondents, Parks Visited (Prior 12 Months)

Figure 16: Survey Respondents, Park Amenities Used (Prior 12 Months)

Community Survey: Desired Parks Improvements

During their parks and recreation center visits over the past year, the majority of survey respondents (59%) noticed facilities that need maintenance or improvements. The sports parks — Hopkins and Mooney — received the most attention, along with Neura Park; the Community Recreation Center followed closely behind. When respondents were asked to respond to an open-ended question about how they would improve Brunswick's parks and recreational offerings, they spontaneously volunteered numerous suggestions, foremost among them better stocking the fishing ponds (perhaps because North Park's pond was being dredged during this time) and providing more shade and benches.

WITHIN THE BRUNSWICK PARKS YOU VISITED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, DID YOU NOTICE ANY FACILITIES THAT NEED MAINTENANCE OR IMPROVEMENTS?

Yes = 738

No = 509

No response = 135

PLEASE PROVIDE THE NAME OF THE PARK(S) AND DESCRIBE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED�*

Figure 18: Survey Respondents, Specific Parks with Maintenance Needs

Figure 17: Survey Respondents, Park Maintenance Needs Noticed

Community Survey: Desired Parks Improvements

PLEASE SHARE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT COULD ASSIST BRUNSWICK PARKS WITH IMPROVING PARKS, TRAILS, OPEN SPACE, OR RECREATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES�

Fishing

Shade/Benches

Basketball

Baseball/Softball

Tennis/Pickle

Events/Programs

Figure 19: Survey Respondents, Comments Mentioning Specific Park Improvements

Community Survey: Barriers & Unmet Needs

When asked what prevents them from using Brunswick's parks and recreation facilities more often, the most common response was not knowing what is offered through the parks. Otherwise, people indicated that their desired equipment and programs are not available and that the facilities are poorly maintained. Many respondents choose to utilize amenities at other facilities rather than what is available through the parks department. The standout "unmet need" cited in the survey is Aquatics — people very much want an outdoor pool and splash pad — followed by Programs and Events, Courts and Fields, and Paths and Trails.

PLEASE CHECK ALL THE REASONS THAT CURRENTLY PREVENT YOU (OR MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD) FROM USING BRUNSWICK PARKS, RECREATION FACILITIES, OR PROGRAMS MORE OFTEN�

WHEN THINKING ABOUT BRUNSWICK PARKS, WHAT ARE THE TOP UNMET NEEDS FOR YOU AND/OR MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

Figure 21: Survey Respondents, Unmet Needs Regarding Brunswick Parks

Figure 20: Survey Respondents, Barriers to More Often Using Brunswick Parks

Brunswick residents are not satisfied with the Community Recreation Center pool or the aquatic programming available there. Photo: Designing Local

Community Survey: Park Satisfaction, Preferences & Funding

Half (50%) of those who responded to the survey question about their level of satisfaction with the value they receive from Brunswick Parks reported being Satisfied or Very Satisfied. Another large number are Neutral on the subject and almost one-fifth (19%) are Dissatisfied. When given the opportunity to share what programs or services and what park or facility features are most important to them, respondents overwhelmingly said Festivals and Special Events, Sports Programs and Leagues, and Fitness and Wellness Programs, as well as Outdoor Aquatic Facilities, Paved Trails, and Playgrounds. Interestingly, the data suggest people may be amenable to a tax levy to fund their desired improvements — only 13% indicated they would outright oppose any such initiative.

PLEASE RATE YOUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE OVERALL VALUE THAT YOUR HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES FROM BRUNSWICK PARKS�

Very dissatisfied = 42

Somewhat dissatisfied = 106

Neutral = 304

Somewhat satisfied = 494

Very satisfied = 154

No response = 282

IF NECESSARY TO FUND SPECIFIC PARKS IMPROVEMENTS, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF A TAX LEVY?

Yes = 536

No = 147

Maybe = 454

No response = 245

Figure 22: Survey Respondents, Level of Satisfaction with Brunswick Parks

Figure 23: Survey Respondents, Willingness to Support a Tax Levy to Improve Parks

Community Survey: Park Satisfaction, Preferences & Funding

Figure 25: Survey Respondents, 3 Most Important Park or Facility Features

Figure 24: Survey Respondents, 3 Most Important Park Programs or Services

Engagement Event: Overview

The community engagement event on July 29, 2024 at the Community Recreation Center was billed as a "Popsicle Pop-up & Parks Planning Workshop" featuring an Open House style where people could come at any time to engage with various activity stations. At some, boards prompted people with the same questions as those on the online survey, while at others attendees were offered the opportunity to share feedback directly on park maps or use gold coins to indicate how they'd allocate money to improve Brunswick parks. Ninety-two people signed into the event, and more were likely in attendance. Participation at the event was robust and provided significant data to facilitate plan development.

What?

A Popsicle Pop-up & Parks Planning Workshop* where you can share your thoughts about the future of Brunswick’s parks and recreational offerings. Your feedback will be used to help develop a new 5-year parks plan.

When?

Monday, July 29 — come any time between 5 and 8 pm.

Community members of all ages provided essential feedback into the plan. Photos: Designing Local

Engagement Event: Attendees

Community event participants first were asked to place a small red sticker dot on a map to indicate where they live, which revealed them to be fairly evenly distributed throughout the city, though mostly north of Center Road; some live outside the city but within Medina County. Participants were then asked to place a blue sticker dot on all the parks they visited and amenities they used in the past 12 months. These same questions were also reflected in the online survey, and the results here were largely the same (it is not known the extent to which attendees also took the survey, but overlap between these groups would be expected). The majority of people reported having visited Brunswick Lake, Neura Park, North Park, and the Community Recreation Center, and having used Brunswick's Trails, Playgrounds, and Community Recreation Center amenities. A higher number of event participants than survey respondents used the pickleball courts than the shelters and baseball fields, however.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

Attendees were asked to place a red sticker dot on the location of their residence.

Engagement Event: Parks Usage

Figure 26: Engagement Event Attendees, Parks Visited (Prior 12 Months)

Figure 27: Engagement Event Attendees, Park Amenities Used (Prior 12 Months)

Engagement Event: Preferences

Event participants were asked to place three yellow sticker dots and three green stickers dots, respectively, on boards asking which programs or services and which park or facility features are most important to have in Brunswick. These questions also mimicked those from the survey, and had similar results — with some exceptions tracing to the fact that event attendees could weight their preferences by placing more sticker dots on them. As with the survey respondents, event attendees rated the most important programs or services to be Festivals & Events, Fitness & Wellness offerings, and Sports Programs; Senior Programs were ranked higher at the event than on the survey. Pickleball Courts and Indoor Recreation Spaces ranked much higher at the event than on the survey, where those options ranked eighth and fifth. It is apparent that pickleball adherents and seniors made it a priority to attend the engagement event.

WHICH 3 PROGRAMS OR SERVICES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN BRUNSWICK?

Figure 28: Engagement Event Attendees, 3 Most Important Park Programs or Services

Engagement Event: Preferences

WHICH 3 PARK OR FACILITY FEATURES ARE MOST

29: Engagement Event Attendees, 3 Most Important Park or Facility Features

WHAT WOULD YOU FUND?

30: Engagement Event Attendees, What Parks Improvements Should be Funded

Figure

Park System Recommendations

This section synthesizes all community feedback into recommendations for the overall parks system, the Community Recreation Center, and each individual park.

Overall Recommendations

1. Invest in staffing and volunteer development to increase operational capacity.

1.03. Hire a full-time Programming & Special Events coordinator to facilitate new programs and community events.

1.04. Facilitate the creation of a Friends of Brunswick Parks volunteer organization to support park maintenance and beautification and help deliver recreation programs (for example, intergenerational activities at summer camp). Hire a fulltime Volunteer Coordinator when necessary to support coordination with this organization and other volunteers.

2. Provide amenity and accessibility upgrades at all parks and at the Community Recreation Center.

2.02. Make parking lot expansion and resurfacing an immediate priority for all community parks, and resurface all neighborhood lots when possible.

2.03. Repair the basketball and tennis courts and nets at all parks that offer them.

2.04. Repair current walking paths and add new walking paths (some paved, some natural) through the wooded areas of all parks that feature them.*

2.05. Ensure that all parks are ADA accessible throughout.

Overall Recommendations

2.06. Continue to invest in upgrading playgrounds and making them accessible to toddlers and those with physical handicaps.

2.07. Add seating in both passive and active areas of all parks, in particular along trails and adjacent to playgrounds and ponds.*

2.08. Ensure that all playgrounds and seating areas are adequately shaded with trees and/or canopies.*

2.09. Beautify the parks and increase their ecological diversity with native plantings, including wildflowers and food-bearing plants.*

2.10. Conduct a feasibility study to determine how best to update the Community Recreation Center, with suggested options as outlined on pages 106–113.

2.11. Address the additional park-specific needs outlined on pages 114–118.

*This item might be appropriate for a volunteer organization to raise funds for or otherwise help implement.

3. Ensure the timely maintenance of all parks grounds, facilities, and amenities.

4. Expand the city's trail network.

Overall Recommendations

5. Offer additional community events and programming for youth and families.

5.01. Offer non-sports youth programs (for example, art or cooking classes and chess, book, or gaming clubs) during evenings and weekend hours. Prioritize tween/ teen and adult programming during after-school hours.