3.1 Parks & Open Spaces

The City of Fresno provides several types of parks and open space facilities, or park types, to meet park and open space recreation needs of the community. These park types are explained in detail later in this chapter and include pocket parks, neighborhood parks, community parks, regional parks, special use parks, greenbelts/trails, and open space/natural areas. To ensure that park and open space recreation needs of Fresno residents are being met, the General Plan identifi es level of service (LOS) goals by park type. These goals are 3 acres per 1,000 residents for pocket parks, neighborhood parks, and community parks; and 2 acres per 1,000 residents for regional parks, open space/natural areas, and special use parks. Since LOS goals are based on resident counts, as Fresno’s population grows, the amount of park land must grow with it in order to meet established LOS goals. Chapter 6, “Needs Assessment” provides more information regarding Fresno’s population and park acreage needs.

The City of Fresno also has joint-use agreements that allow select school and basin sites to be used for recreation by the public during certain times. Joint-use basin sites count toward LOS acreage goals. However, because of limited access, school sites with joint-use agreements do not count toward acreage goals. Though valuable, trails, greenways and parkways are also not associated with park land LOS goals. Other open space assets that have limited access or do not provide broad-based community value, such as golf courses and private land, are also not associated with LOS goals. Upon adoption of this plan, public grounds less than .5 acres are recommended for sale and are not associated with LOS goals (note: select land less than .5 acres has been grandfathered into park land inventory).

TABLE 3.1

CITY PARK LAND LOS GOALS & PARK-TYPES

GOAL PARK TYPES CONTRIBUTING AGENCY

3 acres per 1,000 residents Pocket Parks / Neighborhood Parks / Community Parks City of Fresno PARCS, DPW, Fresno Municipal Flood Control District (FMFCD), San Joaquin River Parkway (SJRP), Calwa Recreation Park District