HomeGallatin NewsCity of Gallatin will accept public comments regarding the proposed Parks and...

City of Gallatin will accept public comments regarding the proposed Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan

The Parks and Recreation Department of Gallatin has announced a call for public input on its proposed Comprehensive Master Plan for Parks and Recreation. This opportunity for community feedback will be available during the City Council’s regular meeting on December 5, at 6 p.m., located at City Hall, 132 West Main Street, in the City Council Chambers on the second floor.

David Brown, the head of Gallatin’s Parks and Recreation Department, emphasized the importance of this public hearing before the City Council, noting its role in securing state and federal funding.

“We’ve already gotten public input,” Brown mentioned. “But having a hearing at an official City Council Meeting can help us when we apply for grants.”

The Master Plan highlights the city’s growth, a key factor influencing the Parks and Recreation Department’s future planning. It notes a significant population increase in Gallatin from 2010 to 2020 by 45 percent, a jump from the 29 percent growth recorded between 2000 and 2010. Projections indicate that by 2035, Gallatin’s population may reach anywhere between 48,299 and 66,734.

Brown pointed out the correlation between the city’s growth and the surge in sports programs in the parks. “The sports programs in the parks have exploded right along with the city’s population,” Brown observed. “Frankly, we need more land to create more playing fields. And the Master Plan shows that.”

The Comprehensive Master Plan’s primary objective is ensuring every resident is within a 10-minute walk of a park. The plan acknowledges that while park access is good in densely populated and minority areas, some city regions could benefit from additional parks and trails.

To develop the Master Plan, extensive community feedback was sought through various means, including surveys both online and in paper, feedback from elected officials, and workshops at city hall. The efforts, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, garnered responses from around 21.2% of the city’s 15,439 households.

“The biggest request we heard back then was for pickleball courts,” Brown recalled. “And we responded—the Civic Center now offers pickleball and there’s also an outdoor court across the street.”

Despite pandemic-related challenges, the team was committed to comprehensive community engagement.

“The public hearing on Dec. 5 before the City Council is one final step to make sure we have done everything possible to hear from our community,” Brown said. “I’m interested in what the Gallatin public will have to say.”

The city commissioned Wold Architects and Engineers of Brentwood in January 2022 to study the Parks and Recreation Department. The resulting Comprehensive Parks Master Plan, published in September 2023, is available on the city’s website at www.gallatintn.gov and through Parks Director David Brown at (615) 642-1283.

Elodie Morrow

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