hays county parks master plan

8/2/2019 Hays County Parks Master Plan

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Chapter 1 | a

CHAPTER TITLESUBTITLE

Has Count Pars, Open Space an Natural AreasMASTER PLAN

Has Count, Teas

April 2012


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HAyS COUNTy PARkS, OPEN SPACE ANd NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN | Has Count, Teas


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HAyS COUNTyPARkS, OPEN-SPACE ANd NATURAL AREAS

MASTER PLAN

April 2012

Prepare for

Has Count, Teas

b

design Worshop Inc.

Greenpla, LLC

For more information, contact:

Has Count111 E. San Antonio St., Ste. 303

San Marcos, TX 78666

(512)393-2211www.co.has.tx.us


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Has Count CommissionersCourt

Bert Cobb, M.d., Count Juge

debbie Ingalsbe, Commissioner, Precinct 1

Mar Jones, Commissioner, Precinct 2

Will Conle, Commissioner, Precinct 3

Ra Whisenant, Commissioner, Precinct 4

Has Count Pars an OpenSpace Avisor Boar

Jim Camp, Chair

Melina Mallia, Vice Chair

Jon Engel

kath Boston

Lina Tenorio

To O. deracz

davi Salazar

Ron Riggins

Barbara G. Vinson

Jeff kaufmann

Gar Amaon

Sherri S. Bilson

Nanc H. Potter

Martha Brown

donna Brasher

Michael Aulic

John Estepp

Pauline Tom

Has Count Staff

Jeff Hauff, Grants Aministrator

Jerr Pinni, Pars Aministrator

Margaret Buentello, Grants Coorinator

Acknowledgements


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e

ForwArd

Texans have ocked to Hays County to cool off in spring-fed rivers or enjoyits unspoiled beauty and rural character for centuries. For many, Hays Countyis the gateway to the Hill Country, where the coastal plains give way to roll-ing hills, natural springs, clean rivers and unspoiled open vistas. In recentdecades, these assets have drawn many to live as well as play here, bringingwith them needs for new developments and recreational facilities. In guid-

ing this plan, Hays County sought a way to balance the reality of advancingurbanization with the common desires of its citizens to maintain the character,traditions, and unique natural assets of its communities.

In a series of public meetings, surveys, and discussions with stakeholdergroups in 2011, residents of Hays County consistently placed the highest

priority for parks and open space programming on projects that provide riverand creek access, trails, youth camping, and open spaces that provide gen-eral enjoyment of nature. These were the overarching themes within each ofve planning areas, common to all of the communities.

We recognize that many of the local projects that will be needed in the nextdecade are already being addressed by the cities and municipalities withinHays County in their individual Master Plans. To dene a role for county gov-ernment in the future, we looked for overarching priorities and unmet needs inunincorporated areas.

The rst priorities that emerge are a desire for parks and open spaces thatpreserve water corridors, beloved landscapes and our rural character forpublic enjoyment in the face of inevitable development. As large ranches thatonce dominated the landscape are divided into ever smaller pieces for de-velopment, there is a pressing need to preserve special places and naturalamenities in the Hill Country that drew people here in the rst place.

Hays County will provide a leadership role in developing parks and openspace projects that address these priorities. Regional-scale projects will beaccomplished by working in public/private partnerships, collaborating withlocal communities and non-prot groups, and initiating projects in unincor-

porated areas. These approaches will contribute to the countys vision forHays County Parks and Open Spaces: a system of public lands and facilitiesretained with thoughtful attention and care to ensure that treasured places,natural amenities and local heritage remain available for recreation, enjoy-ment, and the well-being of the citizens of Hays County.

- Hays County Park and Open Space Advisory Board


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HAyS COUNTy PARkS, OPEN SPACE ANd NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN | Has Count, Teasf

INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................1

Histor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Past Planning Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Pars an Open Space Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

PlANNINg PROCESS .............................................................................................................................5

Methoolog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Count Role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Park and Open Space Classications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Concepts an Stanars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

INvENTORy ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Count Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Local Plans an Pars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Inventor Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................................ 19

Stanars-Base Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

deman-Base Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Resource-Base Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Fiscal-Base Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Nees Assessment Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

PROjECT PRIORITIES ..........................................................................................................................25

Planning Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

IMPlEMENTATION ................................................................................................................................. 31

Implementation Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Funing sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Plan Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

APPENDIX .....................................................................................................COMPANION DOCUMENT

tAble oF contents


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g

Figures list

Figure 1: Communit kic-Off | March 31, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Figure 2: Open House | April 20/21, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Figure 3: Conceptual Blueprint | Ma 26, 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Figure 4: draft Plan | June 30, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Figure 5: Parks Denitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Figure 6: Open Space Denitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Figure 7: Pars an Open Space Project Master Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29


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Chapter 1 |

ExECUTIVE SUMMARy


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HAyS COUNTy PARkS, OPEN SPACE ANd NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN | Has Count, Teasii

qualities, while proviing appropriate

recreation opportunities for the public.

Create a nancially balanced and eco-

nomicall viable pars an open space

sstem.

Has Count controls si pars an openspace areas. These inclue Five Mile dam

Sports Comple (encompassing dule

Johnson Par, Ranall Vetter Par an

the Soccer Comple), Jacobs Well Natural

Area, an the Regional Hie an Bie Trail

near Wimberle. Recentl, the Count part-

nere in a conservation easement over the

dahlstrom Ranch. The conservation ease-

ment i not inclue a right of public access

on the dahlstrom Ranch. The Count an

the dahlstroms have agree to negotiate

a lease to allow for public access on the

propert.

Process

The Hays County Parks, Open Space and

Natural Areas Master Plan is the result of a

comprehensive process le b the Count

an consultant team enliste for the plan-

ning process. This process was informe b

review of eisting Count ocuments, focus-

group input, Has Count Par an Open

Space Avisor Boar (POSAB) input an

review, citizen participation, Commissioner

input an Count staff input an review from

Januar to October 2011. From this phase

process, a list of recommenations for the

Counts pars an open space sstem as

a whole as well as each of the Counts si

pars was create.

The Master Plan was evelope over the

course of ve distinct phases:

Phase 1: The focus of rst phase wasto dene goals and objectives for parks

an open space in Has Count. Us-

ing the 2006 Parks and Open Space

Master Plan as a starting point, followe

b input from the Has Count POSAB,

goals an objectives were create,

which were then share with the Count

resients through public meetings an

staeholer interviews.

executive summAry


Natural Areas Master Plan will be use

b Has Count, Teas to mae ecisions

regaring pars an open space programs

an facilities. It las the grounwor for the

Counts involvement in proviing par,

open space an natural areas for the enjo-ment of current an future generations.


Natural Areas Master Plan was forme

from the results of a multi-facete process

that inclue a current inventor, nees

assessment an several communit polls

and meetings. Based on the ndings of this

phase process, a set of recommenations

for the Counts pars an open space

sstem as a whole as well as for each of the

Counts si pars that mae up that sstem

was complete. What follows is a brief sum-

mar of that process, assessment results

an recommene priorit projects.

Bacgroun

As Has Count continues to grow, its

4,300+ acres of pars an open space will

not be able to hanle the increase usage

without estroing the Counts celebrate

natural features. The Counts goal was to

evelop a focuse plan that outlines how to

preserve its eisting holings an epan

its pars an open space acreage to meet

growing eman an enable all resients to

enjo Count pars an open space.

The goals of the Hays County Parks, Open

Space and Natural Areas Master Plan are

to:

Provie regional par an open space

lans for an assortment of recreational

eperiences suite to a variet of usersin the Count. These shall inclue large,

multi-purpose facilities that ma connect

to communit features through trails,

greenwas an other pars.

Utilize the Count par an open space

sstem to conserve lan that has

environmental value incluing habitat,

watershe health, heritage an scenic


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iii

open space projects the Count uner-

taes were also create.

Assessment Results

during the thir phase of the master-plan-

ning effort, four ifferent assessments wereconucte to help inform Has Counts

priorit projects list.

Standards-based AssessmentConclusions:Base on comparison with par an open

space stanars it is recommene to:

Increase the total acres of pars in the

pars an open space sstem

Increase the number an length of trails

in the par an open space sstem

Locate active recreation facilities in

areas of enser population

Demand-based AssessmentConclusions:

As a result of the public input it is recom-

mene to:

Create larger-size facilities with both

passive an active recreation

Provie river access

Provie multi-use trails that allow for bi-

ing, hiing an connecting pars where

appropriate

Promote the incorporation of camping

an outh outoor facilities

Provie eucational opportunities on

general nature enjoment an sports

activities when possible

Resource-based AssessmentConclusions:To protect sensitive lan it is recommene

to:

Provie river access an restoration Conserve lan that provies opportu-

nities for groun-water recharge an

surface-water protection

Protect scenic corriors along rivers,

roas an rige tops that allow for views

to general open space lans

Create Par Stewarship Plans for all

facilities: removing invasive species,

repairing the unstable soil conitions

Phase 2: during this phase, the Coun-

ts vision an esire role for future

pars an open space projects began

to be dened. This is also when the

Count narrowe own its list of prior-

ity projects and rened its role in parkan open space facilit evelopment.

Potential projects in the Count were

identied and categorized by their ability

to meet the goals an objectives ienti-

ed in Phase 1. A second set of public

meetings was hel an an online poll

to garner resient feebac was con-

ucte.

Phase 3: during the thir phase, a

nees assessment was complete using

four methos of assessment: stanar-

base, eman-base, resource-base

and scal-based. The goals and objec-

tives for the plan were use as baseline

information to dene a set of projects or

strategies that coul be implemente in

Has Count. Aitional public outreach

an feebac was achieve.

Phase 4: Priority projects were identied

uring the fourth phase. Project loca-

tions and specic goals were created

through public input, opportunit anal-

sis (i.e. abilit to buil aitional capacit

for projects an resources), comparison

to eisting inventor an partnership

support. During a nal public meeting,

which was hel on June 30, 2011 at the

Hays County Extension Ofce in San

Marcos, the consultant team reviewe

the priorit projects with the public an

gathere their feebac on the irection

of the plan through comment cars an

informal iscussion.

Phase 5: During the nal phase, po-

tential partners an funing sources

for project implementation as well as

future par an open space planning

objectives were identied. Management

recommenations for inclusion in part-

nership agreements for future par an

executive summAry


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HAyS COUNTy PARkS, OPEN SPACE ANd NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN | Has Count, Teasiv

executive summAry

an practicing lan management an

programs to better the environmental

conitions at an par or open space

Fiscal-based Assessment ConclusionsIn achieving aitional revenues or partner-

ships it is recommene to:

diversif tourism opportunities beonsports to potentiall inclue nature

tourism, festivals or special events an

eucational events

Buil upon eisting an new funing op-

portunities an partnerships to grow the

pars an open space networ.

Priorit Projects

In support of the goals for pars an open

space in Has Count, Priorit Projects were

identied. This includes focusing resources

to evelop large multi-purpose spaces that

encompass multiple Priorit Projects within

the par or open space area to service a

larger population.

Priorit projects for the Count are:

1. River an Cree Access

2. Trails

3. Camping

4. youth Camping

5. General Nature Enjoment

6. Nature Center

7. Festival Space

8. Recreation an Sports Comple

9. Shooting Sports Comple

10. Communit Garens


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INTRODUCTION


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Hays COUNTy PaRks, OPeN sPaCe aND NaTURal aReas MasTeR PlaN | H Count, Tx2

Mtr Pn

mi nd i octd on th bordr btwn

th edwrd Ptu nd th outhrn

Bcnd Priri rgion in outh cntr

Tx. Th Cit of sn Mrco i th count

t. Incorportd citi within th Count

incud Bud, Driftwood, Dripping spring,

k, Wimbr, H, Mountin Cit,Nidrwd, sn Mrco, Uhnd nd Br

Cr.

Thr h bn ong hitor of pprci-

tion nd conrvtion of th ntur rourc-

es in Hays County. The frst County park,

Dud Johnon Pr, w cquird in 1973

through dontion of nd ong th Bnco

Rivr. Foowing th cquiition of thi pr,

th Count hd no nw cquiition of pr

unti 2003 whn Rnd Vttr Pr w

opnd djcnt to Dud Johnon Pr.

addition pr hv bn cquird b th

Count rcnt nd r dicud in th ac-

compihmnt ction of thi Chptr.

a tim in of pr nd opn pc pnning

ffort in H Count cn b found in ap-

pndix a: Proc nd Hitor.

Thi Pr, Opn spc nd Ntur ar

Mtr Pn i crtd for H Count

nd th groundwor for th Count

invovmnt in providing pr, opn pc

nd ntur r for th njomnt of cur-

rnt nd futur gnrtion.

Thr r currnt 1,225 cr of pubic

ownd pr nd 3,083 cr of pubic

ownd opn pc in H Count. Th

rgt pr fciit i 105 cr, with mot

pr in th Count bing communit nd

nighborhood-izd pr.

according to th 2010 Us Cnu, H

Count i growing rpid, mor thn dou-

bing it popution from 66,614 in 1990 to

157,107 in 2010. With th mdin g bing

30.4 nd pproximt 30 prcnt of th

ridnt undr th g of 19, H Count

h high ctiv popution.

Hitor

Th Count w formd b th gitur

in 1848, though vr currnt counti

wr tr crvd out of th initi trritor.

Th Count h n r of 679.8 qur

IntroductIon


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3

Mtr Pn

Dmogrphic

Growth in H Count h incrd rp-

id in th pt 10 r nd i nticiptd to

continu ccrting. Th Count nd to

ctiv pn for futur pr, rcrtion nd

opn pc opportuniti for th growing

nd chnging popution. Th dmogrph-

ic, incuding xiting nd projctd popu-

tion, g, rc nd incom, wr rviwd

to bttr undrtnd th citizn b of

H Count for futur pr nd opn

pc nd. addition dt on dmo-

grphic, incuding g chrt, rc chrt

nd popution growth mp r incudd in

appndix a: Proc nd Hitor.

Projctd Popution FigurTh popution of H Count, nd th

autin mtro-r in gnr, i growing rp-

id. Btwn 1990 nd 2000, H Count

w 49 prcnt popution incr.

Btwn 2000 nd 2010, th Count xp-

rincd 61 prcnt incr in popution.

Thi trnd i nticiptd to continu through

th 10-r if of thi pn.

Growth Pttrn

Highr dniti xit ong th I-35 cor-

ridor, prticur in sn Mrco nd k.

Mp incudd in appndix a: Proc nd

Hitor iutrt th popution dnit of

H Count cnu boc group.

ag Pttrn

Th mdin g in H Count i 30.4

r od, with third of th ridnt b-

ing undr th g of 24. approximt 13

prcnt of ridnt r ovr th g of 60,

whi 21 prcnt i undr th g of 14. Thrgt portion of citizn r btwn th

g of 20 nd 24, t 23 prcnt.

Rc

according to th 2010 U.s. Cnu, ovr

thr qurtr of th popution rport

thmv whit, foowd b 11 prcnt

who idntif thmv othr rc, 3

prcnt bc or africn amricn or 3 pr-

cnt two or mor rc. approximt 35

prcnt of th ridnt idntif thmv

Hipnic.

Incom

according to th Us Cnu, th mdin in-

com in H Count in 2009 w $53,113,

10 prcnt bov th Tx vrg of

$48,268.

Nd for Pr nd Rcrtion

a th numbr of pop in th Count

incr nd th prcnt of th popution

undr th g of 24 grow, prur wi

b pcd on th Count pr nd opn

pc. Pnning now for th futur of H

Count pr nd opn pc wi nur

tht futur gnrtion of Cntr Tx

ridnt cn continu to njo rcrtion

puruit of ind nd th wid-opn,

ntur pc tht m H Count uch

dirb pc to iv.

The Hays County projections were calculated in 2008 by the

Texas State Data Center, but are using 2000 census data.

As of the date of this repor t, projec tions based upon the 2010

census data have not been released.

Census Year PoPulation

1990 66,614

2000 97,589

2010 157,107

2015 (proj.) 215,670

2020 (proj.) 271,388

2025 (proj.) 335,014

IntroductIon


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Hays COUNTy PaRks, OPeN sPaCe aND NaTURal aReas MasTeR PlaN | H Count, Tx4

Mtr Pn

Pt Pnning effort

Th H Count Pr nd Opn spc

advior Bord (POsaB) w tbihd

in 2000 to dvi th H Count Com-

miionr Court on mttr prtining tocquiition, dvopmnt, mngmnt,

mintnnc nd u of pr, rcrtion

fciiti, opn pc nd iur rvic

ownd or controd b H Count. Th

POSABs frst role was to review and com-

mnt on th 2002 Pr nd Opn spc

Mtr Pn, which gv guidnc nd

critri for projct rciving upport from

th 2001 Bond Funding.

In 2006, th Pr nd Opn spc Mtr

Pn w updtd; nd, in 2007, n d-dition bond w pd upporting pr

nd opn pc dvopmnt throughout

H Count. In mot c, th Count nd

tho rcipint who wr wrdd fund

prtnrd togthr to improv xiting or

to impmnt nw pr fciiti throughout

H Count.

Ovr th pt 10 r, th Count h prt-

nrd with municipiti for pr upgrd

nd projct through bond funding. During

tht tim, th Count vrgd $33.5miion bond to improv 32 pr nd opn

pc fciiti throughout H Count.

accompihmnt

In 2010, th Count, in prtnrhip with th

Cit of sn Mrco, opnd soccr Com-

px djcnt to th two prviou cquird

Count pr. Mot rcnt, th Count h

upportd th cquiition nd dvopmnt

of Jcob W Ntur ar nd th rgion- Hi nd Bi Tri (both nr Wimbr)

nd w invovd in th funding for th Dh-

trom Rnch conrvtion mnt. (Th

Count nd th Dhtrom hv grd to

ngotit to ow for pubic cc

on th proprt.) Funding of Count pr

nd opn pc projct tht too pc

from 2001 through 2007 cm through bond

inititiv.

In ddition, othr pr nd opn pc

in oc juridiction wr o fundd in

prt b Count bond inititiv. Togthr,

th Count nd oc govrnmnt juridic-

tion currnt hv 1,225 cr of pr nd

3,083 cr of opn pc. Th rgt pr

fciit in th Count nd oc govrnmntjuridiction i 105 cr. Th mjorit of

crg i t thcommunit or nighbor-

hood pr v (70%). Th rgt opn

pc fciit i pproximt 1,000 cr.

Pr nd Opn spcsupport

Th continud invtmnt in pr nd

opn pc throughout H Count h

bn rg du to bond funding in 2001nd 2007. In 2001 $3.5 miion upportd 12

projct. In 2007, $30 miion upportd 20

projct. Pr Bond wr upportd b

mrgin grtr thn 2 to 1.

Numrou citi in H Count hv tb-

ihd pr nd opn pc progrm of

thir own. Mn of th citi hv Pr nd

Opn spc Mtr Pn nd om hv

pr dprtmnt to mng thir pr.

Dti on citi pr dprtmnt docu-

mnt r octd in appndix a: Procnd Hitor.

IntroductIon


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Planning Process


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Hays county Parks, oPen sPace and natural areas Master Plan | H c, tx6

M P

Ph 1

The focus of rst phase was to dene goals

and objectives for parks and open space

in Hays County. Using the 2006 Parks and

Open Space Master Plan as a starting point,

the consultant team received input from

the Hays County POSAB to create goals

and objectives for public comment. The

objectives presented to the public included

baseline conditions and potential measures

of success for each objective.

The rst public meeting was held on March

31, 2011 at the San Marcos Community

Center. This meeting covered goals, objec-

tives and measures of success for the Hays

County Parks, Open Space and Natural

Areas Master Plan. The information and

activities included in this meeting encour-

aged feedback on resource maps of the

area, goals and priorities for parks and open

space in the County and ideas presented

and planning process.

In conjunction with the rst public meet-

ing, stakeholder interviews were held on

March 30 and 31, 2011 at the Five Mile Dam

Sports Complex. These meetings involved

individuals identied by the County as hav-ing a specic interest or elds of expertise

in topics related to parks and open space.

Key stakeholder interviews included park

and recreation directors from local cities,

agricultural and ranching interests, realtors

and home builders, organized sports groups,

conservation interests, agencies, environ-

mental interests and economic development

interests.

The former Hays County Park and Open

Space Master Plan was originally created in

2002 and was revised on July 20, 2006. To

stay current with Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department (TPWD) guidelines, the Park

and Open Space Master Plans must be up-

dated every ve years and a new plan is re-quired every 10 years. With the last revision

having been in 2006, a new plan needed to

be prepared in 2011. Hays County enlisted

the support of a consultant in the creation of

this plan.

th Hays County Parks, Open Space and

Natural Areas Master Plan is a planning

document that can be used by the County to

make future decisions about parks and open

space projects. This document can be used

as a guideline for parks and open space

program and facilities priorities. The County

can purchase land, develop facilities and/or

operate and maintain facilities that provide a

clear public benet of park and open space

to the citizens of Hays County.

Methodology


Natural Areas Master Plan was guided by

a multi-faceted process. This process wasinformed by review of existing documents,

focus group input, Hays County POSAB

input and review, public input, Commissioner

input and County staff input and review from

January to October 2011. Public input a

key element in the development of the plan

was received through key-pad polling,

group activities, dot voting, online poll, com-

ment cards, emails, one-on-one conversa-

tions and key stakeholder interviews. While

polling methods were not administered in a

statistically valid method, they do representinput from those who chose to participate in

the process. A variety of methods were used

to solicit input and provide some interpreta-

tion of what people wanted in the County

parks and open space system. The process

was completed in ve phases.

Figure 1: Community Kick-Off | March 31, 2011

Planning Process


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7

M P

Phase 2

During this phase, the Countys vision and

desired role for future parks and open space

projects began to be dened. This is also

when the County narrowed down its list of

priority projects and rened its role in park

and open space facility development. Po-

tential projects in the County were identied

and categorized by their ability to meet the

goals and objectives identied in Phase 1.

The consultant team facilitated a second set

of public meetings on two evenings (April 20

and 21, 2011) in two different locations (the

Precinct 2 Ofce in Kyle and the Dripping

Springs City Hall, respectively). These meet-

ings included a presentation and activities

regarding the vision. Participants discussed

the most appropriate role for the County in

the development of parks and open space

both in types of parks and open space and

methods of support that should be pursued.

Lists of projects were generated during the

meeting to help prioritize projects.

In addition to the public meetings, an online

poll (using Survey Monkey) was made avail-

able to the public from April 21, 2011 to May

14, 2011. A link to the survey was availableon the County website. The poll had almost

1,000 responses from various areas in the

County, including 40 percent from the San

Marcos area, 23 percent from the Kyle Area

and approximately 10 percent each from

the Dripping Springs and Buda areas. This

additional outreach measure allowed the

planning process to reach more people than

just those who attended the meetings.

Ph 3

During the third phase, the consultant team

facilitated a needs assessment using four

methods of assessment: standard-based,

demand-based, resource-based and scal-

based. The goals and objectives for the plan

provided baseline information to produce

a set of projects or strategies that could be

implemented in Hays County. The details of

the methods and ndings of these assess-

ments are discussed in the Needs Assess-

ment section of this document. The goals

and objectives analysis can be found in the

Appendix.

The consultant team held a fourth meeting

on May 26, 2011 at the Jacobs Well POA

Building in Wimberley. This meeting covered

the needs analysis and reviewed the polling

results to determine local standards and to

get feedback on potential priorities/prefer-

ences for planning areas within the County.

Comment cards and informal discussions

were used to gather feedback on the direc-

tion of the plan.

Figure 2: Open House | April 20/21, 2011

Figure 3: Conceptual Blueprint | May 26, 2011

Planning Process


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M P

Ph 4

Priority projects were identied during the

fourth phase. Project locations and specic

goals were identied through public input,

opportunity analysis (ability to build addition-

al capacity for projects and resources) and

comparison to existing inventory and part-

nership support in planning areas in Hays

County. The priority projects are described

in detail in Appendix E: Priority Project De-

scriptions. Location-specic prioritization of

these projects is also discussed in Appendix

F: Planning Area Preferences.

Another public meeting was held on June

30, 2011 at the Hays County Extension Of-

ce in San Marcos. The prioritized projects

and the planning areas were reviewed and

comment cards and informal discussions

were used to gather feedback on the direc-

tion of the plan. The nal public meeting

will occur when the Commissioners Court

adopts or accepts the plan.

Ph 5

During the nal phase, the team identied

potential partners and funding sources for

project implementation as well as future park

and open space planning objectives. They

also created management recommendations

for inclusion in partnership agreements for

future park and open space projects that the

County undertakes. Implementation details

can be found in Implementation section of

this plan.

Details on specic outreach tools, meeting

agendas and supplementary materials are

included in Appendix B: Public Input Docu-

mentation.

Figure 4: Draft Plan | June 30, 2011

Planning Process


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9

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Vision

Hays County is a burgeoning, vibrant com-

munity characterized by abundant natural

resources. The parks and open space

system in the County plays an important

role in allowing people to enjoy these unique

features, conserve valuable resources and

provide a variety of recreation opportunities

in the County.

c r

The role of the County is to support park

and open space projects that have clear

public value, to protect public interest and

to provide public access to desired, needed

and well-designed facilities. The County cansupport this role through acquisition of land

for parks and open space and potentially

develop, operate and/or maintain facilities

on the park or open space land.

Land acquisition by the County can only

be pursued with willing landowners. Land

can be acquired either through purchase of

property in fee-simple, wherein a landowner

sells his or her property outright, or the

County can establish a conservation ease-

ment where a landowner willingly conveys

certain interests on the property, such as

the restrictions on development. When

land is purchased in fee-simple, the land is

obtained in its entirety. When a conservation

easement is purchased from a willing land-

owner, the landowner still owns and oper-

ates the land and the County or partnering

non-prot owns the development or other

rights to the land. A purchase of a conser-

vation easement is a voluntary agreement

between a landowner and either a non-prot

conservation organization or government

agency and requires the landowners con-

sent for public access.

A Resolution of the Hays County Com-

missioners Court regarding the Countys

authority for land acquisition is included in

Appendix A: Process and History.

g


Natural Areas Master Plan has three major

goals with related objectives. The objectives

under each goal have measures of success

that are used to further dene the objective.

Detailed analysis of each objective and mea-

sure of success can be found in Appendix D:

Assessment.

The goals are focused around the concept of

the County supporting large regional facili-

ties that help conserve natural features in

the County.

Goal 1: Community Goal

Provide regional parks and open space for

an assortment of recreational experiences

suited to a variety of users in the County.

These shall include large, multi-purpose

facilities that may connect to community

features through trails, greenways and other

parks.

Objective 1.1: Provide ample parks and

open spaces in the park and open space

system.

M f s

The plan contributes to a systemthat provides 30 acres of parks

and open space per 1,000 resi-

dents, while ensuring that open

space and park areas are located

proportionate to the population

density.

Objective 1.2: Utilize the park and open

space system to provide a range of

recreational experiences to service a

variety of age groups and user-types

year-round.

M f s

The plan contributes to increased

diversity of program types in re-

sponse to the needs of the various

areas of the County.

Objective 1.3: Connect the parks and

open space system where appropriate.

M f s

The plan contributes to increased

connectedness of parks and

Planning Process


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M P

The plan increases acres of pro-

tected land with high potential ero-

sion risk to integrate the natural

topography and hydrology into the

parks and open space system.

Objective 2.3: Utilize the parks and open

space system to protect scenic qualitiesthroughout the County.

M f s

The plan increases the amount of

signicant scenic qualities that are

in parks and open space as a way

of protecting those views.

Goal 3: Financial Goal

Create a nancially balanced and economi-

cally viable parks and open space system.

Objective 3.1: Incorporate a variety of

funding mechanisms and partnerships

for park and open space funding.

M f s

The plan creates a 60/40 mix of

public private nancing in order

to balance park and open space

development priorities with scal

responsibilities.

Objective 3.2: Promote economic devel-

opment through increased year-round

tourism.

M f s

The plan increases the Countys

tourism-related sales taxes by

10% and increases visitor spend-

ing per day for park and open

space activities by 10%.

open space where appropriate.

Determining where appropriate

includes looking at adjacency of

other parks and open space facili-

ties, community node or places

and their proximity to urban areas.

Goal 2: Environmental Goal

Utilize the County park and open space sys-

tem to conserve land that has environmental

value including habitat, watershed health,

heritage and scenic qualities, while provid-

ing appropriate recreation opportunities for

the public.


space system to improve the condition

of water quality and quantity in Hays

County.

M f s

The plan increases acreage of

land within the park and open

space system that has high prior-

ity for surface water retention

including ood zones, wetlands,

riparian corridors and protections

buffers. Encourage techniques to

minimize erosion and storm water

runoff at all scales.


land within the parks and open

space systems that has high prior-

ity for water recharge to improve

the quality and quantity of water

entering into the aquifer.


space system to conserve important

natural resource areas that contribute to

the health and vitality of the County.

M f s


woodland areas and grasslandwithin the parks and open space

system to improve air quality while

also improving habitat and stabiliz-

ing slopes to prevent runoff.

The plan increases the amount of

tree canopy in developed areas to

improve air quality and lower the

urban heat-island effect.

Planning Process


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11

M P

Park and Open SpaceClassications

Parks, open space and natural areas have

many denitions specic to each jurisdiction.

The National Parks and Recreation Asso-ciation breaks down parks and open space

into many sub-categories. These denitions

were used as a basis for public input and

feedback from the Hays County POSAB to

create a local denition of parks, open space

and natural areas.

For purposes of this plan, Open Space

includes the classication of Natural Areas

but the County focuses attention and has in-

creased consideration for areas with natural

resources in Hays County, thus calling it outspecically in the title of this plan. This plan

denes parks and open space as follows:

ParksParks are traditionally developed and

managed to accommodate multiple

recreation activities. They are open to the

public and designed for a high intensity of

use. Parks often include a wide variety of

amenities and facilities that support activerecreation such as sports elds and courts,

play structures and recreation centers.

Parks can be various sizes, ranging from the

neighborhood to the regional scale.

This plan establishes six classications

of parks for Hays County: mini-parks,

neighborhood parks, community parks,

multi-purpose parks, sports complexes and

special-use parks. All of these coincide

with the NRPA denitions except for Multi-

Purpose Parks. Hays County has added

this park type to the NRPA standard list

of park classications because the NRPA

classications lacked a park type that

addressed the regional nature of park

facilities for a county.

PARKS

Neighborhood

ParksMini-Parks

Community

Parks

Sports

Complexes

Multi-Purpose

Parks

Special Use

Parks

Specialized facilities

that serve a limited

population or

specic group.

Area of intensive

recreational

activities, such as

eld games, court

games, crafts ,

playground area,

skating, picnicking,

wading pools, etc.

A local park with a

diverse environmental

quality. It may include

areas suited for active

recreational facilities

or for more passive

nature- oriented

activities.

A destination park

that provides

opportunity for

multiple types of

recreational activities

while reserving land

for conservation and

natural resource

management.

A large recreation

facility that provides

a venue for active

sports.

An area for

specialized or single

purpose recreational

activities (ie.

fairgrounds).

Figure 5: Parks Defnitions

Planning Process


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M P

Concepts and Standards

The County has a relatively small parks

system with only six facilities, but includes

a diversity of park types from natural areas,

such as Jacobs Well, to recreation facilities,

such as Five Mile Dam Sports Complex.

Through the planning process, a desire for

large facility with multiple uses that was ac-

cessible to all was clear. The concept of a

large multi-purpose facility focused on trail

and passive recreation became the founda-

tion of project development and priorities.

The process to identify projects and ac-

tivities to occur in a large multi-use facility

took a four part approach that build uponthe standard park planning analysis of

standards, demand and resource analysis

and additionally included a scal analysis.

The standards analysis used the NRPA

standards to analyze the baseline inven-

tory conditions. Simply, this supported the

need for a larger, multi-purpose facility in the

County. The demand analysis used pub-

lic input to establish the local standard for

Hays County. This analysis supported the

desire for trails and passive recreation. The

resource analysis identied key location ofresources and standards for incorporation of

environmental practices to be incorporated

into projects. The analysis supported the

numerous ecological resources in the area

to focus passive recreation around. The

scal analysis looked for potential economic

impacts and benets for projects. Simply,

there are many tourism and partnership

opportunities in the area to capitalize on. By

using a multi-dimension approach, projects

identied for the County were able to meet

multiple needs identied during assessmentprocess.

The Assessment Chapter of the Master

Plan Book and the Appendix D: Assessment

elaborate on this process and ndings.

Open SpaceOpen space areas are managed primarily

for resource conservation and low-impact

passive recreation opportunities. These

areas often include trails, water access and

educational activities. Open spaces can be

of various sizes, from linear greenways oflimited width to larger block areas encom-

passing signicant resources.

This plan establishes two classications of

open space for Hays County: natural areas

and greenways. These two classications

align with the NRPA classications. Hays

County has added that both have public

access included in their denitions.

OPEN SPACE

Natural Areas Greenways

Natural areas are managed primarily for

natural resource conservation. They are

often conserved because of their scenic,

wildlife, cultural or hydrologic values.

Greenways are linear tracts of land that

are accessible to the public and oer

passive recreation opportunities.

Often multi-use trail systems through

greenways enhance local and regional

connectivity.

Figure 6: Open Space Defnitions

Planning Process


25/50

Inventory


26/50

Hays County Parks, oPen sPaCe and natural areas Master Plan | H C, tx14

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Five Mile Dam Soccer Complex

Inventory


27/50

15

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Facility 48 | Dudley Johnson Park Location

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Facility 49 | Randall Vetter Park Location

Inventory


28/50


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Facility 73 & 74 | Jacobs Well Location

Inventory


29/50

17

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Inventory


30/50


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Inventory


31/50

ASSESSMENT


32/50

HAyS CouNTy PArkS, oPEN SPACE ANd NATurAl ArEAS MASTEr PlAN | Has Cnt, Texas20

Maste Pan

This st ses sevea iffeent appach-

es t ientif the nees f pa an pen

space faciities in the Cnt. An assess-

ment an anasis f existing cnitins was

cncte, esients esies f aitina

esces wee cmpie an pptnities

for future projects were identied. The needsassessment se in this pan ince f

categies:

Stanas-Base

deman-Base

resce-Base

Fisca-Base

The rst three methods are commonly ac-

cepte in pa panning pactices an ae

tiize thght the natin. The fth

meth is a wa t aess the ecnmics

f pas an ptentia evene geneatin t

offset operational costs, along with benets

t the ecnmic sects f the cmmnit.

Each assessment este in ecmmena-

tins n ptentia pjects an stategies

that c be impemente in Has Cnt

t meet thei gas an bjectives. These

assessments wee the basis f the ist f

Cnt piities. diagams expaining the

pcess f each assessment can be fn

in Appenix d: Assessment.

Stanas-BaseAssessment

The stanas-base assessment ses

cmmn agee pn stanas t cm-

pae Has Cnt pas an pen space

faciities t the natina ecmmene ave-

ages. Histica in pas an eceatin

aministatin, anasis has been cmpete

sing ppatin capacit atis nwn

as the Natina receatin an Pas As-

sciatin (NrPA) Stanas. The NrPA

stanas wee evepe in the 1980s an

evise in 1990 as a meth f cacating

the nmbe f pa an eceatin faciities a

cmmnit sh have base n pviing

X nmbe f aces X nmbe f faciities

pe 1,000 ppatin.

These stanas wee intene t hep

dene the needs based on a national level,

athgh it is ecgnize that the mst be

ajste f the nees an esies f each

cmmnit. diffeent gegaphic aeas

f the cnt have vaing se gps,

tens, inteests, etc. In man cases, the in-ivia cmmnit nees ae iffeent fm

thse f the histica-efeence ppa-

tin atis.

Athgh these atis have been se

ve the ast 30 eas in pas an ece-

atin panning, mst pa an eceatin

pfessinas nw cnsie the stanas

methg bsete becase the nt

ince newe tpes f eceatin. Sme f

the tpes f pas amenities in Has Cnt,

sch as eceatin centes, isc gf cs-

es, g pas, sate pas, pascapes,

cmmnit gaens, picnic aeas, nate

centers and shing docks, are not listed in

the NrPA stanas. As nt ince ae

stanas f pen space passive ece-

atin activities.

Pcess

The NrPA capacit atis can pvie a

snapshot over time but are limited to specic

cmpnents an ae shwn hee pimai

f efeence n.

This ept ses ppatin nmbes base

n the 2010 uS Censs ata an pjec-

tins. Pa amenit an faciit infmatin

se t cacate cmpaisn t the NrPA

Stanas f Has Cnt was base

n the invent an avaiabe ata at the

time this report was complied. Deciency

estimates ae base pimai n thse

nmbes. An invent f sch an pivatefaciities was nt cncte as pat f this

study and may adjust these deciencies,

specically organized sports facilities such

as ftba. A f tabe f the NrPA Stan-

as cmpaisn can be fn in Appenix

d: Assessment.

Assessment


33/50

21

Maste Pan

rests an recmmenatins

Base n the cent ppatin, the existing

eve f sevice inicates that Has Cnt

is decient in the following categories:

ovea Pa Aceage

Tais

Swimming Ps

Baseba Fies

Sftba Fies

Basetba Cts

Veba Cnts

Tennis Cts

Tac

Shting Spts

In aitin, the Cnt w as be e-

cient in football elds in 2020, based on

the pjecte gwth f Has Cnt t a

ppatin f 271,388. Sch faciities wee

nt facte int the invent pjectins.

Many have football elds.

Base n the stanas assessment, piit

pjects in Has Cnt sh fcs n:

Inceasing the tta aces f pas in the

pas an pen space sstem

Inceasing the nmbe an ength f

tais in the pa an pen space sstem

lcating active eceatin faciities inaeas f ense ppatin

deman-BaseAssessment

The eman-base assessment eies

n ientifing thse tpes f faciities an

amenities that pepe esie t have avai-

abe. deman is epenant nt n n the

pinins an esies f the paticipants, bt

as n evaating the vea faciities in theCnt an cmpaing thse t the em-

gaphics f the ca ppatin.

Pcess

The interest of residents in specic activi-

ties was taen fm an nine p as we as

cmmnit inpt ing meetings. Athgh

nt cnsiee statistica vai, these

ps pvie g infmatin cncening

genea tens an esies f the cmm-

nit. This infmatin is se t infm the

iectin f pa an pen space panning

specic to the local needs. Participants were

asked to rate the importance and signi-

cance f eceatina activities fm nt at aimptant t ve imptant. respnses f

each activit wee then ptte n a chat.

Activities that have high imptance an

w satisfactin inicate an nmet nee an

c becme fte piities f Cnt

Cit pas an pen space pjects. Activi-

ties that have a high imptance an high

satisfactin c be maintenance pjects

that cities an cnties sh cntine t

aess as the Cnt ppatin inceases.

detais fm this pcess can be fn in

Appenix d: objective Assessment.


Base n the eman-base anasis, Has

Cnt has man active eceatin facii-

ties cate in ban aeas. Man f these

ae cnnecte thgh sma tai sstems.

There is currently a deciency in overall park

an pen space aces f the Cnt; this is

especia te f age mti ppse pas

that have bth passive an active faciities.

Base n the eman assessment, piit


Ceating age-size faciities with bth

passive an active eceatin

Pviing ive cee access

Pviing mti-se tais that aw f

biing, hiing an cnnecting pas

whee apppiate

Pmting the aitin f camping an

th t faciities

Pviing ecatina pptnities ngenea nate enjment an spts

activities when pssibe

Assessment


34/50

HAyS CouNTy PArkS, oPEN SPACE ANd NATurAl ArEAS MASTEr PlAN | Has Cnt, Texas22

Maste Pan

resce-BaseAssessment

Has Cnt has ivese ecgica egins

an envinmenta sensitive anscapes.

The esce-base anasis e at va-ing an sensitivit in Has Cnt. When

pssibe, the pchase f these ans fm

wiing an wnes can aw the Cnt

t pvie aitina cnsevatin t these

ans an aw the pbic t enj the

beat an niqeness f Has Cnt.

Pcess

This esce anasis se Gegaphic

Infmatin Sstem (GIS) infmatin t map

the vais an cnitins eate t theenvinmenta gas f the Hays County

Parks, Open Space and Natural Areas Mas-

ter Plan. The esces mappe ae exist-

ing cnitins in Has Cnt. Each map

identies a percentage of the County that

has the sensitive an feate an a baseine

cnitin f the pecentage f the sensitive

an feate that is cent ptecte b

pas pen space in Has Cnt. detais

fm this pcess can be fn in Appenix

d: Assessment.


Accing t the esce-base anasis,

wate isses ae a age cncen f Has

Cnt. Effts nee t be taen t ptect

an enhance wate qait an qantit

thght the Cnt. Geat pptni-

ties exist f ptectin an enhancement

thgh the pas an pen space sstem.

In aitin, thee is sppt t ptect the

nata beat an ecsstem sevices

the Cnt has t ffe. These ange fm

scenic cis, esin ptectin, tee-

canp enhancement an ptectin, an

genea nata-aea ptectin.

Base n the esce assessment, piit


Pviing ive cee access an

estatin

Cnseving an that pvies pp-

tnities f gn-wate echage an

sface-wate ptectin

Ptecting scenic cis ang ives,

as an igetps that aw f viewst genea pen space ans

Ceating Pa Stewaship Pans

f Cnt faciities: emving

invasive species, epaiing nstabe

si cnitins, an pacticing an

management an pgams t bette the

envinmenta cnitins at Cnt pa

pen space.

Fisca-Base Assessment

Athgh nt a cmmn empe meth

f assessment, Has Cnt as cmpete

a scal-based assessment in order to iden-

tif pptnities f fning patneship an

evepment f thei pas an pen space.

This assessment fcse n impementa-

tin pptnities se in the past an nes

that c ptentia be fthee mving

fwa.

Pcess

The scal analysis looked at potential fund-

ing pptnities in the Cnt eate t the

pas an pen space activities existing an

ptentia ccing thght the Cnt.

As a cent tism estinatin, Has

Cnt aea has pptnities f ec-

nmic evepment an evene-geneatin

through sales tax. The scal analysis

eviewe existing tism an ptentia t-

ism base pn eceatina faciities an

scenic esces in the Cnt. detais fmthis pcess can be fn in Appenix d:

objective Assessment.


Base n this anasis, pjects f the

Cnt sh bi pn aea exist-

ing patneships an evepment f new

Assessment


35/50

23

Maste Pan

patneships f fte pa an pen space

evepment.

In Hays County, there are signicant sports

tism events cent he an nata

amenities exist that c be fthe en-

hance.

Based on the nancial assessment, priority


divesifing tism pptnities be-

n spts t ptentia ince nate

tism, festivas specia events an

ecatina events

Biing pn existing an new fning

pptnities an patneships t gw

the pas an pen space netw.

Nees AssessmentCncsins

Thgh the f assessments, sme

themes came p in mtipe categies.

These cmmn eements wee ecgnize

as having the ptentia t meet man f the

gas f the Cnt an sh theefe be

cnsiee a piit f the Cnt t inc-

pate int fte pjects. The piities f

the Cnt wee base pn the fwing

e-ccing themes:

Nee f a age-size, egina faciit

Nee f incease tai access

Nee f activities an faciities that

pvie pptnities t passive enj

the scenic an nata beat f Has

Cnt

Nee f ive cee access an

estatin

Nee f t ecatin pptni-

ties thgh pbic access

Assessment


36/50


37/50

Project Priorities


38/50


M P

thgh h pg ff, mb f

activities were identied by the various

pp h w v h

fh vp h m mp-

H c h p

p p m. th g fm

h m mwh p-v h, h

b pp, v p v

p pp f. th -

g hm fm h m

ph p mph pv

pp h q f

H c hgh , v

pp g, g-

z p p p f.

th f f h c mp

m f h p g

f h ff v v v

g pp. th pp w

mb q f bh p p

p b hvg v -

, v qf

hg pp wh wg m

v f p f h pp. th

pp w mb q f

bh p p p b hvg -

, v , qf

-hg pp

m p f m v .

i pp f h v f p p

p H c, p pp

pp f z p

f, h v ,

v vb , h

g m v

pv v f

pp h c hgh v

pv mpg.

th fwg p fp.

1. rv c a

i pb v w

pv pp h

swimming, oating, kayaking and shing.

sp

b gv mmz h

vm mp h v

conicts with river-side private landowners.

2. M-u t

nw w ff hg bg

pp b g p

f h c-vp m f

v p f h g m f

g v.

3. cmpg

ig h mb f g

mpg w w f v f

vgh gw w

pv w p p f .

4. yh cmpg F

th p f f ff v f

v -p mp.

th m-pp w hv hf p h b

.

5. G n eml

n pv wf vwg, w

p g

m.

6. n c

a w hw h q

g f h H c wh pvg

pp f

. th

m f , m

m pp wh

hwg b mgm p f

vm v.

Project Priorities


39/50

27

M P

Pg a

d h v f bh c

, p/pf

lists were developed for specic regions of

h c Pg a. Pg

Areas were dened based on zip codes

(h h mm

). P/Pf f h p-

ning area were based upon area-specic

m , v f

pp h pg ,

p fm h pb, c p

p p p php p-

p, b p

f f f mp f

f. Fh f h

b f appx F: Pg aP/ Pf.

Wh p w

p/pf, h c

h p p w b p/

pf f h

p f ff.

a fm pg p-

/pf b f app-

x F: Pg a P/ Pf.

B Pg a

th B a p pf-

f m v m-

m f. a pg ,

v w hgh

p/pf. th B a h

m f wh v

v b f wh pv

v. th c f B w

f m h hghw

pp f m v php. th fwg p/pf-

f h B Pg a:

1. rv c a

2. M-u t

3. cmm G

4. r c sp cm-

px

5. shg sp cmpx

7. Fv spev sp

th f ff v f pb

v mm v. th

b v g fm g

mphh m m

p.

8. r c sp cmpx

th p w v f

g-m f v

p. th bh

f h pv

g f f, v f

h pb.

9. shg sp cmpx

This project will offer rearm enthusiasts

h pp gg w g

f hg v w pv

education on rearm safety.

10. cmm G

th g pv

p h bg h mmgh p fh f.

P P b f ap-

px e: P P dp.

Project Priorities


40/50


M P

dfw Pg a

th m m f h dfw

h f m p-

v v. th

w mph h h dfw

wh pp h

mpg f, h

f wh xg pv v-

pp. a pg ,

v w hgh

p/pf. th dfw a

w mp f v -

. th f h dfw

w fm m hghw b

wh vp Fm--M r,

pv m pp f p p

pv v f g gp. d

h f, h fwg p/

pf f h dfw Pg a:

1. rv c a

2. M-u t

3. G n em l

4. n c

5. yh cmpg F

dppg spg Pg a

Pf f dppg spg w

f m pv v. th w g mph

h dppg spg

pp pv v. a

pg , v

w hgh p/pf. th

f h dppg spg g

m hghw b h H c,

pv m pp f p p

pv v f h q m

. d h f, h fwg

p/pf f h dppg

spg Pg a:1. M-u t

2. G n em l

3. rv c a

4. n c

5. cmm G

k Pg a

th m m f h k

h f mm p

pv v. th w

g mph h k h

mp f mm f b

g f wh hm. th w

v f wh xg pv

v h . a pg -

, v w

hgh p/pf. th k

g m hghw pv

pp g ghg f h

q b m

pp hm. d h f, h f-

wg p/pf f h k

Pg a:

1. M-u t

2. rv c a

3. cmpg

4. r c sp cm-

px

5. Fv sp ev sp

s M Pg a

th s M m m

h f p

p pv v.ov, h f s M w

satised with the existing facilities and activi-

vb hm, b h w

v f wh xg mpg

f. a pg ,

v w hgh p/

pf. th f h s M

g m hghw h s

M rv pv pp f

f g v h pv pv

b

g pp. d h f, hfwg p/ pf f h

s M Pg a:

1. cmpg

2. M-u t

3. rv c a

4. cmm G

5. Fv sp ev sp

Project Priorities


41/50

29

M P

Wmb Pg a

th Wmb pf

m pv v-

. th w g mph h

Wmb g -

m . th w v

f f f v

h . a pg -

, v w

hgh p/pf. th

f h Wmb h H c

pv pp f p p

pv v f h pv

conservation benets. Due to these factors,

h fwg p/pf f

h Wmb Pg a:

1. rv c a

2. M-u t

3. G n em l

4. n c

5. cmpg

Project Priorities


42/50


M P

Zp c Gp

CAPCOG, TCEQ, USGS, Hays County, City of Kyle, City of San Marcos, City of Buda, TXDOT0 10,000 20,000 30,000 ft. * Project descriptions are located in Appendix E: Priority Project Descriptions.

PARKS, OPEN SPACE & NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN FOR HAYS COUNTYData Sources:

Figure 7: Parks and Open Space Project Master Plan

RR12

RR2325FM 967

RR150

RR3237

RR182

6

US290

FM

2770

SH

123

RR32

F M

1 6 2 6

FM2001

RR150

RR 12

RR

165

SH80

FM1626 FM 967

LOOP4

RR150

OLDRR

12

LOOP4

US290

RR12

WINTERSMILL

PARKWAY

FM2001FM1626

RR12

KYLE

SAN MARCOS

BUDA

WIMBERLEY

UHLAND

DRIPPING SPRINGS

NIEDERWALD

DRIFTWOOD

BEAR CREEK

WOODCREEK

CREEDMOOR

HAYS

MOUNTAINCITY

75

66

62

69

60

244

50

80

10

78

29

25

7

8

73

59

79

53

31

32

52

56

74

30

45

5754

46

65

2

55

51

11

26

9

71

58

68

70

6

19

16

20

61

17

1

3 2118

72

67

23

49

28

48

22

47

1315

5

6412 76

33-4363

14

77

27

I_35

Main Roads

Incorporated Towns & Cities

Park-OpenSpace

san Marcos Planning area

WiMberley Planning area DriPPing sPrings Planning area

DriftWooD Planning area

buDa Planning area

Kyle Planning

area

Project Priorities


43/50

IMPLEMENTATION


44/50

HAys COuNTy PArks, OPEN sPACE ANd NATurAL ArEAs MAsTEr PLAN | Ha Cont, Texa32

Mate Plan

A a egional govenmental entit, Ha

Cont ha the capacit to oganize lage

planning an implementation effot. The

Cont can e thi to foc on lan ac-

qiition fo the implementation of poject

that meet the Cont pioitie. Thi i bet

achieve thogh patneing with othe enti-tie fo the capital evelopment an opea-

tion an maintenance of the pa o open

pace facilitie.

If the appopiate oppotnit aie, the

Cont ma alo paticipate in capital evel-

opment an/o opeation an maintenance

of pa o open pace facilitie.

Implementation Timeline

The Cont ha ecentl mae two majo in-

vetment fo fte facilitie: the acqiition

of Jacob Well Natal Aea an the dahl-

tom ranch conevation eaement. (The

Cont an the dahltom have agee to

negotiate a leae to allow fo pblic ac-

ce on the popet.) Thee two facilitie

ae centl natal aea whee gene-

all moe paive eceational activitie ae

being planne. Both of thee facilitie ae

potentiall lage than mot cent pa an

open pace oppotnitie the Cont haan have mltiple natal eoce on the

popetie.

Ove the 10 ea life-pan of thi ocment,

the emphai of the Cont i eveloping

a lage-mltippoe facilit that incle

mltiple activitie, incling tail, ive o

cee acce an paive eceation. some

of thi col be accommoate in eithe of

the ecent Cont acqiition bt fthe

acqiition of lage aceage hol be

pe. The foc of the Cont hol beto patne an wo togethe on moving the

evelopment of thee facilitie fowa an

identication of additional land for acquisi-

tion that can accommoate lage facilitie.

shot-Tem

de to the economic itation of the na-

tion an Ha Cont, limite eoce

ae available fo implementation of poject.

Theefoe the ta fo the Cont in the

immeiate fte hol be on etablihingmate plan fo each pa facilit an initiat-

ing patnehip fo capital implementation,

fn-aiing, an opeation an mainte-

nance.

Mi-Tem

The mi-time ange hol incle ta

elate to eigning the pa facilitie, ceat-

ing opeation an management plan an

contine wo with patne fo fning.

Once enogh fning i ece, the mate

plan col be implemente.

Long-Tem

Long tem, the Cont hol loo towa

pchaing lan fo aitional lage-mlti-

ppoe facilitie to complement the gowing

pa an open pace tem in the Cont.

Patnehip

The Cont hol loo to a vaiet of

entitie fo patnehip. In man cae the

Cont will nee to patne with a combina-

tion of public, private and non-prot agen-

cie in oe to implement poject. Thee

partnering entities will be specic to the

poject being pe.

The following i a lit of potential patne

the Cont col loo to fo implementation

ppot:

Mnicipalitie

Texa Pa & Willife Otoo Gant

Texa Pa & Willife Tail Gant

Lowe Coloao rive Athoit Comm-

nit development Patnehip Gant

Capital Aea Metopolitan Planning O-

ganization/ Texa depatment of Tan-

potation Bie/Peetian Gant

ImplementatIon


45/50

33

Mate Plan

u.s. depatment of the Inteio Fih

an Willife

Ewa Aqife Athoit

Wate Contol an Impovement ditict

Pa development Fn

u.s. socce Fonation

McCo Fonation Bo scot of Ameica Toop

donation thogh Tt fo Pblic Lan

Fien of the Ble Hole

Bine Johnon Fonation

National Fih an Willife Fonation

HEB Fonation

rachael an Ben Vaghn Fonation

ramon dicon Fonation

dipping sping rota Gop - Fn-

aiing

san Maco socce Aociation

dipping sping socce Aociation

Noth Ha Optimit Clb (in-in

match)

Ba Economic development Copoa-

tion Contibtion

Commnit donation (ban, bi-

nee, inivial)

Meaow Fonation

Patnehip Citeia

A patnehip i a coopeative vente

between two o moe patie with a com-

mon goal, who combine complementa

eoce to etablih a mtal iection

or complete a mutually benecial project.

Patnehip hol enhance pblic offe-

ing to meet the miion an goal of the

Hays County and the Parks, Open Space

and Natural Areas Master Plan.

In oe fo patnehip to be ccefl,

the following element hol be in place:

sppot fo the poject at the highetlevel of oganization

Etablihment of a patnehip polic

with clea paamete an election

citeia fo popoe patnehip

Identication of priorities and multiple

point fo go/ no-go eciion on the

poject

Ceation of a pblic poce fo eview

of patnehip ceation.

Patnehip can tae man fom. Thee

incle cah gift an ono pogam,

impove acce to altenative fning,

popet invetment, chaitable tt fn,

labo, mateial, eqipment, ponohip,

technical ill an/o management ill,

an othe fom of vale ch a volntee-ing.

Patne membe can alo tae vaio

ole in eciion maing. Active patnehip

incle management ageement, pogam

patnehip, facilit leae, integoven-

mental ageement an maeting patne-

hip. Limite eciion-maing patnehip

incle gant pogam, ono pogam an

volntee pogam.

Patnehip Ageement

detaile ageement between patne

should outline specic roles and responsi-

bilitie of each patne. Patnehip agee-

ment col tae the following fom:

Leae Ageement

Management an/o Opeating Agee-

ment

Maintenance Ageement

Integovenmental Ageement (IGA)

Combination of thee an/o othe ap-

popiate ageement

Patnehip ageement hol ene that

the miion an goal of the patnehip ae

compatible with the goal an objective

fo the Hays County Park, Open Space and

Natural Area Master Plan. At a minimm,

the patnehip popoal an ageement

hol incle:

deciption of Popoing Oganization

deciion-maing Athoit

smma of Popoal Benets to the Partnering Organization

Benets to the County

detail egaing meeting the nee

of the community, nancing, logistics,

ageement an evalation

ImplementatIon


46/50


Mate Plan

Fning oce

Fning can come fom a vaiet of oce.

Potential fning oce ae lite below

an ae ane accoing to thei appopi-

atene fo Ha Cont. Cent fning

oce incle patnehip, fee, gant

awa, pivate onation an vote-ap-

pove pa bon. Othe fning oce

that col be eail incopoate incle

fonation gant. Longe tem option fo

fning wol eqie aitional planning,

appoval an patnehip incle agenc

gant, aitional bon, copoate o

pivate maeting o ponohip an fee.

Fll eciption of the exiting an potential

funding sources that have been classied by

the Cont fo appopiatene fo pingfo pa an open pace poject ae below.

1. Cent Fning soce

These funding sources are currently being

used by the Hays County Parks Department

to create the existing budgets for capital and

operational expenditures.

PartnershipsPatnehip ae joint evelopment fn-

ing oce o opeational fning ocebetween two epaate agencie, ch a

two government entities, a non-prot and

the Cont, o a pivate bine an the

Cont. Two patne jointl evelop poten-

tial evene-pocing pa an eceation

facilitie an hae i, opeational cot,

eponibilitie an aet management

bae on the tength an weanee of

each patne.

Dedication/Development Fees

Thee fee ae aee fo the evel-opment of eiential an/o commecial

popetie with the pocee to be e

fo pa an eceation ppoe, ch a

open pace acqiition, commnit pa ite

evelopment, neighbohoo pa evelop-

ment, egional pa evelopment, etc.

Texas Parks and Recreation AccountThee fn ae awae fo acqiition

an evelopment of pa, eceation an

ppoting facilitie thogh the state Pa

stem.

Land and Water Conservation FundThee fn ae awae fo acqiition an

evelopment of pa, eceation an p-

poting facilitie thogh the National Pa

sevice an state Pa stem.

Inter-local AgreementsContactal elationhip entee into be-

tween two o moe local nit of govenment

an/o between a local nit of govenment

and a non-prot organization for the joint

usage/development of sports elds, regional

pa o othe facilitie.

Friends AssociationsThee gop ae fome to aie mone

tpicall fo a ingle foc ppoe that

col incle a pa facilit o pogam that

will bette the commnit a a whole an

thei pecial inteet.

2. Eail Incopoate Fning

soceThese funding sources are relatively easy

for the Hays County Parks Department to

create the existing budgets for capital and

operational expenditures. These would be

used to attempt to fund the Master Plan and

Projects currently being developed.

Foundation/GiftsThee olla ae aie fom tax-exempt,

non-prot organizations established with

private donations in promotion of speciccae, activitie o ie. The offe a

vaiet of mean to fn capital poject,

incling capital campaign, gift catalog,

fnaie, enowment, ale of item,

etc.

ImplementatIon


47/50

35

Mate Plan

GrantsA vaiet of pecial gant eithe centl

exit thogh the Feeal an state gov-

enmental tem o will be etablihe

thogh the life of cent an popoe

facilitie.

3. Potential Long-range Fningsoce

These are potential funding opportunities

the Hays County Parks Departmentcould

consider. These would be used for long-

range projects and plans.

Inter-modal Transportation andEfciency ActThi fning pogam, commonl calle

TEA-21 Gant wa athoize b the Fe-

eal Govenment in 1991. Fn ae itib-

te thogh the tate. Thee ae eveal

million olla in enhancement evene

available fo tanpotation elate poject,

incling biccle an peetian tail, ail

epot ehabilitation, lancaping an beati-

cation projects.

General Obligation Bonds

Bone inebtene ie with the ap-poval of the electoate fo capital impove-

ment an geneal pblic impovement.

VolunteerismThi i an iniect evene oce in that

peon onate time to ait the epat-

ment in poviing a poct o evice on

an hol bai, ch a tail clean p,

foet management, etc. Thi ece the

Cont cot in poviing the evice pl it

bil avocac into the tem.

Security and Clean-Up FeesContie will chage gop an inivial

ecit an clean-p fee fo pecial event

an othe tpe of event hel in pa.

4. Potential PatnehipAgeement Fning soce

These are potential funding opportunities

the Hays County Parks Departmentcould

consider. These funding sources may

not be available currently in the state or

an intergovernmental agreement may be

necessary for implementation. These funding

sources may meet with some resistance and

be more difcult to implement.

Corporate SponsorshipsThi evene-fning oce allow co-

poation to invet in the evelopment o

enhancement of new o exiting facilitie in

pa tem. sponohip ae alo highl

e fo pogam an event.

Naming RightsMan contie have tne to elling the

naming ight fo new biling o eno-

vation of exiting biling an pa fo

the evelopment cot aociate with the

impovement.

Private DevelopersThee evelope leae pace fom Cont-

owne lan thogh a boinate leae that

pa ot a et olla amont pl a pecent-age of go olla fo eceation enhance-

ment. Thee col incle a golf coe,

maina, etaant, iving ange, pot

complexe, eqetian facilitie an ece-

ation cente, an ice aena.

Irrevocable Remainder TrustsThee tt ae et p with inivial who

tpicall have moe than $1 million in wealth.

The will leave a potion of thei wealth to

the Cont in a tt fn that allow the

fn to gow ove a peio of time an theni available fo the Cont to e a potion

of the interest to support specic park and

eceation facilitie o pogam that ae

eignate b the ttee.

Life EstatesThi oce of mone i available when

omeone want to leave thei popet to

the Cont in exchange fo them to live on

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Mate Plan

thei popet ntil thei eath. The Cont

all can e a potion of the popet

fo pa ppoe an then all of it afte the

peon eath. Thi evene oce i ve

popla fo ve wealth inivial whoe

etate will be highl taxe at thei eath

an whoe chilen will have to ell theipopet becae of pobate cot. Thi

allow the peon to eceive a goo tax e-

ction eal on thei popet while leaving

a life estate. The County benets because

the o not have to pa fo the lan.

Permits (Special-Use Permits)Thee pecial pemit allow inivial to

use specic park property for nancial gain.

The Cont eithe eceive a et amont of

mone o a pecentage of the go evice

that i being povie.

ReservationsThi evene oce come fom the ight

to reserve specic public property for a set

amont of time. The eevation ate ae

all et an appl to gop picnic hel-

te, meeting oom fo weing, enion

an oting o othe tpe of facilitie fo a

pecial activit.

Special FundraisersMan pa an eceation agencie havepecial fnaie on an annal bai to

help cover specic programs and capital

poject.

Manufacturing Product Testing andDisplayThis is where the County works with specic

manfacte to tet it poct in pa,

eceation facilitie an pogam evice.

The Cont tet the poct ne nomal

conition an epot bac to the manfac-te how it poct i oing. Example ae

in lighting, plagon eqipment, vehicle

tie, mowe, iigation tem, ee an

fetilize, etc. The Cont get the poct

fo fee bt mt pa fo the cot of intalla-

tion an tacing elt.

Recycling Centerssome contie opeate eccling cente fo

wood, mulch and glass as prot centers for

thei pa tem.

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37

Mate Plan

Plan Conclion

Thi plan epeent the opinion, eie

and needs for Hays County for a specic

peio of time in 2011. Invaiabl, the nee

an eie of the commnit will change

ove time an hol be eaee eg-

lal. Pblic inpt hol be pe thogh

mltiple mean ing implementation of

poj

hays county parks master plan

Documents