Dear supporters,
 
We are happy to share that the Tiburon Town Council has voted to adopt the Tiburon Parks & Recreation Master Plan! We want to thank everyone who signed our petition and supported our efforts. It made a big difference!
 
This important vote took place during the Council’s meeting on Wednesday, November 20, which stretched past 10 p.m. The meeting included a presentation by WRT (the consultant who put together the plan) and hours of public comment and discussion by the Council. 
 
Council members have recommended a number of (mostly small) modifications to the plan, but they still went ahead with approving it. The updated version is expected to be reviewed briefly at a future meeting. 
 
There is a lot covered in the 136-page plan, which has taken shape over the past year and half. While the plan does not require the implementation of specific proposals, it does set the stage for many family-friendly improvements to our parks system. The master plan serves as a general roadmap and strengthens the process for budgeting and executing park improvements.
 
You can view the plan here: 
https://townoftiburon.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=8&event_id=1206&meta_id=51477
 
We applaud the Town Council for adopting the plan, and we applaud the Parks, Open Space and Trails (POST) Commission for shepherding the master planning process. Now it’s time to start implementing some of the proposals!  
 
A few key highlights from the plan:
 
* The plan includes a list of “amenity priorities” that were ranked based on public input. The high priority amenities include playgrounds, kayak/SUP launch, a swimming pool, outdoor pickleball courts, tennis courts, a community center, and picnic areas/shelters, among others.
 
You can see the rankings on pages 127-129.
 
* The plan assigns a “park character area” designation to park spaces throughout town and then proposes what types of amenities and uses might be suitable for these areas. There are six different park character designations: R1, active and recreational; R2, flexible and multi-generational; R3, special recreation; R4, low-intensity recreation; R5, nature and trails; and E, ecological.
 
You can read more on pages 82-86.
 
* The plan outlines a number of overall “key recommendations” on page 25. These include:
 
Provide more recreational opportunities for people of all ages; focus on improving the small neighborhood parks; explore the feasibility of an outdoor pool; improve safety along the Old Rail Trail and the San Francisco Bay Trail; create better visibility for the parks through signs, maps and online resources; embark on a separate master planning process for Blackie’s Pasture/Lineal Park (which includes the decommissioned sewage ponds); and several other key recommendations.
 
* The plan makes specific recommendations for park sites throughout town and ranks their priority. You can read more on pages 130-134.
 
Our group, Parents for Parks + Rec, came together because of the master planning process. Our goal since the beginning was to increase awareness about the master plan among families in Tiburon and to ensure family-friendly amenities were incorporated into the plan. Mission accomplished! 
 
Overall, we feel satisfied with the plan. That said, during the final round of revisions, we hope the town will incorporate a stronger emphasis on accessibility and inclusion. 
 
Also, as noted earlier, we hope the Town Council will move toward implementing ideas in the plan within the next year. Several council members have asked the POST Commission to recommend a handful of projects that are ready to go. So, it is important to keep writing letters to town leaders and expressing what you want to see happen. Send your letters here: 
 
POST Commission
deshoo@townoftiburon.org 
clhornbrook@gmail.com 
 
Town Council
town@townoftiburon.org
comments@townoftiburon.org 
 
We look forward to continuing our efforts to strengthen Tiburon’s park system and make it better for kids, for teens, for everyone. Again, thanks to the community members who contributed in some way to our advocacy. Let’s keep up the great work!
 
Sincerely,
 
Parents for Parks + Rec