City of Southlake Open Spaces Project
Abstract
The City of Southlake, Texas, currently has a population of roughly 31,000 residents and is approaching build-out. The city's estimated build-out population is 34,188. They could reach build-out as late as 2050. As Southlake continues to grow, they want to ensure that they maintain their high standard of living. Southlake prides itself on having numerous parks and open space that offers a variety of recreational activities. Parks and recreation programs play a vital role in the lives of residents and their visitors. They provide active recreational pursuits, passive enjoyment, enhanced quality of life, improved community image, and increased tourism. It is apparent that the City of Southlake and its community residents find it extremely important to promote, maintain, and ensure the protection and preservation of all-natural open space and potential environmental assets. In a survey collected for the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan in 2011, the City of Southlake found that 90% of the community surveyed said that it was an important community goal to provide trails, parks, and open space conservation within the Southlake community.
The goal of this project is to create a criteria evaluation matrix and recommendations that the City of Southlake can use to identify how property can be acquired, public financing options, public-private partnerships, grant availability, and open space or park and recreation credits within the city. **Please note that the full text is embargoed**