Mayor Lockwood's Monthly Message

Parks and Recreation

As a city, we are charged with providing numerous services to Milton residents including police, fire, community development, public works and court services. Although that list is broad, it certainly does not cover all the services the city’s citizens have come to expect. And while most of those services involve making Milton as safe as possible, we also want it to be as enjoyable as possible. Part of that enjoyment comes from outdoor and leisure activities.

The City Council, staff and I know the importance of parks and recreation services. Many of us are active in various recreational pastimes like walking, jogging, horseback riding, or playing a sport. For that reason and others, the council and I plan to proclaim July as “Parks and Recreation Month” in the City of Milton.

We began our pledge to provide outstanding parks and recreational services back in December 2008 by creating a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Since then, the board has made a lot of progress including focusing on several important quality of life issues that affect all Milton citizens. Since its inception, the board has taken on the responsibility to look at the parks and recreation program in Milton as well as make recommendations on issues such as funding, budget, staffing, future park sites and ideas for recreation programs.

The board’s biggest challenge to date is the parks and recreation comprehensive assessment. Once complete, this document will guide the city in its future park planning and program ideas. The advisory board has worked side by side with our hired consulting firm, EDAW, Inc., and have had input from the beginning of the planning process.

Together, both groups have reviewed the parks and recreation inventory in Milton, looked at both the parks and facilities owned by the city as well as those facilities that are owned or managed by other organizations. The assessment also will include design standards for what future park development should look like.

EDAW will hold a town hall meeting on Thursday, July 16, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. This meeting will give the community a status update on the assessment and will allow you an opportunity to give input on the plan.

The community is invited and encouraged to attend this open meeting, see what is being done, and give your comments and opinions. Each person will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on various options and alternatives, which will help give direction to both the Advisory Board and to EDAW.

The assessment is the first step in a long-range master planning process to help prepare for the future of Milton and I hope to see all of you July 16.

Sincerely,Mayor Joe Lockwood