title
APPROVE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2025 PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER FACILITIES PLAN
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution:
1. Adopting the Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to take actions that are necessary and appropriate to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolution.
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Summary
The Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan (Attachment A - copies available in the City Clerk's Office) supports the City's future buildout of its parkland and recreation infrastructure needs, consistent with the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan. This plan also serves as one of the bases for the pending Public Facility Fee (PFF) Nexus Study to update development impact fees, one of which pertains to parks. The Master Plan includes an updated inventory of existing City parks, deficiencies for existing and buildout conditions based on the 2040 General Plan, identifies community needs through the use of public engagement, and provides a comparison of benchmark and model communities to inform future park and recreation development and recommendations on how to best plan and manage future park and recreation need within the City of Stockton.
Based on this Master Plan, the City will establish development impact fees to mitigate the full costs of growth in a community through new development as it relates to the need for additional parks and recreational facilities. By approving the proposed resolution, the City Council adopts the Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan, which must be adopted prior to the establishment of new impact fees, as it will serve as the foundational guiding document for future park and recreation amenities, improvements, and the calculation of development impact fees.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan was adopted on December 4, 2018, by Resolution No. 2018-12-04-1503-01. This document serves as the guiding policy document governing the City's growth, establishing policies and actions needed to support the City's long-term growth, including housing, infrastructure, public amenities, and economic development. To implement the policies outlined in the General Plan, updated master infrastructure plans, including the Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan, are required to ensure that public facilities (including parks) and services grow in alignment with development and community needs.
The Master Plan is part of this broader citywide infrastructure planning initiative. It evaluates current park assets and the existing level of park service, identifies service gaps, and outlines strategic recommendations for future investment and expansion. This comprehensive review and inventory of the City's parks and recreational programs provides a snapshot of the City's current level of park service and insight into how the City can target future park planning.
This Master Plan will directly inform the Public Facilities Fee (development impact fee) Nexus Study, required by California Government Code section 66000 et al., , known as the Mitigation Fee Act, which mandates a clear connection or "nexus" between the collection of new development impact fees and the improvements they are intended to fund. The Master Plan will help establish this nexus by defining parkland facility needs based on Stockton's population growth, service level standards, and land acquisition and development cost estimates.
The City of Stockton will use this Master Plan as a guiding document to quantify the park and recreational facilities appropriate for development as local conditions continue to evolve through the 2040 General Plan horizon. The information from this Plan will feed into the Public Facility Fee Nexus Study and will provide the necessary data to be analyzed and used to develop the new fee rate for the Parkland and Community Recreation Fee. The fees collected will fund park and recreation facilities at a level of service to meet the demands of Stockton residents, ensuring that new development projects pay their fair share for these facilities as the City grows. All Public Facility Fees, including the Parkland Fee, are currently under review through an effort led by the Community Development Department.
On February 23, 2021, via Resolution No. 2021-02-23-1502, City Council awarded a Professional Services Agreement to Harris & Associates, Inc. Harris & Associates submitted a proposal with sub-contractor O'Dell Engineering to prepare the Master Plan.
Present Situation
The City's consulting team (O'Dell Engineering, a sub-contractor under Harris & Associates, Inc.) completed a draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan, which is now being recommended for adoption by the City Council.
The Master Plan development process included a variety of community and stakeholder engagement. In developing this Master Plan, a series of public surveys, stakeholder interviews, and community meetings were conducted to gather input on current conditions, unmet needs, and future priorities. These outreach efforts ensured that the Plan reflected the values, preferences, and expectations of Stockton residents.
Initially, in April 2021 the consultant held a series of meetings with the City staff closely involved with parks use, programs, and maintenance to identify areas staff felt were strengths within the parks system or that needed improvement. Then, the consultant developed materials for outreach to the general public, including internet-based public surveys and interactive polling activities to gather public opinion during online outreach meetings.
Two initial public meetings were held in July of 2021. The goal of these meetings was to involve the public early in the process and allow sufficient time for public feedback ahead of drafting the Master Plan. The public surveys remained online and available to the public from July through early September of 2021. A total of 239 respondents filled out the survey. An additional public review meeting was held after the initial draft Plan was completed to gather further public feedback.
The feedback received through this public outreach process was used to assess service level gaps, determine priority projects, and guide recommendations for future investments. It also helped shape park classifications, amenity preferences, and equitable access strategies.
Additionally, the Plan includes a technical assessment of existing facilities and a gap analysis comparing current service levels to projected future demand. This ensures that the Master Plan remains grounded in community priorities and objective data.
This comprehensive planning effort provides the necessary foundation for the upcoming Development Impact Fee Nexus Study, which will establish an updated fee structure to ensure new development contributes its fair share toward public parks and recreation facilities. The Master Plan allows the City to remain in compliance with Government Code section 66000 et al., known as the Mitigation Fee Act, by documenting the need for citywide impact fees, estimating future needs and costs of infrastructure development, and aligning improvements with projected growth patterns. It is essential that this Plan be adopted prior to completion of the Nexus Study to ensure that impact fees are legally justified and based on clearly identified facility needs.
The public draft Master Plan was posted to the Community Development Department's website on December 12, 2023. The Master Plan was subsequently updated to reflect an updated Stockton Pool Needs Assessment Update (June 2024) to reflect minor updates regarding the City's pool facilities. The current version of the Master Plan was posted on the Community Development's website on June 12, 2025.
On July 22, 2025, the draft Master Plan was reviewed with the Industry Working Group (IWG) where development costs, economies of scale, and park amenities were discussed. No significant amendments were requested or suggested by the IWG.
On July 28, 2025, the City of Stockton Parks and Recreation Commission voted to approve Resolution 2025-07-28-0601 (Attachment B), recommending the City Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan.
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan, consistent with the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no impact on the City's General Fund or any other unrestricted fund from this action.
Attachment A - Draft Parks and Recreation Master Facilities Plan (available in the City Clerk's Office)
Attachment B - Parks and Recreation Commission Resolution 2025-07-28-0601