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Find a Park > Northern Manhattan Parks > Northern Manhattan Parks Master Plan > Master Planning Process

Northern Manhattan Parks Master Plan

Goal of Planning Process

Prepare a long–term conceptual master plan for Northern Manhattan Parks that will guide the next 20 years of capital expenditures and privately funded projects, as well as establish operational and strategic priorities. The plan will stitch these parks together as an interconnected healthy ecological area, and system of scenic paths, bike routes and water dependent recreational resources. The plan will also address community concerns, recreational needs and preferences, as well as sustainability goals, community health and fitness, service and security problems.

completed step = completed step

Process

  1. Determine the scope of the planning project completed step
    Determine solutions to the Northern Manhattan Parks Administrator's main problems, in a way that facilitates convincing presentations for support, funding and strategic change. Lay the groundwork for funding, design and implementation.
  2. Form an Advisory Council completed step
    The Advisory Council, consisting of park advocates and volunteers, park professionals and elected officials, will guide the formation of the master plan goals and principles based on the information gathered during the interview process. They will evaluate conceptual solutions based on those goals, and the site analysis. It is important to evaluate solutions on the basis of an agreed upon set of project goals and objectives so that most parties will regard the solutions as desirable, and support efforts to implement them.
  3. Gather Information
    Learn what people know, what they are concerned about, what they are already working on and what more they think should be done. This work includes gathering existing printed materials, interviews of leaders, experts, agencies and community members.
    1. Review existing planning documents completed step
      Review plans by other agencies, institutions and non-profit groups; understand their issues and goals. Look for opportunities to coordinate effort.
    2. Interview internal leadership completed step
      Interview Parks Department experts and service providers, non-profit partners and other non-profits, government agencies, government officials, and local experts.
    3. Community interviews and mapping completed step
      Learn the community's concerns and issues, current efforts and initiatives, and wishes through the use of mapping and brainstorm sessions, visioning exercises and an interactive website.
    4. Correlate the interview material and use it to develop project goals completed step
      Work with the advisory council to understand the interview results and to develop design goals.
  4. Site Analysis
    Site analysis and assessment are fundamental to designing and implementing park projects; it involves investigating the existing conditions and capacities of a site to determine the opportunities and constraints that will guide its modifications to accommodate a program.
    1. Site Condition – ongoing
      On the site itself, numerous conditions establish parameters for designing a park project. These include:
      • Circulation including pedestrian, bicycle and vehicles
      • Community demographics and non-parks recreational facilities
      • Current capital projects and project requests
      • Design and social history
      • Park Structures, use and condition
      • Existing projects and project requests
      • Historic geology and hydrology
      • Landscape and forest condition
      • Park appearance and condition
      • Projects underway by others
      • Park and Recreation facilities, use areas, concessions
      • Safety and social concerns
      • Scenic experience and park features
      • Slopes, erosion and water problems
      • Waterfront including riparian edge conditions, accessibility and use
    2. Site Assessment and Design Determinants Map
      In Site Assessment, a designer makes qualitative judgments about what aspects of the site will guide the decisions about design, summarizes the major problems and opportunities from the research and site analysis, and illustrates them on the Design Determinants map. During this phase the team will identify the most important things that the plan should accomplish, the Big Ideas.
  5. Develop Master Plan
    1. Develop a set of design goals with the Advisory Council
    2. Analyze the information
    3. Generate ideas
    4. Develop Conceptual Solutions
    5. Prepare Preliminary Master Plan
      • Review internally and with the Advisory Council
      • Review with the Community Board
      • Present to the Design Commission
    6. Revise plans as required
    7. Prepare Final Master Plan
    8. Prepare Master Plan Summary
    9. Prepare Strategic Planning document
  6. Communication and Reporting
    Keeping people informed about progress helps to develop an informed community, and confidence in the progress of the work. Websites are the most cost effective and functional way to convey information in an entertaining way, and to stimulate informed feedback. Local press coverage is a good way to reach neighbors and local businesses.

Who is Involved

Master Plan Team

Jennifer Hoppa
Northern Manhattan Parks Administrator

Adena Long
Principal Strategic Planner

Charles McKinney
Principal Urban Designer

Advisory Council (in–formation)

Contact Us

info@northernmanhattanparks.org

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