Park and Open Space Planning

Management plans for properties involving public recreation typically describe how the agency will balance protection of its resources with recreational use and the desires of the various user groups.

Leonard Charles and Associates has long experience in balancing these needs while preparing land management plans for regional parks and open space preserves.

The process begins by compiling a detailed inventory of environmental and special resources, a list of development constraints, and the potential concerns of the local community and other stakeholders. Working with lead agency staff, LCA develops draft goals for agency and community consideration as well as what actions and projects are needed to realize these goals. All actions are keyed to maps to allow easy and clear understanding of where actions should occur.

Our staff facilitates the public review process for the draft plan. Once an acceptable draft plan is completed, we typically prepare an EIR for that plan, and then prepare a final plan subsequent to certification of the EIR.

LCA has prepared park master plans, park feasibility studies, land management plans for existing preserves and parks, resource management plans for parks and preserves, and land management plans for undeveloped park sites.