City of Madras Launches Community Input Campaign on Parks & Open Spaces

Date:                July 12, 2018 – Immediate Release
Contact:          Jeff Hurd, Public Works Director, 541-325-0309

Madras, OR – With a $33,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the City of Madras is partnering with the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement at the University of Oregon to update the City’s 20-year Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan. The Parks and Open Space Master Plan will guide future investments in parks and open space as the City of Madras grows and changes over time.  As part of the project, the community is being asked to participate in an online survey to help the City plan for the future. “We want the input of our community,” stated Jeff Hurd, Public Works Director for the City of Madras. “We set up a booth in Sahalee Park on the 4^th of July seeking input, we’ve got this online survey now, and we’ll be hosting open houses in the future. Parks are meant to be enjoyed and used by everyone, so we want everyone’s input.”

The Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan was last updated in 2004 and since then, several improvements to parks in Madras have been made – many were large improvements such as the expansion and improvement of Sahalee Park, the expansion of the Willow Creek trail system, and the Skate Park,  just to name a few. Others were more subtle, like the additions of playground equipment, upgrading restroom facilities, and the addition of seating areas, etc.

“Looking back helps us look forward. Looking back 14 years to 2004, the input from our community helped create what we have today. In 2032, the community will be looking back to the input we provide today. This is why we feel it is so critical to receive as much community input as is possible,” stated Mayor Royce Embanks.

For more information on the Master Plan and a link to the survey, visit www.ci.madras.or.us and click on the Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan alert at the top of the Home page.