| www.elginparksmasterplan.org | |
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Project History:
| Elgin is a community that has experienced significant growth in the ten years since the 2000 Parks and Recreation Master Plan was developed and has benefitted from the planning and associated measures put in place ahead of this growth. Elgin’s population has grown by 12.7% from 2000 to 2008 and what was once the far western border in Randall Road is now the geographic center. From acreage goals to minimum standards for neighborhood parks, the 2000 plan, as well as other parallel City planning efforts, enabled the City to implement recommendations and serve existing and new residents in a proactive manner during this important time of change. The result is a community that is greener and better served by parks and recreational offerings than it was in 2000 and the proactive planning by City leaders allowed Elgin to capitalize on an economic wave from casino revenues and housing upstarts. As a result, Elgin has been able to implement over 75% of the 2000 master plan through a variety of funding mechanisms that minimize the burden on public tax dollars and extending these limited dollars. New parks and trails have been added, the Fox River continues its rebirth and the Centre of Elgin has become a crucial reality to serve the diverse, year-round needs of the entire community. Despite these positives, there are still opportunities for improvement and unmet needs in Elgin that have been discussed and documented in this study (Parks and Recreation Master Plan update, January 2011). As Elgin looks ahead to the next ten years, this plan will be an important tool to maintain and enhance a critical piece of the City’s quality of life and prepare an already great park and recreation system to meet and exceed the challenges that lie ahead. |