County and Regional Recreation, Park and Open Space Plans

A park and recreation plan may be a free-standing document or it may be included as a chapter (or chapters) of the larger municipal comprehensive plan. A good example of a scope of work for a comprehensive recreation plan is provded in this document.

The Regional Greenspace Priorities of Southeastern Pennsylvania is a website that identifies and prioritizes land for future open space preservation and/or acquisition in the five-county southeastern Pennsylvania area.

Greenscapes: The Green Infrastructure Element of the Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan defines a vision, goals and objectives, strategies, and tools to preserve, conserve, restore, and enhance natural resources through the establishment of a countywide, integrated green infrastructure system. It highlights the importance of protecting large blocks of contiguous land and improving connectivity as it aims to establish a network of natural areas, conservation lands, and working landscapes. Greenscapes provides a blueprint for accommodating appropriate growth and development while preserving the region’s most valuable natural resources, native species, cultural assets and agricultural economy.

The goal of Pike County’s Open Space, Greenways and Recreation Plan is to set a sustainable direction for both protecting our natural resources and enhancing the quality of life for our citizens for today and the future.

The Park and Open Space Plan excerpt from the regional comprehensive plan adopted by 11 municipalities in central Lancaster County as of spring 2007.

This study used best practices from the National Association of City Transportation Officials, Portland State University, and Portland Bureau of Transportation to develop a two-part geographic information system methodology that identified suitable streets to build neighborhood greenways in each of Philadelphia’s 10 city council districts. Neighborhood greenways are low-volume, low-stress streets that prioritize bicycle and pedestrian travel over vehicles.

Presentation focused on conservation long range planning.

The purpose of this plan is to guide the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of the county's open space and cultural resources and create linkages between these vast resources. This plan is intended to guide the decisions of municipalities, conservation organizations, landowners, and developers, and encourage partnerships to achieve common goals for natural resources; outdoor recreation facilities; greenways and blueways; agricultural lands and historic, cultural and scenic resources.

The purpose of this plan is to guide the conservation, restoration and enhancement of the County’s open space resources and create linkages between the County’s vast natural resources; outdoor recreational facilities; greenways and blueways; farmland; and historic, cultural, and scenic resources

In 2003, a referendum to fund open space and green infrastructure projects was passed in Montgomery County. Through this program, subsequently adopted by the County, the funding that the voters endorsed is being provided to municipalities, private non-profit conservation organizations and the county to preserve more open space and enhance the livability of existing communities throughout the County. This plan, first drafted and approved in 2006, was updated in 2015 and re-approved in 2020.

This Plan provides a comprehensive look at Lower Nazareth’s parks, recreation amenities and offerings, and public and private open space by: examining the cultural, natural and built context of the community; describing, assessing, and providing recommendations for existing parks and open spaces; reviewing recreational programming and providing recommendations for improving Lower Nazareth’s programming; detailing the public engagement process undertaken to gather extensive community feedback; reviewing funding options to supplement parks and recreation facilities and programming within the Township; providing an implementable action plan that can guide the Township forward in accomplishing goals and objectives identified in this Plan; and more.

The Open Space Committee of Perkiomen Township evaluated the goals and objectives of the previous open space plan from 1995 and revised them to reflect what was discussed during the audit process. Updated goals and objectives describe the new direction Perkiomen Township plans to take to preserve open space and natural resources. The plan's major goals include: preservation of remaining rural landscapes; provision of active recreation opportunities; linking existing open space; and, protecting natural resources.

This ordinance from 2016 in Lower Saucon Township establishes a voter referendum on whether to continue the 0.25% earned income tax credit for open space purposes.

This 2016 ordinance from Newlin Township authorized a voter referendum to approve a 0.15 mills ($0.15 per $1,000.00) property tax to be set aside for the purposes of paying for open space conservation.

This ordinance from Lower Frederick Township in 2019 established a voter referendum to decide on the implementation of a 0.005% earned income tax credit to be put toward open space purposes, costs, and maintenance.

This 2021 ordinance from Lower Macungie Township allowed for a public referendum on the establishment of a 0.15% earned income tax credit to support open space preservation and affiliated costs.

This ordinance from 2022 in East Allen Township establishes a referendum on the addition of a 0.25% earned income tax credit to be used for open space preservation purposes.

This 2022 ordinance in Westtown Township authorized a referendum to increase the income tax credit for open space funding to 0.08% and to increase the property tax to 0.42 mills ($0.42 per $1,000.00).

This ordinance from 2022 in Whitpain Township establishes a public referendum on the increasing of an earned income tax credit from 1% to 1.6% for open space purposes.

Comprehensive guide about the role of municipalities in protecting the Appalachian Trail, which is cooperatively managed by the National Park Service and other federal and local entities.

A good example of a multi-municipal comprehensive recreation plan. Covers the Saucon Region of Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

This is an example of a mini recreation plan adopted by several small municipalities in southern Berks County that operate their recreational facilities on a joint basis.

This report is the result of a collaboration between Montgomery County’s open-space board and parks, trails, and historic sites advisory board. The two boards have reviewed the network of publicly available park, trail, natural, and historic assets in Montgomery County and identified opportunities to expand, enhance, protect, and connect those assets. The recommendations presented in this report are consistent with the goals and actions put forth in Montgomery County’s Montco 2040 comprehensive plan and are intended to provide the county commissioners with useful strategies as they consider and prioritize future open space opportunities, expenditures, and programs

A committee of residents, staff and consultants led the effort to create the 2023 Upper Dublin Township Open Space Plan. The process included reviewing the previous 2005 plan, conducting a community survey, holding several public meetings with opportunities for post-meeting feedback, interviewing key community stakeholders and encouraging the public to review and provide comments on a draft version of the plan. The Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners adopted the 2023 Upper Dublin Township Open Space Plan on September 12, 2023. Appendices and reports can be found at the url link below.