Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

CITY OF CONCORD

PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN UPDATE

2027-2037

The City of Concord is seeking a qualified consultant to prepare an updated Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The purpose of the plan will be to identify the current state of the Parks and Recreation Department's facilities, offerings, collect citizen input on future needs, identify program trends specific to the City of Concord citizens’ needs, and provide recommendations to support the department’s future direction and growth.

The plan will focus on recreation facilities, parks, greenways and programs/events. The master plan should systematically assess the City's current and future needs for Parks and Recreation facilities. The plan should also provide an illustrative and usable plan to guide the City of Concord’s actions over the next five (5), ten (10) and fifteen (15) years in regard to the development of its recreation facilities and programs.

The master plan update will be completed only after a thorough inventory of existing parks, facilities, public input, research on current parks and recreations trends/standards, and input by Concord residents, Parks and Recreation staff and other stakeholders.

The current Parks and Recreation Master Plan can be located on the City website.

The plan should develop a new vision for Parks and Recreation that motivates our community to:

o Foster a Healthy and Inclusive Community o Enhance Access to Parks/Programming o Provide a Safe Community o Promote Conservation and Environmental Stewardship o Stimulate Economic Activity and Financial Stewardship o Provide Transportation Equity and a Connected Community

It should create a roadmap for ensuring just and fair quantity, proximity, and connections to quality parks and open space, recreation facilities, including greenways and bicycle and pedestrian routes, and community programs now and in the future.

City Overview:

Concord, NC is a suburban community in of 115,053 residents (October 2025 estimate) in Cabarrus County bordering Charlotte, NC. The City is in the heart of NASCAR country with Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Rocky River flows through a large portion of the City and offers potential recreational benefits. The City has grown dramatically over the past decade and that growth is expected to continue over the same period going forward. Much of the residential growth experienced during the past decade has been the result of young families moving into Concord. This demographic includes a significant youth population. As an example, the yearly tally for youth sports registration in Concord in 2025 represents a large portion of our over 45,000 annual program participants. In addition, we continue to see tremendous visitation on our greenways with over 490,000 visitors in the 2026 fiscal year.

SCOPE OF SERVICES/WORK ELEMENTS

1. Existing Parks, Recreation Facilities and Open Space

• Locate and clearly identify existing parks and recreation facilities. With resident, City Council, and Parks and Recreation staff input, evaluate and make recommendations regarding priorities for the improvement and expansion of these facilities. Provide detailed outline of recommended improvements along with cost estimates for each priority.

• The inventory of existing parks and recreation facilities should be developed in GIS data sets, which are compatible with existing City of Concord GIS systems, as managed by the City of Concord’s Planning Department. The data sets will be used to generate maps within the master plan and will be transferred to the Planning Department for future mapping needs.

• Based on existing plans and consultations, identify, analyze, and make recommendations on how the City of Concord might partner with other agencies, including schools, to maximize its resources for our citizens and programs.

• Identify and evaluate current property and facilities owned by the City that are not currently being utilized and make recommendations as to potential for being used to serve the community through further recreations services. Provide general cost estimates for these projects.

2. Future Parks, Recreation Facilities, Greenways, and Open Space

Utilizing all plans, ordinances and information available:

• Using relevant data from the existing Parks and Recreation Master Plan and input from staff and citizens, develop objective criteria, evaluate, and make recommendations for future priorities for new land acquisition, greenway planning and park/facility construction including a variety of amenities. Recommendations should include a prioritization of both land acquisition and facility construction. Both traditional and non-traditional recreation facilities must be considered. Provide preliminary cost estimates both cumulatively and individually based on current conditions plus anticipated inflation.

• Include identified and unidentified locations for a City-wide greenway system at existing and future Parks and Recreation facilities, lakes, along sewer right-of-way, etc. Provide general cost estimates for project.

• Evaluation of current and projected (twenty years) demographic and sociological factors pertinent to the City of Concord, including population composition, population growth projections and trends, economic factors and land use patterns.

• Perform an analysis of current staffing levels and future staffing needs for the Parks Department and its facilities.

• Through reasonable consultation and investigation, attempt to identify and forthcoming trends that might affect the provision of leisure services in the City of Concord and make recommendations on how to address them.

3. Statistically validated Community Needs assessment Survey

• Understand the public's perceived needs for parks and recreation facilities through a variety of input gathering formats such as large group workshops, focus groups, surveys, individual interviews, community-wide meetings, etc. Record and compile the information in the following categories:

1. Parks and Recreation facilities

2. Greenways

3. Programming

4. Economic Development Opportunities

5. Walkability/Bikeability

Track common responses and identify the most popular needs.

• It is desired that, coupled with the community input received from planning meetings, the firm provide a community needs assessment survey with a return rate that accurately represents a sampling of the community population to identify community needs and issues on the park facilities and recreation programs. We are requesting that a statistically valid survey be conducted by the firm or a subcontracted firm associated with the agency.

4. Demographic Trends

Review and interpret demographic trends and characteristics of the City using information from the City’s 2016 Comprehensive Master Plan and other regional and local sources to Cabarrus County and North Carolina data.

5. Financial Analysis

Conduct a financial analysis to include, at a minimum, budget procedures, revenue sources, operating expenditures, capital expenditures, current debt, pricing strategies, fee structures, cost recovery goals and alternative funding sources. The purpose of this is to develop strategic resource allocation for current and future services and programs. This will help identify the operational philosophy being setting fees for programs and services.

This should include:

• Evaluating the current fee structures

• Analysis of revenue from previous three years

• Developing a methodology and target recovery rates for difference service categories

• Identify alternative funding source opportunities

6. Existing and Future Analysis Level of Service

The consultant will begin with the existing inventory and assessment of the existing parks, trails, and facilities. The assessment includes the City’s current adopted levels of service standards for playgrounds, ball fields, trails, natural areas, special facilities, etc., with established service areas within the City.

Critical attention will be given to the functionality, accessibility, condition, comfort, and convenience of public assets towards a more qualitative service focus, especially in implementation strategies. The analysis will also include identification of best possible providers of community and recreation services, recommendations for minimizing duplication, and identification of partnership opportunities. The analysis should also include the evaluation of existing programs both indoors and outdoors.

7. Meetings and Presentations

• Conduct input sessions to gather data and feedback from the community on recreational needs and desires. Input method sessions will include a mix of online and in-person options, including questionnaires, tabling at events, and online surveys.

• Conduct presentations to City Council

• Conduct work sessions with the City of Concord staff and other department leaders to get departmental feedback and programming/facility management goals.

• Work sessions shall include discussions with all levels of Parks and Recreation staff.

• Conduct work sessions with existing and future stakeholders throughout the City of

Concord and Cabarrus County.

The completed Park Master Plan should include but not be limited to:

• Introduction.

• Executive Summary.

• Plan Objective.

• Changing conditions from the existing master plan.

• Clear definition of public involvement process including survey results.

• Existing and Proposed Facility Update.

• Recommended priorities for both existing and future development of greenways and parks, including evaluative criteria and rationale used for recommendations.

• Action plan – Develop an action plan which includes strategies, priorities, and an analysis of implementation mechanisms for the short term, mid-term and long term for the park system, open space, trails, and recreation facilities.

• Collect and analyze demographic and market information for the community

• Project and address impacts of potential future trends, to include land use and population growth.

• Collect and analyze information on park and recreation needs and desires regarding qualitative standards that impact levels of service.

• Identify areas of qualitative service shortfalls and provide strategic action recommendations to increase services beyond acreage levels.

• Develop strategies for acquisition and development of parks, open space, trails, and recreation facilities, highlighting leverage opportunities.

• Identify means to provide critical operations, staffing, and maintenance for recommended strategies and initiatives.

Numerous existing City and local area plans may be utilized for support information and assistance in creating the Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

These include, but are not limited to:

- City of Concord Open Space Connectivity plan

- Carolina Thread Trail Master Plan

- City of Concord Development Ordinance

- 2030 Land Use Plan

- Cabarrus County Active Living and Park’s Comprehensive Plan

- City of Concord 2013 Recreational Needs Assessment Survey

Deliverables The following deliverables will be due to the City of Concord Parks and Recreation at the end of the contract period:

• Fifteen (15) hard copies and an electronic copy in .pdf format of the first draft

• Twenty (20) hard copies and an electronic copy in .pdf format of the final draft

• Twenty (20) hard copies of the final master plan document and an electronic copy in

.pdf format - GIS data in a format specified by the City's Planning Department

Final Master Plan Format:

• Plan document shall be in an 8.5 x 11 format with 11 x 17 map fold-outs if needed.

The plan document shall be well organized and soft cover bound.

• Electronic copies of all maps, which can be edited by staff.

• All material shall be formatted so that it can be easily placed on the City website.

• Two (2) 24" x 36" dry mounted facility maps suitable for presentations.

• Two (2) hard cover copies in an 8. 5 x 11 format in a 3-ring binder (for copying purposes).

Supplemental Master Plan documents:

A summary of the conclusions and recommendations in addition to the technical report/document plan should be provided. This summary should be designed to be read by the elected officials as well as interested citizens who want to know about the plan and its purpose. A brief synopsis suitable for creating an informational brochure (suitable for mailing and distributing for publicity/information purposes) is also required.

RFQ Submittal Requirements The qualification package shall be submitted on 8.5" x 11" paper in 12 point font.

Complete responses to each of the following categories are required:

A. Describe the organization personnel of the consultant team (3 pages maximum)

1. Provide a description of your project team, listing the firm name(s), individuals involved and the role they will perform (ex. principal - in - charge, project landscape architect, consulting engineer, etc.)

2. Provide a description of the qualifications and experience of the specific individuals that will be involved in this project, including the staff of other professional firms.

Identify their experience with similar type projects.

B. Explain the firm's approach to parks and facilities planning, agency growth and development, including methods with user involvement. Include specific tasks and any special approaches for completion of work including detailing the methodology of public participation planning, deliverables and stakeholder’s meetings (2 pages maximum)

C. Summarize at least five (5) planning projects of similar scope for which at least one team member was primarily responsible within the last five (5) years. This experience should include knowledge of and success in planning park and recreation facilities. Projects older than five years may be listed in the background materials of projects that key staff worked

on. (7 pages maximum)

Each of the project summaries should include the following:

1. Description of the project including scope and size

2. Project schedule (initial schedule and actual/final schedule), including an explanation of any delays.

3. Description of service rendered by the consultant.

4. Degree of involvement (prime consultant or sub-consultant).

5. Key principle and associated staff involved, along with their assigned responsibilities.

6. Associate firms involved and their assigned responsibilities.

7. Project reference including current names, addresses and telephone numbers.

D. Provide web links to completed projects. In the event that web links are not available, be prepared to send hard copies of completed projects. (1 page maximum)

E. Explain the teams' experience conducting public meetings and the method proposed for soliciting public input. (1 page maximum)

F. Include a description of the master plan development process. Provide information relative to recommendations for data/fact finding and discovering issues relative to the determination of site planning. (2 pages maximum)

G. Provide a detailed project schedule with a clear and precise timetable of the process. (1 page maximum)

H. List other current projects and schedules for completion. (1 page maximum)

Submission of Qualifications and Proposals Five (5) copies of the proposal should be received on or before 4:00 p.m. on Monday

September 7th and should be submitted to:

Jay Tryon, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Concord Parks and Recreation 147 Academy Avenue, NW Concord, N.C. 28026-0308

Questions and Clarifications Questions related to the process for submitting proposals or the master plan project should be directed to Jay Tryon at Tryonj@concordnc.gov

Selection Process Once the proposals are submitted, a Selection Committee will review the qualifications.

Selected firms will be invited to present their proposals to a review committee at a future evening meeting. The City reserves the right to reject any and all submittals.

Evaluation Criteria The following criteria will be the basis on which consultants will be selected for further consideration (in no particular order):

• Team organization and structure

• Personnel qualifications

• Specialized experience of the firm and related experience with similar projects, with emphasis on recreational facilities and program planning

• Proposed project approach, the methodology for forming the master plan and the schedule for completion

• Proximity to and demonstrated knowledge of the area where the project is located

• Experience conducting public meetings

• Current workload and firm capacity

• Client references

• Quality of the proposal

• Other factors relevant to the project

General Comments

Request for Qualification Costs: Any costs incurred by respondents in preparing or submitting a Request for Proposals/Qualifications for the project shall be the Proposer's sole responsibility.

Ownership of the documents: Any and all responses submitted will, upon submittal, become the property of the City of Concord.