This page includes information on parks, recreation, and open space planning and design for local governments in Washington State, including general guidelines, standards, and local examples.

Park Planning Guidelines

This section includes general guidelines for developing comprehensive park and recreation plans, including parks and recreation elements of GMA comprehensive plans (RCW 36.70A.070(8))

• Manual 2: Planning Policies and Guidelines, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, 02/1/2014 - The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board’s how-to manual for developing a park plan. Local jurisdictions seeking funding from this agency are required to have a plan that is consistent with these guidelines. In particular, see Level of Service Tool and Guide, Appendix C, Level of Service for Local Agencies  
• Planning for Parks and Open Space in Your Community, by Susan C. Enger for CTED (now Washington State Department of Commerce) and Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, 02/2005 - Comprehensive growth management guidebook for preparation of parks and open space plans and preservation of open space. Emphasizes the creation of an integrated open space system

Comprehensive Park and Open Space Plans and Elements

This section includes examples of stand-alone comprehensive park plans, as well as sample parks and recreation elements from GMA comprehensive plans (see RCW 36.70A.070(8)). For guidance on the preparation of the parks and recreation element, see WAC 365-196-440.

City Park Plans

• Bellevue Parks and Open Space System Plan, 2016
• Burien Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, 2018
• Issaquah Parks Strategic Plan, 2018 - New approach provides a broader vision for citywide system, as well as specific projects to help achieve that vision
• Kirkland Comprehensive Park, Open Space and Recreation Plan , 2015
• Normandy Park Comprehensive Park Plan, 2011
• Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Plan, 2010
• Redmond Comprehensive Plan - Parks, Arts, Recreation, Culture, and Conservation Element, 2017
• Wenatchee 2012-2018 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan

County Park Plans

• Kitsap County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS), 2018
• Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan,2014

Metropolitan Park District Plans

• Fall City Metropolitan Park District Comprehensive Plan 2014-2019
• Si View Metro Parks Comprehensive Parks Plan, 2016

Park Design and Standards

This includes information on general park and recreation level-of-service standards,  resource information and local design standards for different types of park development.

General Reference

• The Importance of Unique Park and Recreation Standards, HLA Blog, 02/26/2010
• Step 6: Assess Parks/Open Space/Recreation Needs and Demand,  Planning for Parks and Open Space in Your Community, by Susan C. Enger, 02/2005 - Addresses park, open space, and recreation level of service standards

Washington Local Government Design Standards

• Bellingham Design Standards for Park and Trail Development, 2018 - Standard specifications for parks and trails
• Mercer Island, Luther Burbank Park, Community Design Guidelines, February 2005 - Guidelines for the design of a former county park now owned by the city
• Seattle
  • Parks Standards - Design and construction guidelines for  park facilities
  • Design Intent for Park Boulevards and Trails
• Vancouver-Clark County Park Standards and Performance, 2010 - Standards for urban and regional park system

Design of Facilities

• Accessibility (ADA) Standards
  • Outdoor Developed Areas, U.S. Access Board - Guidelines that are being developed for Federal parks and areas
  • Recreation Facilities, U. S. Access Board - Requirements for recreation facilities in the ADA and ABA Standards
• Design for the Ages , by Craig Bouck, Parks and Recreation, June 2008, National Recreation and Park Association - Encourages recreation and community centers that appeal to multi-generational population 
• Developing Sustainable Park Systems in Oregon - A Component of the 2013-2017 Oregon Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, Tim Gallagher, Gallagher Consulting, 06/2012 – Sustainability recommendations for Oregon state and local parks
• High Performance Landscape Guidelines: 21st Century Parks for NYC, 2011 - A comprehensive, municipal design primer for sustainable parks and open space
• A Resource Guide for Planning, Designing and Implementing Green Infrastructure in Parks, 2017, National Recreation and Park Association

Miscellaneous Design Resources

• Public Playground Safety Handbook, Publication No. 325, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, November 2015 - Guide to safe playground and playground equipment design
• NatureGrounds - A comprehensive program that provides best practice guidelines for creating and retrofitting play environments for parks and school grounds that integrate manufactured play equipment and the living landscape.
• American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) - National organization for builders, designers, and suppliers of materials for tennis courts and other athletic facilities. Publications available for purchase and download 

County and Regional Open Space Programs

This section includes selected open space preservation programs, including conservation futures. Conservation futures are a funding source authorized by state statute that may be implemented by counties to preserve lands of public interest (see RCW 84.34.200 - 84.34.240).

• Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation Conservation Futures Program - Acquisition program for farm, forest, open space, and recreation lands
• King County Greenprint Project - An open space and resource lands conservation and acquisition strategy informed by a GIS model
• Mountains to Sound Greenway - Supports conservation and enhancement of the landscape from Seattle across the Cascades to Central Washington
• Pierce County Conservation Futures Program - Includes a process for nominating property for purchase of land or the rights to develop land
• Regional Open Space Strategy for Central Puget Sound (ROSS), Green Futures Research and Design Lab, University of Washington - Collaborative effort of the Bullitt Foundation, the Green Futures Lab, and the UW Northwest Center for Livable Communities 
• San Juan County Land Bank - Open space acquisition program funded by real estate excise tax, conservation futures, private donations, and grants

Recommended Resources

• Measuring the Economic Impact of Parks and Recreation Services, by John L Crompton, Research Series, National Recreation and Parks Association (2010) - Hands-on guide for preparing economic impact studies that measure the economic return residents receive on park and recreation department investments
• Measuring the Economic Value of a City Park System, Trust for Public Land, 2009 - Describes seven attributes of city park systems that provide economic value and are measurable: property value, tourism, direct use, health, community cohesion, clean water, and clean air, and provides rationale for calculating each value factor. Shows how these value factors can be applied in case studies of five cities