The dynamic community-driven plan focuses on equity, generational evolution, and enrichment opportunities for residents and visitors.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 — Cleveland — Yesterday, Cleveland’s new citywide parks and recreation master plan was presented to Cleveland City Council’s Municipal Services and Properties Committee. The new Cleveland Parks and Recreation Plan is a community-driven vision that will guide park and recreation investments for decades to come.
The Cleveland Parks and Recreation Plan — the city’s first in more than 40 years — took shape over 18 months of collecting and analyzing data from more than 2,000 interactions with residents, stakeholders, and city officials. The recommendations provide a road map for decision-making around parks and recreation policy, maintenance, physical improvements, programming, and funding for the 161 parks and 22 recreation facilities, totaling 1,600 acres.
“I am excited about what this plan means for Cleveland — a 15-year roadmap for equitable investment in our neighborhood parks, recreation facilities, and programs,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “Through the creation of a new Department of Parks and Recreation, Director Nichols and her growing team are focused on enhancing day-to-day recreation experiences as well as implementing the plan long term.”
As the City seeks to remove barriers, build community, and create places and experiences that enrich people’s lives, equity became a primary consideration throughout the process. In addition to engaging a representative sample of residents in the plan’s development, equity is interwoven throughout the plan to ensure all community members benefit.
“For a long time, Cleveland’s parks were being prioritized for improvements on a ‘worst first’ basis—meaning facilities in the worst shape were tended to first,” said James D. DeRosa, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects (MOCAP). “The new master plan considers multiple data points including usage, past investment, public safety, and many others to prioritize projects based on equity, need, and service to residents.”
Following yesterday’s committee presentation, the new master plan will go to City Planning Commission in early May and will be presented to residents at community events across the city over the summer months. The plan lays out dozens of recommendations, from stewardship and accessibility, to financial framework and physical enhancements, that will require significant public input before implementation.
“All Clevelanders deserve well-maintained and well-programmed neighborhood parks and rec centers, and this master plan offers a variety of ways for us to achieve this,” said Cleveland’s Director of Parks and Recreation Alexandria Nichols. “As we work through the master plan we will be adapting in real time, addressing maintenance, improving communication with residents, facilitating new programming, and gathering feedback to assess our impact. This is very much a team effort, and I look forward to working with city leaders, residents, and partners to improve parks and rec facilities across Cleveland’s neighborhoods.”
