The Master Planning process is divided into five key phases:

  1. Initiation: Establishing the project foundation and understanding the Shawnee County parks system context.
  2. Discovery: Gathering community feedback through surveys and conducting physical park and facility assessments.
  3. Analysis: Translating engagement data and research into usable, data-backed recommendations.
  4. Visioning: Collaborating with staff to create strategic pathways and a long-term vision for the system.
  5. Implementation: Developing concrete, incremental steps to achieve the plan's goals and ensure a lasting legacy.

Schedule

Stay informed on our progress through every phase of the Master Plan—from initial research and community outreach to the final presentation of our vision for Shawnee County.

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Project Kickoff

    The project officially launched on November 5, 2025, with a kickoff meeting involving Shawnee County staff and the design team.

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Initiation Phase Complete

    The Initiation phase establishes the project's foundation through a formal kick-off with staff , a comprehensive review of existing plans , and the development of graphic standards to guide the master plan's creation.

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Website Launch

    The Social Pinpoint website launch in January 2026 provides a virtual engagement platform for instant community connection , allowing residents to share feedback and participate in the planning process in real time.

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    Survey Launch

    The Needs Assessment Survey launch in January 2026 features a statistically valid survey distributed by the ETC Institute to gather representative community feedback on parks and recreation needs.

  • Timeline item 5 - incomplete

    Presentation to the Board of County Commissioners

    The consulting team will present progress on the master plan before the Board of County Commissioners on 1/26/2026

  • Timeline item 6 - incomplete

    Community Engagement Event #1 (2/4/2026)

    The Community Meeting #1, scheduled for 6:00 PM February 4th, 2026 at Big Gage Shelter. This serves as a primary public engagement event to collect input and ideas for the future of the park system.

  • Timeline item 7 - incomplete

    Facility Assessments

    Starting February 2026, the project team begins facility assessments, which involves visiting and evaluating each of the Shawnee County park properties to document their current condition and functionality.

  • Timeline item 8 - active

    Discovery Phase Complete

    The Discovery phase concludes in April 2026 with the submission of a draft chapter summarizing all gathered community feedback, park inventories, and facility assessments.

  • Timeline item 9 - incomplete

    Community Engagement Event #2 (Week of 7/20/2026)

    Scheduled for the week of July 20, 2026, Community Meeting #2 invites the public to react to the study findings and provide feedback on preliminary recommendations to ensure the plan aligns with community expectations.

  • Timeline item 10 - incomplete

    Analysis Phase Complete

    The Analysis phase concludes in June 2026 with the submission of a draft chapter that synthesizes benchmark data, recreation trends, and community SWOT findings into a clear picture of the system's current performance.

  • Timeline item 11 - incomplete

    Presentation to the Board of County Commissioners

    The consulting team will present progress on the master plan before the Board of County Commissioners the week of 5/18/2026

  • Timeline item 12 - incomplete

    Visioning Phase Complete

    The Visioning phase involves collaborating with staff to translate gathered data into strategic pathways, concluding in August 2026 with the submission of the draft Master Plan Vision chapter.

  • Timeline item 13 - incomplete

    Implementation Phase Complete

    The Implementation phase focuses on developing concrete, incremental steps and financial strategies to achieve the master plan's goals, culminating in a final presentation to the Board of County Commissioners in November 2026.

  • Timeline item 14 - incomplete

    Draft Master Plan Document

    In September 2026, the project team will submit a comprehensive draft Master Plan for review, integrating all previous phases into a single, cohesive document for final evaluation.

  • Timeline item 15 - incomplete

    Present Master Plan to the Board of County Commissioners

    The process concludes during the week of November 9, 2026, with the final presentation of the Master Plan to the Board of County Commissioners and the delivery of the final digital and print copies.