As summer approaches, Upland leaders hope to implement a five-year parks and recreation master plan to benefit the town’s blossoming population.
The master plan outlines the next five years of construction and maintenance for Upland parks. It includes objectives such as creating a multi-use sports court and field, expanding local trails and increasing community events for children and adults.
Alex Reno, the parks board president, and Jonathan Perez, Upland’s town manager, mentioned a multi-purpose sports court and sports field as community priorities. Residents want designated areas to play sports, including, whether it be pickleball, volleyball or soccer.
Reno said improving park facilities is a priority. Eighth Street Park will be updated first, followed by renovations to the Depot Park and Jefferson Memorial Park.
Using feedback from the community, Perez worked with the Upland Parks Board and the Upland Town Council to create the master plan.
The town council and parks board hosted a community session where over 40 locals attended to offer input and ideas. They also sent out a survey to gauge residents’ priorities and received 132 responses.
The Town of Upland Parks Community Survey Analysis showed that over 70% of respondents felt that updating local trails was “very important.”
Additionally, during the community-listening session, locals voiced their desire to create more community-recreational opportunities for all ages, Reno said.
“We've been talking to a local resident (who’s) been wanting to do yoga and exercise classes and stuff like that in the park, which could be an amazing event down there to get everybody outside,” Reno said. “The more we get out as a community in the parks, the better it is for everybody.”
Reno sees an opportunity for Upland in the “remote working” trend. As more adults decide to work from home, they can move wherever they choose. By improving the parks and town amenities, he hopes to draw families to Upland, boosting the economy and the community.
In the past, Upland’s modest size made a parks and recreation master plan unnecessary, Perez said. However, this trend has changed with the town’s recent growth. As construction on town infrastructure concludes, Perez feels ready to move on to new community projects.
“Now … we're getting the opportunities to focus on some of the more visual community-development aspects, like parks,” he said.
To become eligible for project funding, Upland’s master plan must receive state approval. The final draft of the plan was due on April 15. If the state gives its stamp of approval, Upland can begin submitting applications for funding from state, federal and private sources.
Reno is excited about the prospect of outside funding. The parks board usually operates under a small budget, so grant funds could create game-changing opportunities, he said.
While some residents believe Upland should focus on caring for its existing resources, many other community members are excited for the upcoming changes.
“There were more people thinking proactively and looking to the future than looking at just simply maintaining what we have,” Perez said. “Which was encouraging as somebody who's tasked with my job description of growing a community.”
The timeline for implementing the master depends on funding, Reno said. However, he hopes to break ground on some projects in 2025 if the process moves quickly.
Also, the parks board is pulling back from some of their regular activities this year since future plans remain tentative, he said.
“The Parks Department is kind of taking the year as a little transition year,” Reno said. “Some of the things that we normally do, we're not doing for the fact of wanting to make sure we do know the bigger plan for next year…Because we do try to be very responsible with the town's money.”
As plans continue to unfold, Reno urged locals to give their feedback.
To offer input, Taylor students and town residents can leave a message for Reno or Perez at the town hall or attend Parks Department meetings. Parks Department meetings are held from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.
“We really would like to hear what people would like, because it doesn't come down to what I want in the park,” Reno said. “It's not just for me, it's for the whole community. And whatever we can do to make the community feel happy and want to get outside, want to do activities, is great.”
