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Synopsis of the Master Plan Why was the Plan developed? The Master Parks and Recreation Plan for the Greater Missoula Area will become the guide for land use as it relates to parks, trails, open spaces, conservation lands, the urban forest and recreation facilities and opportunities in the greater urban area. The Missoula area has and continues to grow approximately 3 percent per year, and existing parklands will not meet the expanding needs of our community. Easy and equitable access to parks and recreation facilities is an expected and an attractive element of any community. A public and green infrastructure enhances our community livability and desirability. Open spaces, parks, trails and the urban forest improve our environmental health by providing cleaner air and water and preservation of wildlife habitat. Quality parks, recreation and cultural opportunities improve our physical and mental health, create opportunities to develop and build community, add to community pride, and provide positive opportunities for use of leisure time. Parks serve all citizens, regardless of demographics or diversity. Parks also provide for business, tourism, art and cultural interests and needs. Parks reflect our local culture and values. Inventory of park lands, open spaces and trails An important component of this plan is to identify, label and map all parklands owned and managed by the City and County, in order to update and refine the previous City and County park inventories. The plan also identifies areas in need of additional parklands, open space, trails or trail connections, and recreation facilities, based on a standard level of service. Community Needs A number of needs were determined through the process. Some of those needs include the continued acquisition of parkland to meet standard levels of service, the need for improved maintenance of some facilities, the need for indoor recreation and cultural facilities, and the need for new trails and trail connections to name a few. The plan defines Level of Service (LOS) based on population and geography. Each citizen should be within one-half mile of a neighborhood park and within 1.5 miles of a community park. Neighborhood parks are the backbone of our ---PAGE BREAK--- community. The plan further defines the need for access, sizes, and amenities important to achieving desirable results from parks. Development of critical goals and policies Overarching goals and associated polices were developed to guide future decisions related to development, access, and acquisition. Emphasis areas include: Facilities and lands of larger neighborhood and community-wide significance to better meet desired levels of service while keeping on-going maintenance costs manageable. Protecting and enhancing the natural environment Developing funding alternatives to meet the needs of a growing urban area. Appropriate, high-quality, varied and equitably distributed parks, recreation facilities and trails. Importance of collaboration, monitoring, and assessment of existing and new parks and services for success. Action and Implementation As with any plan, the effectiveness and success will be measured by the community’s ability and willingness to implement the plan. This Plan provides recommendations and directs actions, including priorities, for the near and more distant future. The Plan also recommends tools for funding and regulatory changes that could enhance the community’s ability to provide at least current levels of service