Provide an integrated system of accessible parks, recreation facilities, trails, and open space to serve the City of Santa Ana.
- Policy OS-1.1
Park Master Plan
Create and regularly update a citywide parks master plan to provide guidance for the acquisition, development, maintenance and programing of parks, recreation facilities, trails and open space to meet community needs.
- Policy OS-1.2
Parks and Recreation System
Provide and support a comprehensive and integrated network of parks, recreation facilities, trails, and open space that is diverse, with a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities.
- Policy OS-1.3
Park Standard
Establish and maintain public parks, open space and recreation requirements for new residential and nonresidential development to provide sufficient opportunities for Santa Ana residents and visitors. Attain a minimum of three acres of land per 1,000 persons residing in the City of Santa Ana.
- Policy OS-1.4
Park distribution
Ensure that all City residents have access to public parks, recreation facilities, or trails in the City of Santa Ana, within a 10-minute walking and biking distance of their homes. Prioritize park provision, programs, and partnerships in park deficient and environmental justice areas.
- Policy OS-1.5
Park and Open Space Types
Provide a mix of community, neighborhood, and special-use parks, along with greenway corridors, natural areas, and landscape areas, to meet community needs for greenspace, recreation space, social space, and trail connectivity.
- Policy OS-1.6
Park Access and Connectivity
Create a Safe Routes to Parks program that establishes and enhances access to existing and new parks and recreation facilities through safe walking, bicycling, and transit routes.
- Policy OS-1.7
Trail Connectivity
Collaborate with other City agencies, partners, and regional entities to provide, and connect regional and local trails, travelways, and access corridors to support recreation, active transportation, and park and program access. Consider greenways along the OC Streetcar route, flood control channels, and other underutilized sites.
- Policy OS-1.8
Land Acquisition and Equitable Distribution
Acquire available lands for parks, open space, greenways and trail corridors, with priority given to sites that are within park deficient and environmental justice areas.
- Policy OS-1.9
New Development
Require all new development to provide adequate parks and open space, including via parkland dedication or development fees, in order to meet the City’s park standard. Ensure that new development includes pedestrian and multi-modal travelways to promote a quality living environment. For new development within park deficient and environmental justice areas, prioritize the creation and dedication of new public parkland over the collection of impact fees.
- Policy OS-1.10
Creative Solutions for Deficiencies
Develop creative and flexible solutions to provide greenspace and recreation activities in park-deficient neighborhoods. Encourage private and commercial recreational facilities that are physically open to the public and are affordable to residents of surrounding neighborhoods, and serve community needs.
- Policy OS-1.11
Funding Sources
Explore and pursue all available funding, including nontraditional funding sources, for park acquisition, facility development, programming, maintenance of existing and new parks, and to increase investment per resident and meet the City’s park standard of three acres per 1,000 residents. Set aside park funding to have monies on hand to acquire and develop parkland when opportunities arise and to leverage grant options.
- Policy OS-1.12
Shared Use
Collaborate with school districts, faith-based communities, and community serving organizations to expand shared use facilities through cooperative agreements to maximize recreation options.
- Policy OS-1.13
Water Features
Maintain, protect, and program the City’s lakes, river and creek to support recreation, resource and water quality protection, and community aesthetics.