Smyrna adjusts payment for parks master plan

Smyrna’s new parks master plan will involve online surveys and community meetings. AJC file photo

Smyrna’s new parks master plan will involve online surveys and community meetings. AJC file photo

Perez Planning and Design of Atlanta will be paid $89,560, or $3,000 more, than originally approved in June by the Smyrna City Council to develop a parks master plan to be implemented 2018 to 2023.

During the June 15 meeting of the Council’s Committee of the Whole, owner Carlos Perez of Perez Planning told city officials his firm specializes in parks system planning and has completed 80 master plans throughout the U.S.

When Mayor Max Bacon asked how this study would be different from the previous study, Perez said the previous study was a valuation of the existing system with no vision or implementation on how to move forward.

While Councilman Corkey Welch said he liked the scope and approach of Perez, he does not want a repeat of what happened with the previous study, where the city spent a lot of money and never did anything with the plan.

Garland said he thinks it is important for the city to engage in the master plan process now so the parks system has an implementable, systematic approach to the way it is developed.

Perez will be conducting online surveys and community meetings and using a crowd-sourcing website, Garland added.