Consulting Services for the Development of a Parks Master Plan

York County continues to experience rapid growth, as with many metro areas in the Carolinas. It is situated at the northern extent of the South Carolina Piedmont region, with a land area of approximately 695 square miles and an estimated 2026 population of more than 311,000, making it the 7th largest of the state's 46 counties. York County adopted its last full 10-year Comprehensive Plan in 2016, and a mid-plan update in 2023. York County Parks and Recreation hired Clemson University in 2024 to complete a department strategic master plan which included a needs assessment, scientifically valid survey and focus group sessions. The study collected public input data addressing a broad range of parks and recreation needs and priorities. The plan included recommendations that were informed by the data gathered during extensive research, benchmarking, and the public input process. Currently, there are ten park properties within the County's parks system that are managed, maintained, and operated by the Parks & Recreation Department. Of those ten park properties, eight of them are open to the public, with two parks offering overnight camping and public boat ramps for access to Lake Wylie. York County Parks and Recreation operates one athletic park in the unincorporated area of York County and was built and continues to be financially supported through a special tax/millage voted on by the citizens of that area (known as Lake Wylie Recreation Tax District). The department oversees a second special tax district, known as Bethel Lake Wylie Tax District, in which three properties were purchased to preserve green space and eventually develop them into public parks and green spaces. The Parks and Recreation Department was established in August 2022 and has grown rapidly over the past four years. Challenges we continue to face is the growing nature of our County and trying to keep up with the recreational needs of our citizens. Opportunities have presented itself as we have current undeveloped properties for parks and the need to acquire more properties for future parks to meet the growing recreational needs County-wide, which both need a sustainable revenue source. The Parks Master Plan is intended to compliment and integrate several interrelated planning initiatives being launched concurrently by York County, which also include: • Comprehensive Plan and Newport Small Area Plan • I-77 Corridor Study • Trails Master Plan