Bonney Lake survey will gather public’s parks and recreation desires

The city of Bonney Lake is seeking input from residents on the next version of its parks and recreation comprehensive plan.

The city of Bonney Lake is seeking input from residents on the next version of its parks and recreation comprehensive plan.

The parks board is asking all interested parties to fill out a survey detailing what they would like to see in Bonney Lake.

“We are asking the public to provide input on what kinds of parks and recreation and cultural resources are important to them,” Community Services Director Gary Leaf said.

Leaf said the city is updating its comprehensive plan and has not conducted a comprehensive parks survey since 1997. The parks plan was updated in 2004, but was done without a public survey.

Leaf said the city is hoping to get a “good reading” as to exactly what the public is looking for in its parks and recreation system.

“The survey is obviously a big key to the whole thing,” he said.

Those taking the survey will be asked to rank items in several categories, including “active recreation,” “passive recreation,” “cultural arts” and “recreation facilities.”

The survey is available at city hall and will be handed out at most of the city’s special events this summer. Leaf said he is hoping to have all of them returned by the end of the season.

Leaf also said that the survey is not just for those who live within city limits because those who live in unincorporated areas still use the city’s facilities and many may one day find themselves part of the city through annexations.

“You don’t have to be a city resident to weigh in,” Leaf said.