Page 9 - Park and Open Space Plan

GOALS, OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS

As part of the original regional park and open space planning program developed in 1977 by the Southeastern
Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), the Regional Planning Commission Technical and Citizen
Advisory Committee on Regional Park and Open Space Planning formulated a set of park and open space
preservation, acquisition, and development goals. These goals were the result of comparing standards developed
by the National Recreation and Parks Association with the recreational preferences and demands of the region as
determined by surveys of park and recreation professionals and citizens. The standards were modified as
necessary to meet the park and open space demands of the region and the resulting goals were as follows:

Goals of the Park and Open Space Planning Process

1. To create guidelines for the acquisition, preservation, development, operation and
maintenance of the Waukesha County Park System lands and facilities.
2. To incorporate, detail and modify regional park and open space objectives, principles and
standards to reflect Waukesha County park and open space planning efforts.

3. To comply with State and Federal outdoor recreation grant eligibility planning requirements
to make the County eligible to apply for and receive available State and Federal funds to assist
in the acquisition and development of recommended park and open space sites and facilities.

4. To initiate a process to coordinate park and open space planning in Waukesha County with all
stakeholders—local units of government, State of Wisconsin, non-profit conservation
organizations (NCO’s) and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
(SEWRPC)—in order to provide an integrated system of public general use outdoor recreation
sites that will afford the resident population of the County adequate opportunities to
participate in a wide range of outdoor recreation and education activities.

5. To define roles and responsibilities of Waukesha County, local units of government, State of
Wisconsin and NCO’s in the plan implementation.
6. To establish consistent communication of the park and open space elements to the citizens
and development community of Waukesha County.

Definitions

The terms “objective,” “principle,” “standard,” and “plan,” are subject to a range of interpretations. Under

the regional planning program, these terms have been defined as follows:

1. Objective: a goal or end toward the attainment of which plans and policies are directed.
2. Principle: a fundamental, primary, or generally accepted tenet used to assert the validity of
objectives and prepare standards and plans.
3. Standard: a criterion used as a basis of comparison to determine the adequacy of alternative
and recommended plan proposals to attain objectives.
4. Plan: a design that seeks to achieve agreed-upon objectives.
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