The Kemah Parks and Open Space Master Plan will serve as the vision for the future of Kemah’s recreational assets to help ensure that the City’s parks and recreation system will be developed over time to meet the needs and demands of its community as Kemah continues to flourish and grow. This plan will assess the City’s current assets, understand the needs of the community within the current system, and increase access to and use of the unique natural features in Kemah. It will additionally guide planning, phasing, and suggested funding opportunities for ongoing enhancement and additions of the parks and recreation system. It also identifies a timeline for implementation and funding.

The Mend team worked alongside LJA in leading the development of the existing Conditions and Needs Assessment section of the plan and supporting public engagement and the Parks, Open Space, Facilities, and Trail Assessment. The project team conducted ten in-depth site assessments of the parks and open spaces in Kemah using a Park Evaluation Tool that evaluated park access, features, safety and maintenance, and aesthetics, culture, and convenience. These provided a baseline for future evaluations and informed decision-making regarding priorities for future investments.

Community engagement also played a pivotal role in the development and success of the parks and open space master plan. Involving local residents, stakeholders, and community members throughout the planning process ensured that the plan truly reflected their needs, desires, and vision. The first round of community engagement was an exploratory phase, where the City sought to understand community park usage and their opinions and ideas about the City’s parks. A community survey, community workshop, a “pop-up” event at Matthew D. Wiggins Park, and an online virtual map were created to help achieve this. At the workshops, surveys, and activities were used to understand the community’s vision for the future of Kemah’s Parks and Open Spaces and what basic elements were needed for them to be successful. Mend Collaborative also created recommendations for how to create economic development opportunities for the City from coastal, nature-based tourism activities.