#MySearcy Master Planning Receives Trendsetter Award

Searcy was recently recognized at the Arkansas Municipal League Conference for winning a Trendsetter Award from Arkansas Business for the #MySearcy Master Planning. Below is the information from the award nomination:

There has been much progress throughout Searcy over the past several years. Community members have collaborated with local officials to move projects forward and improve the community. However, many of those groups and projects have worked in silos without an overarching vision for the community. The projects have been very successful at launch but in some cases there has not been a clear plan for how to continue moving forward or even maintain the projects that are completed.

To establish a strategic master plan for the community, the City of Searcy enlisted the expertise of the engineering firm Crafton Tull. The firm's initial objective was to generate a visioning report for the community. The analysis indicated the necessity for strategic planning in Parks, Active Transportation, and Infrastructure. While the conventional approach prioritizes one category at a time, Searcy recognized the need for a comprehensive vision across all three areas. Although Crafton Tull had not previously undertaken simultaneous strategic planning in three domains, they accepted the challenge.

Before embarking on this endeavor, there was close collaboration between Crafton Tull and the City of Searcy to design a community engagement strategy. The aim was to ensure that the plan was led by citizens, ultimately resulting in a universally accepted blueprint. To achieve this, steering committees were established for each focus area, public meetings were hosted throughout the process, and extensive community-wide surveys were conducted. Additionally, community members actively participated in walk audits across the locality, working closely with engineers.

A key principle was the avoidance of delays until the comprehensive plan's completion. Instead, a real-time data approach was adopted, enabling prompt actions based on emerging insights. From the initial survey, actionable steps were identified and continually implemented throughout the process. Several priority projects emerged from this approach:

Allowing Dogs in Parks:

Overcoming a longstanding ordinance that prohibited dogs in parks, the insights from the initial survey showed that citizens wanted this changed. Collaborating with the newly appointed City Planner, a plan was created that allowed dogs in parks safely. This plan included dedicated spaces, doggie waste stations, and other amenities. The proposal gained rapid approval from the City Council.

Sidewalk Enhancement: 

Addressing a significant citizen concern regarding the lack of sidewalks across the community, the City took several steps to improve the situation. New development ordinances were introduced mandating sidewalk inclusion, and a portion of the street paving fund was redirected to fund new sidewalks. A comprehensive sidewalk audit was conducted, laying the foundation for prioritized construction.

Installation of Baby Changing Stations: 

Reflecting the commitment to address both major and minor community concerns, the installation of baby changing stations in parks and the community center was identified as a priority. The Parks Department took action, installing these facilities in response to resident feedback.

Berryhill Park Master Plan: 

Recognizing the significance of Berryhill Park, the City of Searcy collaborated with the Searcy Advertising and Promotion Commission to fund the construction of new tennis and pickleball courts. Subsequently, Crafton Tull was engaged to create a master plan for the park, incorporating features like a food truck court, all-inclusive playground, splash pad, expanded parking, and more.

Dog Park and Basketball Courts: 

Survey results revealed a demand for an improved dog park and additional basketball courts. Collaboration between the City Council and the Searcy A&P Commission enabled the allocation of funds for these projects, situated adjacent to the community center. Currently, the project is in the final stages of planning before construction bids are sought.

Throughout this process, the benefits of engaging in strategic planning across multiple areas became evident. This approach facilitated a more comprehensive assessment of each project, enabling strategic consideration of accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability. The experience transformed Crafton Tull's perspective, making them advocates of this integrated approach across focus areas.

The City of Searcy aims to inspire other communities to embrace the advantages of crafting comprehensive strategic plans and capitalizing on real-time feedback to drive progress during the planning stages.

Click here to learn more about the next steps in the #MySearcy Master Planning process.