Lancaster County will embark next year on its first parks and open space master plan in more than 30 years.
On Wednesday, the county commissioners approved a $199,000 contract with the Olin Studio, a landscape architecture and consulting firm based in Philadelphia. The money comes from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
The contract was awarded by competitive bid. Three vendors submitted proposals, and Olin’s was the best and most cost-effective, county buyer Vincent Cash said.
Olin will work with representatives from the Lancaster County Planning Department, the Department of Parks and recreation and other county staff.
The county’s most recent parks and open space plan dates to 1992. There have been significant additions to the park and trail system since then, Principal Planner Michael Domin said at the commissioners’ work session Tuesday.
He reeled off a list: Speedwell Forge County Park, Money Rocks County Park, Theodore A. Parker III Natural Area, the Northwest River Trail, the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail.
“All those were called for in that (1992) plan,” he said.
Now is an opportune time to revisit the topic, Commissioner Ray D’Agostino said, because EDC Lancaster is in the process of analyzing the county’s outdoor recreation sector — its economic impact and opportunities for expansion. It is hoping to have a report ready by mid to late 2025. There’s clearly an opportunity for synergy between that project and the county’s D’Agostino said.
As the county plan is developed, there will be opportunities for public input and public engagement, though the exact details remain to be worked out, county spokesman Michael Fitzpatrick said.
Olin’s contract runs from Jan. 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026.
Lancaster city recently went through a somewhat similar process, creating a 10-year parks and open space plan, its first. City Council approved it earlier this month.
