This Park and Open Space Master Plan represents the first city wide review of the Park and Recreation System within Lewisville since the original park and Recreation Master Plan was prepared in 1986. Unlike that study this master plan incorporates those areas of the City east of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.

At the time the original Park and Recreation Master Plan was prepared Lewisville's population was 37,000. The current population of 69,200 as estimated by the North Center Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), represents nearly a doubling of that figure, an 87% increase. Lewisville experienced slow but steady growth in the intervening years until 1995 when the average annual growth rate exceeded 8.2%. The high average annual growth rate continued in 1996 and 1997 with growth rates of 9.7% and 10.9% respectively. Population projections based on a report titled "Lewisville land Use Projections" prepared for the City by Stanland and Associates in 1997 estimates that the City's 2018 population could reach 115,150 persons, representing another 66 percent increase. A need for an awareness of the current and future growth experienced by the City of Lewisville is two-fold: 1) to plan for new facilities and programs and 2) to fiscally plan for financing these facilities.

To determine the park and recreational needs the Park Board followed a modified version of the procedures set forth in the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recent publication; Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Guidelines. Following the 'Level of Service' procedure outlined within that document a listing of the park classification types to be included in the Lewisville Park system was prepared, as well as, a recreational activity menu for each park type. The recreational activity menu lists those uses considered appropriate within each park classification. Continuing the NRPA outlined procedure Open Space size standards were established for each park type and the 'Level of Service' ratio expressed as a quantity (usually acres) of parks facilities to population in the terms of 1,000 persons was established for each applicable park type classification.

To obtain a comprehensive and equitable Needs Assessment and Identification three different methods of analysis were used. The standards based analysis is simply a benchmark measurement of facility needs based on population and does not consider specific local use or frequency of use; however, the standards based analysis does allow the City to evaluate the park system and how their level of service and facilities compare to NRPA standards, average standards for several metroplex cities and an optimum standard based on a consensus opinion of park's staff in several metroplex cities. Three public hearings were held to garner information from citizen's regarding their needs and desires for the parks and recreation system. The information received was analyzed and a ranked listing developed. The final method, the demand based recreational analysis, involved examination of participation numbers from the various sports leagues to determine existing facility use, scheduling, shared facilities and additional facility needs. Another factor taken into consideration in this analysis method was the impact on Lewisville facilities caused by neighboring cities developing their own athletics facilities. These cities have historically relied on Lewisville to provide athletic facilities for their citizens and therefore have stretched the operation and maintenance of these facilities to capacity. By developing their own facilities and in some cases separate leagues these cities have reduced the demand placed on Lewisville's athletics facilities.

Comparison of the parks and recreational needs developed through the Needs Assessment and Identification process with the existing park and recreational facilities inventory yields the future park and recreational needs for the City. Specifically the City needs to develop neighborhood parks within five planning areas, a community park and sports complex for one of the major organized sports leagues. Four of the neighborhood parks and the sports complex need to be constructed in the near future.

A subsidiary finding of this Parks and Open Space Master Plan, while not necessarily a surprise, is that the rapid development occurring in Lewisville has caused land for parks acquisition and development to become scarce. Not only are the larger acreage tracts required for development of large parks such as sports complexes and community parks scarce but so are small tracts needed for neighborhood parks, particularly in areas where the major of property has been developed. The City should make a concerted effort to purchase tracts for park usage before they are lost to other urban uses or before the land costs become so high that the prime tracts are unaffordable.

Development of a City wide multi-use trail system is addressed within the context of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan. This trail system is a preliminary study/plan; it is recommended that a more detailed study be pursued in the future.

The identification and prioritization of projects represents the culmination of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan with its delineation of the park facility needs which are the most important to the citizens of Lewisville. The top five priority facilities are in descending order include multi-use trails, playgrounds, football fields, soccer fields, and baseball fields. This plan provides the City with short range implementation needs and long range planning for areas of future urbanization.