The City of Charlottesville began work on a new master plan for parks and recreation in the fall of 2023 when the firm Pros Consulting was hired. The project manager for that company is Mike Svetz, who also served as the city’s parks and recreation director from 2004 to 2009.
“We are actually getting close to landing the plane on this master plan early next year,” Svetz said.
A community meeting was held on December 17 and Svetz had a chance the night before to give a preview of the concept of framework plans, a public desire for increased connectivity, as well as early cost estimates. (view the presentation)
Svetz said a proposed trail network builds on the city’s bike and pedestrian master plan.
“On working with staff and working primarily with Chris Gensic from Parks and Recreation, we’ve really identified significant opportunities to expand this system,” Svetz said. “Opportunities to take your system, which is only about seven or eight miles, to upwards of 20 miles.”
Svetz said the work does not include trails associated with the University of Virginia. More details about priorities will be presented as the plan comes closer to landing for its last inspection.
Framework plans have been developed for five parks, including a new one-acre public space that will be connected to Kindlewood. The others are Tonsler Park, Washington Park, Court Square Park, and Market Street Park.
“A couple of overarching things for all of these is shade, and really not just necessarily what we would call mechanical shade or people built shade, but really emphasising the need for trees, adding picnic shelters, improving ADA accessibility, adding outdoor fitness,” Svetz said.
The disused baseball diamond at Tonsler Park would be upgraded and a cricket pitch would be added. The tennis court there would be converted for use as pickleball courts and for use for the sport futsal.
Two picnic shelters would be added to Washington Park and a community garden would be added. The baseball diamond might one day be replaced with a dog park. There would also be a new restroom added to the lower side of the park.
What is now known as Court Square Park won’t really be developed as a park at all.
“This is a public grounds associated with a government facility, the court building, so to speak,” Svetz said. “It’s meant to be a passive site. It’s meant to be a historical site. It’s meant to be a site of beauty with landscaping, shade and recognise the history, both the good and bad, associated with this site.”
Features could include a fountain or a plaza, but Svetz said many more conversations have to be had before there is an improvement plan. That would have to include Albemarle County, which operates its Circuit Court in Court Square.
Market Street Park might have features added to restore its use as an event park including adding mechanisms to allow bollards to be put on adjacent streets to close them.
“We want to establish it as an extension of the mall,” Svetz said “We want to establish it as extension, extension of experiences that people have at the library and the Historical Society.”
Another desired feature would be a dedicated restroom.
PROS Consulting has split the various amenities into three categories which are critical “Sustainable Projects”, sustainable “Expanded Service Projects”, and Visionary Projects. The total estimated cost is $75,729,672.
“Overall it’s not a light price tag but it’s not one of the greatest ones I’ve ever seen,” Svetz said.
City Manager Sam Sanders said Council will not be considering adding that full amount during the development of the FY26 budget.
According to a summary of Sanders’ December 18, 2024 meeting with neighborhood leaders, the final plans will be posted on the website on January 28. Comment will be taken through February 14. City Council is scheduled to hold a first reading on March 17 and a second reading on April 7.
Before you go: This article was originally sent out as part of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter in the January 21, 2025 edition. Both are functions of Town Crier Productions. You can support the work by purchasing a paid subscription or contributing monthly through Patreon. You can also send in a check or send an email, but drop me a line first.
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