Skip to main content
Couple walking in park overlooking river

System Plan

A roadmap for the next 20 years of parks and recreation.

On Oct. 29, 2025 the NCPRD Board of Directors unanimously adopted a new comprehensive 2025 System Plan for the district. This new System Plan charts the course for the next 20 years, providing guidance on how and where to invest limited District resources.

Informed by extensive community engagement efforts and rigorous data analysis, the Plan refines the long-term vision for the District and connects that vision to specific goals, strategies, and actions to guide investments across parks, trails, recreation, and programming services.

2025 System Plan Summary 2025 Full System Plan

Key Themes to Guide the District

Each of the themes outlined below are also supported by a series of goals, strategies, and action steps to guide the district in moving this plan from vision to reality.

Card Image
Care for and Invest in Parks and Recreation
Care for our existing system while providing a strong foundation for future opportunities.
Card Image
Connect to Nature
Connect to nature, embracing and protecting natural resources and mitigating climate change impacts
Card Image
Play for All
Promote health and lifelong learning by providing parks, natural areas, facilities, and recreational opportunities for all ages and abilities.
Card Image
Enrich Our Community
Strengthen connections through events, activities, recreation programming, and communication that celebrates the diversity of identities in our community.
Leaf with dripping rain drop

Building a sustainable and inclusive parks and recreation system for generations to come.

FAQs

Get answers to common questions about the System Plan.

The System Plan is a 20-year guide for community-informed decision making. The System Plan will direct how and where to invest limited District resources. Learn more.

Key components of the Plan include:

  • District analysis and benchmarking
  • Community engagement findings
  • Updated mission, vision, themes and goals
  • Priority areas for improvements within the district
  • A list of capital improvement projects
  • Action items to guide implementation of the plan

The System Plan informs:

  • Where and what types of parks, facilities, and trails we develop or improve
  • Which properties we purchase and where
  • What types of funding we pursue
  • Which partnerships we make
  • What types of programs we offer and where they go

The System Plan process was guided by input from well over 3,000 community members, as well as the District Advisory Committee, stakeholder groups, and many community organizations and partners. The planning process provided numerous opportunities, both in person and online, for residents to provide their input on the objectives, goals, and future plans. 

Documents and Resources

Some documents have been removed from the website because they do not currently meet accessibility standards. We are working to update materials to ensure they are fully accessible to all users. If you need a copy of a document that is not available or to get free language translation assistance, please contact us at info@ncprd.org.

2025 System Plan Summary
2025 Full System Plan
Current Capital Projects
Image

Contact

Have questions or feedback about the System Plan? Contact Erin Reome, Planning and Development Director, for assistance at planning@ncprd.org.