NEW ULM – After 36 years, New Ulm is working to create a new master plan for park and recreation.

During Tuesday’s city council meeting, councilors approved a request to submitted proposals for consulting services to create the parks’ master plan.

The park and recreation master plan was completed in 1989. Park and Recreation Director Joey Schugel said it was definitely time for a new plan. A lot has changed with New Ulm’s park system since the last plan was created.

Schugel said two separate local option sales tax projects have been completed since 1989. The sales tax projects included the creation of a Civic Center, converting Vogel Fieldhouse into a rec center and expanding the community center in 2000. The next round of sales tax projects included improvements to Johnson Park, Hermann Heights improvements and further expansion of the recreation center.

The recent completion of New Ulm’s Comprehensive Plan has spurred the community to move forward with a parks master plan, which the comprehensive plan specifically called for.

The master plan would establish a 15-year vision for New Ulm’s parks, open and public spaces. Schugel said much of the plan will be based on public feedback. This would help the city prioritize updates to parks and identify gaps in the parks system.

Schugel said one gap in the system their looking into is finding a way to connect parks to existing waterways.

“We do have parkland that abuts waterways,” Schugel said. “We want to find ways to make use of that, whether its by the Cottonwood or Minnesota River.”

The city’s new comp plan identified connecting parks with waterways as as a potential asset for New Ulm.

The master plan could also establish guidelines for using parkland dedication fees and determine which parks need redevelopment.

“We know New Ulm already has one of the best park system,” Schugel said “The master plan will help us to keep it that way.”

Schugel said the first step for finishing the master plan was hiring a consulting group. The goal is to have the consulting team working on the master plan by April this year. The plan is expected to take a year to complete.