Powell City Council Approves Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Published on July 21, 2026

Powell City Council approved the City's first Parks and Recreation Master Plan at its July 21 meeting. The plan establishes a long-term vision to guide the future of Powell's parks, recreation facilities and green spaces during the next 15 years.

Council also approved the Bennett Farm Master Plan, which provides a long-term vision for the city's newest park property.

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan evaluates the City's existing park network, identifies current and future community needs, and provides a strategic framework for future improvements, partnerships and investments.

Both plans were shaped through an extensive public engagement process that included community open houses, pop-up events, focus groups, leadership meetings, steering committee meetings and resident surveys. More than 1,000 community members participated throughout the planning process, helping identify priorities for Powell's park system.

"These master plans reflect what the community values most about Powell's parks while providing a thoughtful roadmap for the future," City Manager Andy White said. "As Powell continues to grow, these plans will help ensure future investments enhance recreation opportunities, preserve our natural resources and maintain the high quality of life residents expect."

Resident feedback confirmed that Powell's parks are among the community's greatest assets while identifying opportunities to expand recreation opportunities and better serve residents of all ages.

Findings from the planning process include:

A need for a larger, flexible indoor community center that could accommodate recreation, fitness, wellness programs, classrooms and community gathering spaces.
A desire to expand recreation programming, particularly for teenagers and older adults.
The need to replace aging playgrounds throughout the park system with unique, destination-style play experiences.
Interest in adding a dog park, with Bennett Farm identified as a potential future location.
Support for improving trails, expanding connections between parks and neighborhoods, and preserving Powell's natural areas.
Opportunities to convert some underused sports fields into flexible open spaces that can accommodate a wider variety of recreational activities and community events.

The plan found that while Powell currently meets national service standards for community pools, residents continue to express interest in expanded aquatic amenities. The recommendations build on the city's recently completed pool feasibility study and encourage continued evaluation as future improvements are considered.

The master plan also includes recommendations tailored to each city park while reinforcing Powell's commitment to balancing recreation with environmental stewardship.

Highlights include:

New destination playgrounds and improved amenities throughout the park system.
Expanded walking trails, boardwalks and nature experiences.
Additional open-air pavilions, community gathering spaces and picnic areas.
Native meadows, habitat restoration and enhanced natural landscapes.
New event spaces, flexible recreation areas and opportunities for year-round programming.
Long-range concepts for a community center and larger outdoor amphitheater, which would require additional study, partnerships and future funding before moving forward.

At Bennett Farm, the conceptual master plan envisions a destination park connected to Arbor Ridge Park with walking trails, an event lawn, community event barn, scenic overlooks, hillside play features, wetland boardwalks, a potential dog park and opportunities for mountain biking while preserving the site's natural features.

Approval of the master plans establishes a long-term planning framework for future park improvements but does not authorize construction or funding for individual projects. Future improvements will be evaluated and implemented over time as funding becomes available and City Council considers future capital investments.

With the plans now adopted, the city will begin advancing Bennett Farm into schematic design, continue refining project costs, pursue grant opportunities and partnerships, and prioritize park improvements throughout the park system.

Residents can view the complete Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Bennett Farm Master Plan on the city's website.

View the Parks Master Plan(PDF, 37MB)