**Summary of Shawnee County Kansas Commission Meeting (Work Session) – May 11, 2026**
This was a **Board of County Commissioners work session** held on Monday, May 11, 2026. Commissioners present included Bill Kriz (District 1, presiding), Kevin Cook (Vice Chair, District 2), and Aaron Mace (District 3), along with County Counselor Rich Eckert.
### Main Focus: Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update
The primary agenda item was a presentation from the Parks and Recreation Department by Director **Tim Lorent** and consultants from **Landworks Studio** (Nathan Harold and Brian Sturm). They provided a progress update on the county's comprehensive **Parks Master Plan**, which began in November 2025.
**Key phases of the process**:
- **Discovery**: Park assessments, community surveys, online engagement, stakeholder input.
- **Analysis & Visioning**: Synthesizing data into recommendations.
- **Implementation**: Creating a prioritized roadmap with timelines and costs for the next ~2 years.
**Community Engagement Highlights**:
- Statistically valid survey (Feb 2026): 427 responses (exceeding the quota quickly; low margin of error ~3-4%).
- Online engagement platform: 410+ responses (still open), with interactive map for comments/pins, upvoting, and priority-ranking activities.
- Community open house at Big Gage Shelter: ~40 attendees.
- Facility and program assessments completed across all parks.
**Top Community Priorities** (from survey):
- **Facilities**: Walking/biking trails (overwhelming #1), indoor pool, restrooms/amenities, more neighborhood parks + nature preserves.
- **Programming**: Adult fitness/wellness, senior programs, history/museums (interest in parks telling local stories).
**Other Notes**:
- Gage Park and Lake Shawnee were the highest-rated parks.
- The plan emphasizes awareness of existing assets, inter-agency cooperation, and addressing barriers to park use.
- A separate trails study will be incorporated.
- No formal action was taken; this was an informational update.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and closed after the presentation (total relevant transcription covers ~1 hour 48 minutes of discussion). It appears to be a routine work session focused on long-term planning rather than immediate decisions.
For the full video or more details, check the YouTube recording directly or the county's website for agendas/minutes.
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