Services | ADvisory

Parks and Recreation Master Planning

Align your community’s vision with data-driven strategies, resident input, and long-term planning expertise

In funded facilities

$ Billion+

Financial feasibility studies

100 +

Communities served

10 +

In planned facilities

$ 100 Million+

Properties under SFC's management

50 +

Planning today for tomorrow’s community

A recreation master plan is a roadmap that shapes the future of a community’s parks, recreation facilities, and programs. Parks and recreation master planning helps cities define a clear vision, prioritize investment, and create strategies that serve both current and future generations.

At the Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), we guide municipalities through every step of the master planning process. Our approach blends data analysis, financial forecasting, feasibility studies, and community engagement, using tools such as online surveys and public workshops, to develop actionable plans.

With more than 23 years of experience and work in over 3,500 communities, SFC delivers recreation master plans supported by real-world data and outcomes.

Service highlights

duration:

16-28 weeks

Best suited for:

Local government leaders, economic development, tourism professionals, and parks and recreation leadership.

Led By SFC Advisory Experts:

What you can do with a parks and recreation master plan

Define your community’s vision for parks and recreation facilities.
Engage residents through surveys, interviews, and public forums.
Assess current assets and identify gaps in recreation and park facilities.
Prioritize future development and create funding strategies for success.
Establish clear goals, strategies, and timelines for your city’s recreation system.
Move forward with a master plan that balances community needs, budget realities, and long-term impact.

Unmatched breadth of experience

We’ve managed nearly every type of recreation facility — indoor aquatics, recreation centers, stadiums, trails, RV parks, and more — giving us extensive firsthand insight into all aspects of parks and recreation master planning.

Your single-source solution

Dedicated SFC teams support your parks and recreation master plan across pre-development and planning, development, and management, providing coordinated expertise and resources to plan, develop, and operate facilities through every step and stage of the process.

Data-driven recommendations

We leverage insights from work in 3,500+ communities plus real operating results from our 100+ managed venues, anchored by national partners (NRPA, CDC, Aspen Project Play, NGBs), for a plan rooted in what works in the field, not theory.

Community engagement at scale

Community alignment is built into our process through robust engagement (workshops, open houses, statistically valid/online surveys, project sites, social media) to earn buy‑in from residents, staff, and elected officials and de‑risk plan adoption.

Foundation for future facilities and funding

Our master plans establish actionable steps to make sure this is not a study on a shelf, but a guide to leaving a legacy for current and future residents.

West Monroe Sports & Events

West Monroe, LA

Wiregrass Sports Complex

Wesley Chapel, FL

Sprowls Horizon Sports Park

Pinellas Park, FL

Sand Mountain Sports Park

Albertville, AL

Rocky Mount Sports Center

Rocky Mount, NC

Burlington Pickleball Complex

Burlington, NC

Hoover Met Sports Complex

Hoover, AL

Myrtle Beach Sports Center

Myrtle Beach, VA

See why we’re trusted by communities nationwide

Case Study

A Mayor’s Guide to Creating Great Recreation

Unlock a mayor’s roadmap to plan, fund, and activate parks and recreation: engagement, facility development, optimization, programming, and greenspace strategies to drive health and economic impact. Download our free guide.

Create the roadmap for future generations

SFC’s parks and recreation master planning empowers your community with a clear vision, actionable strategies, and the necessary tools to turn ideas into impact.

Join the SFC team

Live the mission of improving communities through sports. Become a part of the Sports Facilities Companies team today.