Future Opportunities for Parks and Open Spaces

Because Oakwood is primarily a residential community, parks, open spaces and recreational facilities add to the quality of life within the City. Several opportunities for enhancing parks and open spaces in the future are highlighted below.

• The City should continue to promote enhancement of the open space character of Oakwood as a distinguishing feature of the community. Open spaces are defined as park sites, landscaped boulevards, tree-lined streets, small open spaces at roadway intersections, wooded ravines and other natural areas, and the landscape treatment around public sites and institutional facilities.
• While additional park land may be desirable in Oakwood, the small size of the community and the fact that the community is landlocked with very little vacant land will make the development of new park sites difficult. However, the City might explore options for acquiring additional park land, including:
  1. The purchase of selected lots that become available in locations where park land is in short supply.
  2. The preservation of selected open spaces as large estates are subdivided.
  3. A small park or open space at the Sugar Camp property.
  4. The acquisition or leasing of additional lands outside the City.
• Many Oakwood residents have expressed the need for a new indoor recreational facility. Many nearby communities offer such a facility for their residents. The City should consider undertaking a feasibility study to determine if a new facility should be added. Redevelopment of the Oakwood Community Center may be the most promising opportunity, rather than acquiring new land.
• The City should consider other opportunities for further enhancing parks, open spaces and recreational facilities in Oakwood, including:
  1. More fully utilizing existing recreational areas, such as Creager and Irving Fields.
  2. Continue sharing recreational facilities with Oakwood City Schools, which benefits both organizations.
  3. Adopting more formal procedures to preserve, protect and enhance wooded areas, ravines and other natural features.
  4. Designing new facilities to serve teens and seniors within Oakwood.
• The City of Oakwood does not have a master plan or a comprehensive study of parks, open spaces and recreational needs and opportunities. Since this is an important issue among many residents, the City might consider such a study in order to gather more detailed public input and help address future needs in this key area.
• The City should continue to encourage local property owners to endow land as a means of preserving existing open space areas. Donations can offer tax advantages to property owners, as well as preserve important environmental features and help relieve some of the concerns related to estate subdivision.
• There should continue to be cooperation between the City, the Oakwood City Schools, NCR, nearby communities, and regional agencies in the provision of recreational facilities. Sites and facilities should be shared, and programs and services should be coordinated to the extent possible.