Hercules Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan

With nearly 1,000 acres of open space and trails, and a wide variety of recreational facilities, keeping up with Hercules’ high standards for quality parks and facilities is no small feat. The vast recreational network is well-loved by the community—when repair, replacement, and operational needs outpaced the City’s financial and staff resources, MIG spearheaded the herculean task of evaluating conditions and collaborating with the community to create a plan for future improvements.

A technical analysis involved creating a customized Esri-based tool to inventory, photograph, and evaluate park quality, maintenance levels, and facility conditions; mapping park deficiencies and facility replacement needs; and assessing ADA barriers to improve facility access. In-depth community engagement resulted in strategic, community-supported priorities for both indoor and outdoor recreation. Participants shared needs and preferences for parks and recreation facilities through pop-up activities, in-person open houses, a virtual community workshop, needs questionnaires, prioritization surveys, and steering committee meetings. Meaningful insight informed project recommendations with detailed illustratives for every existing park site, as well as recommended enhancements to recreation centers, youth centers, a senior center, and swimming pool. The process zeroed in on the right level of service for parks and trails, while protecting 10 times that acreage as natural open space.

The result is the City’s first Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan—allowing Hercules to balance investments in existing parks and facilities improvements while providing guidance on new parks and trails to serve residential growth and redevelopment along the waterfront.