The Sandy Creek Park Improvement Initiative is a joint effort to generate an improvement plan for this popular destination. The City of Jasper will be collaborating with the National Park Service, the Jasper Master Gardeners, the Jasper Economic Development Corporation, and other area organizations to create an improvement plan for Sandy Creek Park. The plan will allow the park to continue serving as a popular gathering and recreational space for residents and visitors alike.

Sandy Creek Park

Located in the heart of Jasper, Sandy Creek Park extends over thirty acres along the banks of Sandy Creek. These thirty acres contain miles of trails, gardens, a playground, a stocked pond, and community gathering spaces. The park is well known in the region as home to Jasper's popular Independence Day Celebration and Christmas in the Park.

Project Background

The Jasper Master Gardeners have long been working to improve the gardens and educational resources of Sandy Creek Park. In 2018, the organization applied for a planning assistance grant from the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA). RTCA helps communities preserve their important natural and recreational resources, protect rivers and streams, and develop new trails and greenways. These projects are locally led with NPS staff supporting local recreation and conservation leaders.

A Sandy Creek Park improvement committee was formed in November 2018 to guide the initiative. The committee includes representatives from the City of Jasper, Master Gardeners, JEDCO, Master Naturalists, the Jasper Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, NPS, and other local businesses and organizations.

Timeline

The City of Jasper and its partners have set the following ambitious timeline for the Sandy Creek Park Improvement Initiative. The surveying and public feedback results will define the elements of the final plan.

Community Opinion Survey

Online and paper surveying began in March 2018 and will continue through May.

TAKE THE SURVEY! (LINK)

Public meeting: Tuesday, June 11 5pm-7pm at JEDCO

An open meeting will be held at the JEDCO office (500 S Wheeler St) to present survey results and gather further community feedback and ideas.

Community outreach: Saturday, June 29 at Sandy Creek Park

Surveys and park visitor opinions will be collected at Jasper's Independence Day Celebration on June 29. Stop by the information table to find out more about the improvement initiative, share your opinion, and recount your Sandy Creek Park memories.

Sandy Creek Park Improvement Plan

The project committee will use public feedback to create an improvement plan for the park in late 2019.

Your Opinion Matters!

The surveys and public meeting feedback collected through the Sandy Creek Park Improvement Initiative will be used to determine the elements and design of the Sandy Creek Park Improvement Plan. Please take a few minutes to respond to the brief online survey and stop by the public outreach events to share your thoughts.