Everywhere in the City of Williamsport is a 10-minute walk to a city park.

It’s one of the main reasons why improving the vast park and trail systems across the city is so valuable, so more people can enjoy safer and better quality facilities.

For about a year the city has been in the process of completing a Comprehensive Recreation Parks, Open Space, and Green Infrastructure plan.

Joanne Shelly with Evolve Environment and Architecture told visitors to a meeting at the Trade and Transit II, the firm is at a stage where it has received feedback, provided recommendations and is continuing to fine tune the plan where the priorities can be provided to the city officials.

Everyone was invited to add a Post It note with their ideas.

“Williamsport residents have access to lots of great natural spaces,” Shelly said.

Under Mayor Derek Slaughter’s direction, the administration, with council cooperation, has been able to procure hundreds of thousands in grants from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other resources for the city parks. Today, the city parks have new basketball courts, pickleball courts (and more planned), accessible pathways and restrooms (and more planned), lighting, tennis court resurfacing, baseball field restorations, and unique concepts such as a pump track planned for Shaw Place Park.

However, there is work to be done, based on the analysis of the parks for the comprehensive plan.

Recommendations have been listed for Brandon Park, Lose Park, Max M. Brown Memorial Park, Shaw Place Park, Elm Park, Ways Garden, Young’s Woods Park, Newberry Park (a.k.a. named after former Mayor Phillip E. Preziosi Park.

The findings showed:

— Parks are not equally maintained and amenities are not evenly distributed. Additionally, park connectivity and signage needs to be improved.

— For the youth, there should be more programming such as summer camps etc. for younger people, and promotion of these programs and more programs for older youths, too.

— There is a low ratio of park areas per resident. The park types, also, were seen not to match the demographic distribution.

— In terms of communication, information about the park facilities and programs should exist online.

— More programs in parks should be available for older children and there needs to be better communication to residents about programming of all types.

— The consultants have asked the city to make sure the amenities of each park are posted online.

Parks were given scorecards, based on stewardship, sustainability, programming, amenities, welcoming, connectivity and safety.

Brandon Park came in with the highest scores followed in order by: Shaw Place and Ways Garden tied; Lose, Memorial, Newberry, Young’s Woods and Elm parks.

The proposals will be put into a final version for the city officials to review as they prepare the annual budget and capital projects budget.