Strategic Plan & Master Plans
Protect + Connect Plan
Five Rivers MetroParks is developing a comprehensive master plan to guide its operations, vision and strategy for the next ten years. Community voices are key in shaping the plan.
Upcoming Dates
Take the Protect + Connect Plan Poll online, which should take approximately 5 minutes.
Stay tuned for the next round of public workshops and pop-ups, planned for late summer 2025.
Five Rivers MetroParks takes care of nearly 16,000 acres of land across Montgomery County, protecting natural places and giving people lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors. The Protect + Connect Plan is a long-range visioning and system-wide planning effort to guide how MetroParks takes care of its open spaces and parks, programs, and operations over the next decade.
Since the last plan, MetroParks has helped define Dayton as the “Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest” through iconic projects like the expansion of the trail network, investments in beloved places like RiverScape Park, and new paddle sports opportunities. These efforts reflect the growing potential for an interconnected system of parks and green spaces that help to protect the environment and bring people together in healthy, active communities.
This plan is a chance to celebrate everything MetroParks’ has done so far while planning for what’s next. With support from the community—including a vote on the one-mill levy—MetroParks hopes to grow and improve so it can continue to protect nature, connect people to the outdoors, and offer great experiences for everyone.
Project Timeline
The project includes five phases, each offering opportunities for public engagement to help shape the Protect + Connect Plan.
The pre-planning step begins in winter 2024 with a comprehensive organizational assessment. This phase focuses on reviewing MetroParks’ mission, staffing, and internal priorities to lay a strong foundation for the work ahead.
In Spring 2025, the process moves into Building a Strong Foundation. This includes launching project coordination efforts, reviewing key documents, and preparing for engagement with staff, stakeholders, and the broader community.
From Spring through Summer 2025, the plan focuses on Assessing Needs and Values. This phase includes evaluating current park conditions, gathering community input, identifying gaps and opportunities, and reviewing local and national trends.
In Fall 2025, the project enters the Dream Big phase. With insights from earlier phases, this stage focuses on creating a bold, long-term vision centered on care—for the park system, natural environment, and the communities it supports.
The final phase, Set a Course (Winter 2025), refines the vision into a clear, actionable plan that identifies priorities, key projects, and implementation strategies to guide MetroParks’ investments and decisions over the next decade.
Ways to Engage
Community voices are central to shaping the Protect + Connect Plan. Throughout the planning process, there will be multiple ways to get involved and help guide the future together.
Take the Protect + Connect Plan Poll online, which should take approximately 5 minutes.
Stay tuned for the next round of public workshops and pop-ups, planned for late summer 2025.
