To facilitate a community discussion about future parks and recreation needs in Bellevue, a planner in the Parks and Community Services Department has launched a blog.

“This blog acts as one way for Bellevue parks users to communicate their ideas for the long-range development of the parks system,” writes senior planner Camron Parker in the first blog post. “The city cannot plan for the future without hearing from the people who use our services and perhaps more importantly, people who currently do not.”

While the initial focus of the Parks and Community Services Blog is on the Parks and Open Space System Plan, the blog has been established for addressing a range of issues that could come up for the department in the long run. Other staff members will likely be authors.

The parks blog (at www.bellevue-parks.blogspot.com) is the latest addition to the city’s increasing presence in social media – interactive websites where users freely share comments, photographs and videos.

The Parks Department is in the process of updating its parks plan, which directs development of parks and open space over the next 10 years. The plan also considers the programs and services supported by the department, and how these may change over time to meet community needs.

In early posts, Parker asks readers several questions, including “How do you find a new park?”

and “What would you like to see more of in Bellevue’s parks system?” Comments received through 2009 will be used for the plan update, targeted for adoption in 2010.

In addition to the blog, public input will also be gathered in more traditional ways – through surveys, presentations to community groups and other methods.

For more information, and to request a community group presentation, contact Parker at 425-452-2032 or cparker@bellevuewa.gov