Vision Agenda: Enjoy

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Enjoy

What is your vision for excellence and quality as it relates to our parks, recreation, arts and culture, and natural green spaces?

What recreational activities and amenities are most important for a high quality of life including places like parks, theatres, museums, and music venues?
What arts and culture programs residents and other stakeholders would like to see created or expanded? How can art, culture, and entertainment play a bigger role in shaping our lives and our communities?
How do we increase opportunities for public art, community art projects, and support for artists?
What can everyday residents (young and old) do to take an active role in arts and culture programs and recreational activities?

Vision Ideas for Enjoy from the Community Forums

More than 300 ideas were received related to Enjoy across the six community forums. Six themes rose to the top. Each is written here as if the desired future has already occurred:

Participant Vision Ideas for Enjoy

Expanded Network of Recreational Facilities: A broad network of local and regional recreational facilities in new and older communities that provide sports, teen programs, and other enjoyable health and wellness programs.
Major New Sports Complexes: There are regional sports and learning facilities throughout the county where families can watch a variety of national and international teams and competitions to build knowledge, interest, and participation in an array of sports programs.
Entertainment Attractor: County entertainment facilities and events bring in renowned artists to attract attendees and spending from around the region.
Tourist Destination: The county’s natural resources and heritage areas attract African-American and other tourists from around the country.
Entertainment and Dining Amenities: More opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoyably spend their entertainment and dining dollars in the county.
Vibrant Arts and Entertainment Community: A vibrant, countywide arts and entertainment presence and community, with multiple hubs, allowing for synergy among artists and opportunities for entertainment, socializing, and culture that will appeal to all races, ages, and socioeconomic status groups.

Assets, Opportunities, and Challenges

Below are many ideas about the assets, opportunities, and challenges for Prince George’s County to consider as we strive towards our Vision for Enjoy.

Assets

Large network of open space and parks, both local and regional.
An award-winning Department of Parks and Recreation with a variety of strong programs.
Historical African-American sites that showcase African-American heritage and attract visitors.
Diversity of amenities from urban to rural areas.
Waterways: The Potomac, Patuxent, and Anacostia Rivers.
Agriculture and horse farm heritage.
Major recreational attractions such as Redskins Football, Six Flags, Bowie Baysox, and Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland.

Opportunities

Promote cultural assets and heritage tourism better.
Build trail connections to places of work and play.
Build “complete streets,” streets that are designed for all users to include amenities such as enhanced public transit services, sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian amenities, and sidewalk connections with neighborhoods, places of work and retail, and recreational spots.
Promote more public art including projects that are interactive and educational.
Attract artists to the Gateway Arts District with flexible regulations.
Partner with colleges and universities to expand recreational, music, and art activities and engage the colleges in service learning.
Preserve existing historic community assets, parks, and buildings.
Capitalize on the National Children’s Museum to open in National Harbor in 2013 and projected to attract 600,000 visitors per year.

Challenges

Revenue downturn makes it difficult to maintain and expand facilities and open space.
Concerns about public safety and crime deter visitors to parks and other recreational activities.
Competition for scarce tourist and recreational dollars in a region with so many options.
Inadequate intracounty public transportation system.
Maintaining the current high level of parks and recreation service as the county grows
Lack of significant entertainment venues in the County causing residents to find venues outside of the County