Covington’s Parks and Recreation Department will host a community meeting at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in the Community Room at Covington City Hall.

Residents are invited to attend and offer their opinions and ideas for the future direction of Covington’s parks, trails and recreation system.

The informal gathering will provide critical input that will be used to update the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan previously adopted by the city in 2003.

This is the first of three community meetings during the planning process.

The second meeting, scheduled for Nov. 4, will offer citizens the opportunity to review survey results and the third slated for Feb.3 will allow for comment on a draft plan.

The updated plan will include a review of current conditions and recommend specific capital projects based on goals and priorities primarily determined by public input.

Final review and adoption of the plan is scheduled for May 2010.

“The meeting on Sept. 30 will focus on the visioning element of the plan,” said Scott Thomas, parks and recreation director for the city, in a statement. “This means we want people to tell us how the city can best meet the recreational needs of individuals and families in the years to come.”

Participants will be asked to comment on the city’s opportunities and challenges for park space and aquatics programming, along with other services such as recreation programs.

“This plan will be the road map for providing high-quality, community-driven parks, trails, open space and recreation programs throughout Covington for the next six to 10 years,” Thomas said. “It is essential to know what local concerns must be addressed in any strategies that are proposed for adoption. The more we can learn from citizens, the better.”

While residents of Covington can provide input, visitors who use the city’s parks, trails or aquatics center are also invited to attend.

Additional project information is available on the city’s Web site, which can be accessed at www.ci.covington.wa.us.

To offer input or get more information contact Pat Patterson at 253-638-1110 (ext. 2223) or send e-mail to ppatterson@ci.covington.wa.us.