Founders Park Master Plan

Survey - The Results Are In!

Thank you for helping shape the future of Founders Park! Residents' voices were heard through the public survey conducted from December 9, 2024, to February 28, 2025.

The study aimed to gather community feedback on Founders Park's recreation facilities, amenities, future planning, communication, and more.

This survey research and subsequent analysis were designed to assist the Village of Islamorada, also known as the Village of Islands, in developing a plan for Founders Park that reflects the community's needs and desires.

The survey was designed and delivered by RRC Associates, a survey research firm. The survey was advertised on the Founders Park page of the Village website, on social media platforms, via email, and on flyers distributed at the parks.

There were two primary methods of distribution: 1) Statistically Valid (Invitation Survey) and 2) Open Link Survey. The Statistically Valid Survey was mailed out the week of December 2, 2024, with an option to complete it online with a password-protected website. The Open Link Survey was an online version of the survey available to all residents of Islamorada open from January 2025 through February 28, 2025.  4,450 surveys were mailed to residents living throughout the Village. In total, 727 Invitation Surveys were completed with a margin of error of +/- 3.4%. The Open Link option garnered another 133 completed surveys. A total of 860 surveys were completed.

The following are key findings from the survey:

Strong community engagement – The statistically valid Invite sample demonstrated high participation from both full-time and seasonal residents. Respondents reported a strong familiarity with Founders Park (average 4.0 out of 5, with 5 being “very familiar”) and frequent usage, with nearly 48% visiting at least once a week.

Broadly used facilities rated highest in importance – Facilities that cater to a wide range of users, such as restrooms, the beach, the pool, and fitness and walking trails, received the highest importance ratings from respondents.

Facilities are meeting community needs – All listed park facilities and services received strong ratings for effectively serving the community. The lowest-rated facility still averaged 3.5 on a 5-point scale, indicating broad satisfaction.

Community satisfaction exceeds perceived importance for most facilities. All amenities, except restrooms, received higher ratings for meeting community needs than for their perceived importance, suggesting overall satisfaction with park offerings.

Preference for improvements over new construction – When considering future additions, expansions, and renovations, respondents expressed a clear preference for upgrading and enhancing existing amenities rather than building entirely new facilities.

Top priorities for future improvements – The Invite sample identified enhancing the beach area and adding a butterfly or botanical garden as their highest priorities. Other key improvements included a community garden, food service options, and additional shaded areas, with at least 11% of respondents selecting these features as top choices.

Project Overview

Islamorada Village of Islands has initiated the creation of a Master Plan for Founders Park. This plan aims to assess the need for future improvements, facilities, programs, operations, maintenance, and funding opportunities for the park.

Project Goals and Intended Outcomes:
The Park Master Plan aims to achieve the following goals:
1.    Identification of Opportunities for Enhancements: Conduct a thorough analysis of the existing park and indoor recreation facility to identify areas for improvements and upgrades.
2.    Public Engagement: Community outreach through the preparation of stakeholder focus groups, surveys, and public workshops to gather residents’ and users’ vision and needs for the park.
3.    Road Map: Develop a phasing road map that includes exciting plans, renderings, and funding strategies for proposed future recommendations. Prepare a Master Plan that is a responsive, resilient, and equitable plan that truly reflects the needs of the residents and users.

Who’s Helping Us:
Islamorada Village of Islands is working with multi-disciplinary firm Miller Legg to conduct the Founders Park Master Plan. Miller Legg has assembled a team of experts, including sub-consultant firm RRC Associates, who will work with Village staff to understand the community needs and create recommendations that will help support the success of Founders Park.

Project Timeline:
Miller Legg presented a ten (10) month timeline on July 26, allowing for a draft Master Plan to be completed by late Winter 2025. The final Master Plan is anticipated to be complete and presented to the Village Council in late Spring 2025.

Community Involvement:
The Master Planning process emphasizes community involvement, including:
1. Needs assessment through community outreach
2. Stakeholder meetings and interviews
3. Opportunities for public input, including a survey and public workshops

We invite you to review the information provided on this webpage. Your engagement is crucial as we work together to shape the future of Founders Parks.

For more information, please contact Maria Bagiotti at maria.bagiotti@islamorada.fl.us and/or (305) 853-1685.
Thank you for your support and involvement in this exciting project!