Beginning in 2018, the District embarked on an extensive public engagement process to identify community needs in terms of park infrastructure and facilities.  With the changing population dynamic of our community and increased annual tourism, the District sought out the community's input and thoughts on increasing recreational opportunities that would benefit the community's health and wellbeing, while also taking into consideration ways to benefit from local tourism. Through this planning process the community has voiced its desire to:

• Build and Create Trails- The need and creation of trails was overwhelmingly conveyed through this process. Groveland, Big Oak Flat, and Pine Mountain Lake lack active and safe forms of transportation and cohesive connectivity. A primary trail system to create a linkage of these communities that all demographics can use in a variety of ways was highly desired. 
• Create Natural and Organic ways to Exercise and Play-Nature is our best playground, and our community wanted increased opportunities to capture and nurture this philosophy in a local way. Exercise and play opportunities that utilize and blend into the natural surroundings of the area.
• Create a Functional Venue to Support Entertainment and Educational Events-Who doesn't love an outdoor concert or arts and craft festival? The community felt that the creation of a space to accommodate and support these was severely lacking in the community and that significant distances had to be traveled to enjoy these types of events.
• Update and Enhance Support Facilities-Install better public restrooms, trash facilities and signage in the park.
• Create a Versatile Space for Everyday Use-provide space for additional community events and festivals, community gatherings, family reunions, birthday parties, etc.

GCSD has formed many support partnerships in planning and implementing an exciting project that aims at delivering the community needs. They include:

• Blue Zone Project (Adventist Health Partner)
• Tuolumne County and its Transportation Council
• Highway 120 Chamber of Commerce
• Groveland Rotary Club
• Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS)
• Tuolumne County Sierra Club
• Southside Community Connections
• Groveland Trail Heads
• Groveland Outdoor Zone
• Pine Mountain Garden Club
• and many others who have contributed to the planning and energy behind this project, that is now in the process of securing grant funding for the final design and construction of an exciting project.  

The GCSD Board of Directors has reviewed and accepted the final 2021 Park Amenities Study Plan linked below which provides a summary of the goals and objectives of the District in planning this project, identifies project features developed in the public engagement process and has now paved the way for applications for state and federal funding.