The service areas of city parks already cover much more of the population than officials expected. Adding three more parks over the next 10 years could place its coverage percentage in the company of some of the most recreation-friendly cities in the country.
City Planner Daniel Havelin presented GIS mapping data Friday at a board of aldermen work session showing 47.01% of Starkville’s population already live in the service area of an existing city-owned park. Taking into account the parks at Sudduth Elementary, Overstreet Elementary and Armstrong Middle School – for which the city has an agreement with Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District to allow use as public parks after school and on weekends – the coverage percentage rises to 54.19%.
