In 2023, Barr partnered with the City of Hibbing to create its first comprehensive parks and trails master plan. Working with Ballard*King & Associates and Northspan, we mapped and assessed the city’s recreational assets, analyzed demographics and programming, reviewed national recreation trends, and gathered community input to shape goals and implementation strategies for improving and maintaining the system.
Hibbing’s 33 parks and extensive trail network—spanning 1,800 acres—had never been fully mapped. To establish a planning baseline, Barr created a GIS-based inventory and condition assessment of every park and trail, producing data and maps designed for both city planning and public use. We also mapped proposed trails to strengthen connectivity across the system.
The master plan classifies each park by current use, purpose, amenities, and maintenance needs. Our classification framework helps the city identify priority improvements and align maintenance, programming, and services with each park’s intended role.
Our recommendations were grounded in our conditions assessment, facility and programming evaluations, park classifications, and research, as well as community feedback. A resident survey provided insights into familiarity with, use of, and preferences for the parks and trails system. Nearly 700 responses were analyzed and included in an appendix to the plan.
To support implementation, we prepared an action-oriented plan outlining recommended management priorities and steps for the city to consider. The master and implementation plans highlight how Hibbing’s distinctive regional landscape and recreation opportunities offer significant potential to draw more visitors to the community.
