The Suffolk Parks and Recreation Department is getting closer to finishing its master plan after two community meetings held earlier this week.

“We’re almost at the final phase, but we still need community feedback on the needs and recommendations,” said Neelay Bhatt, vice president of Pros Consulting, which is working with the city on the plan.

Anybody who could not make the meetings held Monday and Tuesday can still provide feedback on the city’s website. The city will post a space for comments soon, said Parks and Recreation Director Lakita Watson.

The consultant conducted a statistically valid survey this spring, choosing residents randomly by phone and mail. About 370 people completed the survey.

Survey-takers responded to questions ranging from how often they use parks and recreation facilities and programs to which facilities and programs they would use if they were available.

Watson said the survey results confirmed what she and other staff in the department have heard anecdotally for years.

“It felt good to have it validated,” she said.

The survey results indicated that 69 percent of respondents believe funding for the parks and recreation department should have equal or higher priority than other city needs. That’s a very high number compared to what his company typically sees nationwide, Bhatt said.

“That was definitely refreshing,” Watson said.

Watson also said the survey responses will be useful as the city pursues grants to help fund needed facilities and programs.

The master plan will be guided in part by the survey results but also will be able to change over time as the city changes.

“This will be a living, breathing document that won’t just be put on a shelf,” Watson said.

Among the survey results, priorities included walking and biking trails and an indoor swimming facility.

The department’s strengths, according to survey respondents, include its variety of program offerings, talented staff, affordable activities, partnerships it has developed with area entities, and the East Suffolk Recreation Center.

Weaknesses include transportation and connectivity, aquatic facilities, limited freestanding facilities and limited access to the Nansemond River and lack of a sports tournament facility.

Participants in the earlier public input sessions identified their single most important priorities as connectivity; economic development; an aquatic facility; a multi-use, standalone recreation facility; water access; and marketing.

Playgrounds, walking and hiking trails and picnic areas were the most popular facilities, according to the results. The most popular and important parks and buildings included Sleepy Hole and Bennett’s Creek parks, the East Suffolk Recreation Center and Constant’s Wharf Park and Marina.

A quarter of respondents said their top concern is that facilities are not distributed equally throughout the city, a perception Bhatt said should be addressed.

The changing demographics of the city in terms of age, race, income and multi-generational families living together should also inspire change in the way parks and recreation services are delivered, Bhatt said.

Copies of the draft master plan will be placed at various city facilities, including Parks and Recreation facilities, soon for folks to look at. Survey results, presentations and equity maps also are on the city’s website at www.suffolkva.us/parks.