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(4) Access to recreational and wellness -supporting spaces should be equitable. Parks, recreational facilities, and programs should be planned and improved to serve youth, seniors, persons with disabilities, and residents in rural or underserved areas. (5) Community gathering strengthens resilience and social connection. Recreational facilities and open spaces should support everyday use as well as community events, cultural activities, civic participation, and informal gathering that strengthens neighborhood life. (6) Natural and cultural resources must be respected in recreational planning. Parks and open spaces should provide public access while respecting environmental conditions, cultural sites, and surrounding landscapes. (7) Recreational facilities should be durable, accessible, and easy to maintain. Design and construction of recreational facilities should emphasize long-term usability, accessibility, and lifecycle maintenance, rather than short-term features that are costly to sustain. (8) Shared use and partnerships can expand access and programming. The County should pursue partnerships and shared -use arrangements to expand recreational, cultural, educational, and wellness opportunities where appropriate. (9) Parks and recreational facilities should be maintained to remain safe, usable, and welcoming over time. Ongoing maintenance, repair, and reinvestment should be treated as essential to preserving public access, safety, and the long-term value of parks and recreational facilities, not as secondary to new construction. Section 4-6-2. Actions. (a) Identify gaps in recreational access and target investment. The department of parks and recreation shall evaluate islandwide access to parks, aquatic facilities, trails, and other recreational facilities and prioritize improvements in communities with limited options. (b) Maintain an inventory of parks and recreational facilities and their conditions. The department of parks and recreation shall maintain an inventory of parks and recreational facilities and regularly assess maintenance, repair, and improvement needs. (c) Capital planning should balance growth and upkeep. The department of parks and recreation shall plan and prioritize capital improvements to address safety, accessibility, and long-term facility needs alongside routine maintenance. (d) Facilities and programs should serve a wide range of users. The department of parks and recreation shall develop facilities and year-round programming that serves youth, seniors, and other populations with specialized needs, including culturally grounded and intergenerational activities. (e) Accessibility must be built into design and operations. The department of parks and recreation shall design, upgrade, and manage parks and facilities to meet applicable accessibility standards and reduce barriers to participation. (f) Maintain consistent standards for safety, cleanliness, and strengthened community health outcomes. The department of parks and recreation shall establish and apply 33