HomeMy WebLinkAboutIPWG notes 021115 Intergovernmental Parks Work Group
Meeting Notes of February 11, 2015
Members Present:
Penny Rich - Orange County Commissioner
Jim Ward - Chapel Hill Town Council
Jenn Weaver- Hillsborough Board of Commissioners
Michael Hughes - OWASA Board of Directors
Lydia Wegman - Orange County Commission for the Environment
Annette Jurgelski - Eno River Association
Erin Crouse—Chapel Hill Parks, Greenways and Recreation Commission
Bill Goa - UNC Director of Campus Recreation
Dean Ray- Mebane City Council
Bill Kaiser—Chapel Hill Environmental Stewardship Advisory Board
Absent:
Jackie Gist- Carrboro Board of Aldermen
Doris Murrell - Carrboro Parks and Recreation Board
Rob English - Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board
Sara Childs - Duke Forest Resource Manager
Annetta Streater—Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Steve Halkiotis—Orange County Board of Education
Betty McDade Kahn—Orange County Parks and Recreation Advisory Council
Bo Howes -Triangle Land Conservancy
Staff Present:
Dave Stancil; Marabeth Carr; Beth Young; -Orange County, Dept. of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation
Bill Webster- Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation
Anita Jones-McNair, Wendell Rodgers - Carrboro Recreation & Parks
Stephanie Trueblood - Hillsborough Planning
Staff Absent:
Trish McGuire - Carrboro Planning
Meeting was held at the Orange County Southern Human Services Center
A light meal of pizza, and drinks was provided.
Agenda Items/ Notes (Feb. 11, 2015)
1. Call to order
Chair Rich called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM
2. Introductions
Introduction of members and staff
3. Presentation: The Town of Hillsborough's development of Riverwalk II and III, Churton Street Access
Improvements and the CMAQ Sidewalk Connections Project: (Presented by: Stephanie Trueblood
Planner with the Town of Hillsborough)
Parks and Recreation Board developed a long term connectivity plan
There are five trail systems within Hillsborough but none connected (Occoneechee Mountain Park;
Occoneechee Speedway Trail; Kings Highway Park; Gold Park and Orange Counties River Park
The Riverwalk Greenway accomplishes making the connections. It is:
• 1.8 miles; 8' wide
• ADA accessible
• Paved (some boardwalk and Chapel Hill Gravel segments)
• Built in three segments:
• Phase I was constructed as part of Gold Park;
• Phase II was completed last summer and connects Gold Park and Orange Counties
River Park (this segment is part of the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail.)
• Phase III is open and connects River Park behind the Orange County Justice Facility
to lands owned by Classical American Homes Preservation Trust. Eventually there
will be an access through this private property to the Historic Occoneechee
Speedway Trail.
CMAC Project (Congestion, Mitigation, and Air Quality Improvement Program) provides
neighborhood sidewalk connections to Riverwalk; construction is expected to take 6-12 months
Churton Street Access:
• Very Congested
• Need ways to reduce pedestrian and vehicle conflicts
• Stamped brick asphalt crosswalks
• Some landscaping improvements
• Loses 17 parking spaces
• Moves the sidewalk out (creates more dining area) at Mathews Chocolate Shop to Antonia's
• Bus stop is planned across from Weaver Street Market a connection to River Park is outside
of the scope of the towns project
Not funded is Cates Creek Greenway in Waterstone; which will connect that area to the downtown
system. Jim Ward asked about bike access. Stephanie replied none on roads but the greenway
allows for bikers.
4. Group Discussion on issues and topics for future study
• Locator Map— Need funding for Phase 2; involve Visitors Bureau
• An Update From Chapel Hill of their Artificial Turf Project as far as cost and maintenance
issues
• Bonds— County or Chapel Hill
• Sponsorships or ways to contribute to Parks? Mebane could speak on this. HiChew?
• UNC — Facility Master Plan- How recreation has changed over the years — now mind; body;
spirit orientated
6. Director Reports/Updates
A. Town of Carrboro - Anita Jones-McNair (Director-Carrboro Recreation & Parks)
• Spring registration —most are now online
• Advertising for a Recreation Supervisor position
• Working with UNC Health on Veggie Man
• at Anderson Park
• Anderson Park— Resurfacing Basketball and Tennis Courts; Renovate Multi-purpose field (sod and
lighting); New bathrooms
• Wilson Park Tennis Courts - rebuilt
• Baldwin Park expand basketball away from community garden
B. Orange County— Dave Stancil (Director Orange County Department of
Environment, Agriculture and Parks & Recreation)
• Winter programs underway
• Working on getting Blackwood farm Park opened on a limited basis; waiting on Site Plan approval and
hoped to be opened this spring Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Low impact activities planned—trials;
picnicking; fishing and open play in fields
• Hollow Rock Park and Natural Area hope to open next year—lengthy process
C. Town of Chapel Hill— Bill Webster (Assistant Director of Chapel Hill Parks &
Recreation)
• Cedar falls Park— Restrooms nearly complete (still using a septic field)
• Big project— Phase 3 of Bolin Creek Greenway—bids due first week in March
• Just finished a small greenway segment from MILK to Umstead
• Next is completing a section by Northside Elementary School
• Worked with their friends group to purchase a pedestrian counter (In 3 weeks counted approx.10,000
on Bolin Creek Greenway)
D. Town of Hillsborough—Stephanie Trueblood - Hillsborough Planning
• Cates Creek Park in Waterstone under construction 24 ac— Multi-purpose field; Restrooms and a
playground.
• Please vote for River Walk for the NC Grant Greenway Award—Stephanie will send out instructions
on how to vote
E. City of Mebane— Dean Ray (Director of the City of Mebane Parks & Recreation)
• Finishing Winter programs
• March— Easter Rock Hunt
• Mebane Dogwood Festival 4/25
F. Others
OWASA
• Lakes open in March
• Last year added Kayaks (Just University Lake this year will add also tandem kayaks)
ENO River
• Headquarters severely damaged by sanitary sewer overflow
• Fundraiser the 21" in Carrboro (will forward info)
7. Adjournment 6:55— Next meeting date is 4/8/2015