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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIPWG - Agenda 041421 Intergovernmental Parks Work Group Agenda April 14th, 2021 5:30 p.m. Virtual – “Go to Meeting” 5:30 1. Welcome / Call to Order 5:35 2. Introductions / Review of Meeting Notes (Attached) 5:45 3. Providing Recreation Programs and Park Management During the Pandemic - Lessons Learned and Challenges Faced We would like each jurisdiction to talk about how and what changes and issues they have faced in the past year (10 minutes max each group). a. Town of Chapel Hill b. Town of Carrboro c. Town of Hillsborough d. Orange County e. City of Mebane f. Others 6:45 6. Future Meeting Topics and Meeting Format – Group Discussion 7:00 8. Adjournment – Next meeting October 13, 2021 Intergovernmental Parks Work Group Meeting Notes of October 9, 2019 Members Present: Earl McKee - Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford - Orange County Commissioner Mark Bell – Hillsborough Board of Commissioners Aaron Davis - Mebane City Council Appointee Jeanette Bench – Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission Tamara Sanders - Carrboro Parks and Recreation Board Rob Robinson– Orange County Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Bo Howes -Triangle Land Conservancy Rob English – Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board Hongbin Gu – Chapel Hill Town Council Kim Livingston – Eno River Association Absent: Barbara Foushee – Carrboro Board of Alderman Pat Heinrich – Chapel Hill/Carrboro City schools Steve Halkiotis – Orange County Board of Education Sara Childs - Duke Forest Resource Manager Lynne Gronback – Orange County Commission for the Environment Yinka Ayankoya - OWASA Board of Directors Mary Altpeter-Orange County Department on Aging Advisory Board Wesley McMahon – Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission Bill Goa-UNC Recreation Staff Present: Marabeth Carr; and Beth Young; - Orange County, Dept. of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Phillip Fleischmann and Linda Smith - Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation Wendell Rodgers - Carrboro Recreation & Parks Stephanie Trueblood - Hillsborough Planning Guests: Bonnie Hauser; Rob Crook; two others Meeting was held at the Orange County Passmore Center A light meal of pizza, and drinks was provided. Agenda Items / Notes (October 9, 2019) 1. Call to Order Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM 2. Introductions / review of Meeting Notes Introduction of members and staff 3. Update-Multi-Modal Trail Concept / Bonnie Hauser; Rob Crook; two others  Bonnie Hauser and Rob Crook of the Orange County Greenway Alliance presented their desired approach to a feasibility study of a 15 mile Orange County greenway to connect Chapel Hill and Carrboro to Hillsborough and Durham (See attachment “A”).  Her group estimation is 15 miles at 1 million per mile  Noted it will take time. Wake County has 150 miles already in place that took 30 years.  This concept was a focus topic at the April 2019 Joint Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting. A letter of support on the concept from Haywood Rhodes, Chair of the Orange County Parks and Recreation Council to Penny Rich the Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners (See attachment “B”).  Orange County Commissioners McKee and Bedford noted that although they thought the concept was good; funding of other county needs were a priority. Also expressed concern over using a rail corridor that is still being used. Commissioner Bedford said a conversation with the Manager on procedure would need to take place. Any effort to more forward would be up to the entire BOCC, not two commissioners. 4. Meet Phillip Fleischmann / New Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Director  M. Carr introduced Phillip and ask him to talk about his background  Been on the job about 4 months  Former Deputy Director of Greensboro Parks & Recreation  Attended UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro  From Raleigh, NC 5. Meet Aaron Davis / New City of Mebane Recreation and Parks Director  M. Carr introduced Aaron and ask him to talk about his background  Started seven months ago  From Illinois  Attended Grandview University (played golf there)  Former Athletic Supervisor in Graham, NC 6. Future Meeting Topics / Will discuss at next meeting 7. What’s on the Horizon? / Long Range Parks and Recreation Plans A. City of Mebane; Aaron Davis  Working on Greenway plan to connect Mebane Arts Council to Holt Street park  One year ago acquired 54 ac farm for a future Cates Farm Park; 2 miles nature trail plus a playground (hopefully an inclusion design)  Lake Michael –complete trail around lake 3.2 miles  Community Park off 70 is doing well.  Natural Fitness Campaign - $30,000 grant from Impact Alamance B. Town of Chapel Hill; Phillip Fleischmann  Ephesus Park – Upgrades to parking; new ADA ramps; stormwater control measures  Bolin Creek / MLK crossing underway  Partnered with schools on Enrichment Camp reached 150 kids in 5 weeks C. Town of Carrboro- Wendell Rodgers  West End Poetry Festival coming up; 14th year  Film Festival Nov. 15-17th at the Arts Center MLK Park- Park should open in January 2020. All the structures in place; include; two pump tracks; community garden; amphitheater; walking track; playground and a pollinator garden. Carrboro High School students working on murals. Walking track will have MLK saying posted around it. D. Town of Hillsborough; Stephanie Trueblood  Membership of Recreation Board to now include senior and teenager members  Working on master Plan for Exchange Park; includes skate park; mountain bike trails; disc golf  Working on reforestation plan  Kings Hwy Park added a Bio Duck Dock for canoe launch  Lots of arts projects going on  Studying way to connect proposed rail station to downtown E. Orange County; Marabeth Carr  River Park Phase II is underway consists of steps and an ADA ramp from Churton St into park; asphalt work and rain garden. Hopeful to hold an opening in beginning of the year.  Also at River Park we are working with the Orange County Arts Commission and the Hillsborough Arts Council locating a sculpture made from the 250 year old Calvin Street Southern red oak tree that came down during Hurricane Florence. It’s location will be at the base of the steps and ramp to become the gateway into the park. Artist was chosen from 34 that applied.  Hired the team of Susan Hatchell Landscape Architects and Ellen Cassilly Architects to develop working drawings for Blackwood Farm Park. That work is ongoing and looking great. We will be hosting an open house for neighbors the end of the month. And hopefully will be getting a disc golf group together before the end of the year.  Halloween Spooktacular - Saturday, October 26 (5:00pm-8:00pm) at Central Recreation Center  New Afterschool Program at the Central Rec began in September to assist with overcrowding in OCS afterschool programs F. Others; TLC / Bo Howes  Added 60 acres to Brumley Nature Preserve its now 663 acres. Funding was provided by Orange County and the City of Raleigh ENO / Kim Livingston  ENO added 30 acres close to Hillsborough/Efland line; 2.5 miles hiking trails; opened weekends only 8. Adjournment 7pm.