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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIPWG October 25, 2023 Agenda with April 12, 2023 Notes Intergovernmental Parks Work Group Agenda October 25, 2023 5:30 p.m. Virtual Meeting (via Teams link) 5:30 1. Welcome / Call to Order Amy Fowler/Orange County Commissioner 5:35 2. Introductions / Review of Meeting Notes (Attached) Amy Fowler/Orange County Commissioner 5:40 3. Great Trails State Day - October 21 st / YOTT All Directors 5:45 4. Upcoming Capital Parks/Trail Projects - Planning for April 2024 Review David Stancil/Orange County 6:00 5. Trail intersections in need of signs/trail markers - how does your agency receive feedback? Myra Austin /Orange County Dept. on Aging 6:15 6. Interactive Parks and Trails Maps Updates Kalani Allen/Orange County 6:20 7. What's on the Horizon? / Park Plans and Local Updates (5 mins max) a. Town of Chapel Hill b. Town of Carrboro c. Town of Hillsborough d. Orange County e. City of Mebane f. Others 7:00 5. Adjournment - Next meeting April 10th, 2024 (in person??) Intergovernmental Parks Work Group Meeting Notes of April 12th, 2023 1. Welcome / Call to Order / Introductions Commissioner Amy Fowler-Called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. She asked each person to introduce themselves sand state what they liked best about parks and then pass then to another.What she likes best is to hike. Aaron Davis: Recreation and Parks Director, with the city of Mebane; he loves seeing smiling faces at our parks. Dave Stancil- Director of the Orange County Department of Environment,Agriculture and Parks& Recreation. He likes the natural beauty and the blooming of nature this of the year. Robb English: Hillsborough Board of Commissioners. He likes the accessibility and inclusivity at certain parks and how that is developed into the plan of the park to allow many more people specifically with physical disabilities. Charles Harrington—Interim Director Carrboro Recreation and Parks.Took the chance to give a nod to our athletic facilities, and our maintenance staff and public works that help maintain those parks and keep them looking nice. Stephanie Trueblood- Public Space and Sustainability Manager for the town of Hillsborough. Her favorite thing about Parks is Moss. Myra Austin: Orange County Department on Aging. She has a new puppy and one of the things she likes is being able to take it to parks. James Harris: Marabeth Carr- Landscape Architect with the Orange County Department of Environment,Agriculture. What she likes best about Parks is knowing that we're leaving something great for future generations to enjoy. Cole Kenworthy- Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board. He loves being in the woods. Adam Searing-Chapel Hill Town Council-What he loves about our parks is watching the various stages of life enjoy parks. Tyler Steelman-Chapel Hill Chair of the Parks, Greenway, and Recreation Commission. His favorite thing is the golf course at Southern Community Park. Tanner Deisch-Chair of the Recreation of Parks Advocacy Commission for the city of Mebane and his favorite thing about parks is getting people off their digital devices and out in nature. Kevin Robinson-The Senior Manager for Planning and Park Operations in the town of Chapel Hill. His favorite thing about parks is just the sheer joy that you see on people's faces when they're out in them. Nick Adams- Land Manager for Triangle Land Conservancy (Western Region). What he likes best is the natural beauty of our open spaces. Veronica Beattie-Orange County Commission for the Environment. What she likes best is that parks are a great place to connect, especially during the pandemic. Kalani Allen-Admin Support for the Department of Environment,Agriculture and Parks & Recreation. She likes how close Fairview Park is to her office so she can go on her break and walk. James Harris- Representative from the Orange County Senior Center. He likes parks because it's an opportunity for people to get together in a relaxed environment to just enjoy themselves. Atuya Cornwell- Interim Director of the Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department. What she loves about parks is the sounds of the parks when you're in them. Makeda Ma'at-Carrboro Parks and Recreation Commission. She likes all the various park layouts and the different kinds of the trees in the parks. Greg Hughes-Orange County Parks and Recreation Council. What he loves about our parks is seeing people be able to get out and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Carrie Doyle—Joined later. 2. Review of Meeting Notes Marabeth Carr asked if anyone had any revisions or comments,they would like included to let her know and she would incorporate them. (None were submitted) 3. Year of the Trail Events Dave Stancil—Orange County Currently eight different hikes are planned. Earth Evening Event April 28th—Riverwalk Hike in River Park National Trails Day June 131h—Bird Watching Hikes—River Park and Little River Park Solar Eclipse October 131h—Solar Eclipse Hike—Little River Park Historical Hike May 19th—Blackwood Farm Park Storybook Hike—Location and date TBD Plan to make a video on how to use our Interactive Trail and Greenway Map Charles Harrington—Interim Director Town of Carrboro Plans on marketing trails with some current programing. Golden Trail Series- hikes for older adults Bike Clinics—mountain bike trail riding Trail Clean-ups and Invasive species removal Stephanie Trueblood—Town of Hillsborough Hillsborough is going to get more messaging out about the types of things that we do on our trails in general, such as: Volunteer workdays on our trails Ongoing Invasive Species removal days Litter and Planting days 5k Races Tree ID program Treasure Tree Walking Tour Interpretive Signage Tour. Promotion of the interactive parks and trails map Working on designing Ridge Walk which is the next segment of Greenway in Hillsborough. It's a 2-mile green way that links Downtown Hillsborough to the future train station and Collins Ridge.As well as cross interstate 85 to Waterstone and Beckett's Ridge and eventually Cornwallis Hills so it'll be a major North South pedestrian connector. Atuya O. Cornwell—Interim Director of the Town of Chapel Hill Department of Parks and Recreation Kickoff Event- March 4th at the Lower Booker Creek Trail where folks learned about the Adopt a Trail program.Approximately 70 high school students attended that cleanup event. They each received a Year of the Trail t-shirt. On Earth Day the mayor will be organizing a bike ride that will take place and leave from Chapel Hill Community Center. June 3rd National Trails Day- 5K at Southern Community Park. July 16th-tour where community members have an opportunity to visit Chapel Hill parks and facilities October 7th: Outdoor venture program team to take a kid on the mountain bike day. A work team for the town of Chapel Hill is working to highlight the Year of the Trail for the town employees.They are in the process of organizing some guided tours and self-guided tours. Aaron Davis-City of Mebane Director of Parks and Recreation Partnered with the Mebane Trail Rangers, (a mountain biking group)to help with maintenance of our trails.They started out with breakfast and then a hike at Cate's Farm Park. The Trail Rangers have also started a Junior Trail Rangers program. May 6t" - Noted hiker; climber enthusiast,Jennifer Far Davis will speak in Mebane on at the Community Park. (She was National Geographic's Adventurer of the year. She's going do some storytelling; a one- and-a-half-mile walk; and then a book signing of her new book.) New kiosk at the Lake Michael trail head Mountains to Sea Trail -signs have now been rerouted to go straight through Mebane Community Park Nick Adams-Triangle Land Conservancy Hosting hikes are ongoing. Will be adding a few more informative and recreational type the plan is to tie existing programs into The Year of the Trail,which is in keeping with the general theme for TLC. 4. Cedar Falls Park Synthetic Fields Project Atuya Cornwell Interim Director of the Town of Chapel Hill Department of Parks and Recreation Kevin Robinson Senior Manager of Planning and Park Operations for the town of Chapel Hill Cedar Falls Park is a heavily used park and its 10-year-old artificial turf had reached its life expectancy. The Town was able to utilize funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant Program to carry out the renovations in January and February 2023 There was only a brief time, where users could not use the fields. Parks and Rec staff collaborated with the Towns Sustainability Office on obtaining Community Climate Action Grant to provide new LED field lights.These types of lights use about 40 percent less energy than the previous lights, which will prevent about 320 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the 25-year life expectancy. Additionally, since the lights do not have to be replaced as often,they require less maintenance making them a meaningful climate change action for the town.The turf is also more environmentally friendly than the old turf. New improvements with artificial turf help the field to be safer, more durable, cooler and more climate conscious.The padding for the new turf is a very environmentally friendly product as well. It is an in-fill blend made from natural cork and premiere grade elastomers.That is again extremely environmentally friendly and engineered, using all recycled materials.The infill system is a product called True blend. It's the next generation of infill systems, it's manufactured without the use of additional adhesives or chemicals, and the thermal green pad will last 2 to 3 athletic field life cycles, and then, even when that's done, it can be repurposed into auxiliary products. In addition, it doesn't contain any toxic substances, so it's an extremely environmentally product. On March 23,the Town of Chapel Hill conducted a ribbon- cutting ceremony for the reopening of the park. PowerPoint Presentation PRESENTATION TOPICS Cedar Falls Park Athletic Fields Sustainable Upgrades oA AE gEgT N Project TimelineSou •Key Funding Sources&Collaborations •Sustainable Upgrades At-A-Glance Intergovernmental Parks Work Group Meeting Impact April 12,2023 •Questions PROJECT TIMELINE OUR PROCESS Now did we fund the project? 2021 Received rroti'b"of$128,0oo Commundy Action Grant for LED Lighting Conversion June 2022 Town Council approved use of$1,110,1100 ARIA Funds to be used his Cats,Falls Park Turf Fields American rl"c.m L:i,7,y . Replacement Projea December 2022 LED Lighting Conversion Began and Completed Rescue Plan Act Action Grant January 2023 Turf ReplzcerlleM Began i Funds L Program March 2023 Hatted Ribbon Cutting Cem,m and Celebratory fAthlet[c Fields) (LED Lights) Kick w, IMPACT: ENERGY SAVINGS PRE-UPGRADES IMPACT: HIGH QUALITY,SAFE,AND ® ' ATTRACTIVE ATHLETIC FIELDS OPialaTu" , l NATURALLY I�,�l FUSED - `° PoRKS ANO AECAEAiION $.��I Vie. i For More Information At��eD.Ta.nwell Interim Oireclor wen�awna4hepelbill.ore Kevin Robinson senior Manager of Planning end Park Operations krnbinsonk9tnumldapelAilE.wg Chapel Hill Perks and Racnation PIwm:91g-9fig-2]M wv.[hanel tiillvadrs.ore 5. What's on the Horizon? / Park Plans and Local Updates Atuya Cornwell Interim Director of the Town of Chapel Hill Department of Parks and Recreation and Kevin Robinson Senior Manager of Planning and Park Operations for the town of Chapel Hill • March 241h opened our summer camp registration. Have been able to add a couple new school site locations this year • Will start the hiring process for counselors and lifeguards • Southern Community Park basketball Courts now have dual uses • Planning for Morgan Creek trail east and west extensions continues • Hoping for some funding for a Skate Park and an Inclusive Playground Charles B. Harrington, Interim Director Town of Carrboro • In the middle of the towns budgeting process and trying to address some new Town Council strategic priorities • One project they hope will be approved is to replace the basketball courts out at Hank Anderson Community Park.They get a lot of use and are very worn. • In the next 2 weeks they will redo tennis courts also at Hank Anderson Park • Looking at replacement of the Hank Anderson Park Horseshoe Pits • ARPA funding is being used to replace the playground at Baldwin Park. And for and for a couple of new murals. • Looking to the Town Council for feedback on the next phase of the Bolin Creek Greenway.Three different routes have been identified by the consultant. • The Town Council will also decide if they will be staying in the cemetery business at the Westwood site or move to another. • Update on the joint facility project with Orange County. Project is ongoing and still planned to be finished in June 2024. • Wrapping up a two-year effort on updating their Carrboro Connects Plan. • The Racial Equity Commission is doing an evaluation of current polices to identify any gaps. • Currently partnering with Orange County in hosting the Seniors games. • Carrboro Open Steets festival is planned for April 16tn • The same day is the Carrboro Bizarre Market at Town Commons. • May 71n is Carrboro Day • This year the Freight Train Blues concert Series is expanding from four consecutive Friday nights to eight.That starts on May 5tn.The town partners with the Music Makers Foundation out of Hillsborough.This will be the 9t"year for the series,which was highlighted on PBS. Stephanie Trueblood -Town of Hillsborough • Town has been working on an updated Comprehensive Plan for the last 2 years.With focus topic areas that relate to Parks and Recreation include sustainability; transportation and connectivity; natural systems and environment; climate and energy and public space and parks. A draft for a public hearing is scheduled for April twentieth. • Currently Ridge Walk Greenway is a top priority.The study should wrap up at the end of May and will give us the alignment and preliminary cost estimate. • The Train Station, which the Ridge Walk Greenway will connect to is in review with the North Carolina Railway Association. It will be the town's first net zero ready building. • The South Churton Street multimodal study will determine a lot of possible improvements to make it more of a multimodal corridor to serve local and regional traffic. • The Parks and Rec Board has finished the Gold Park Master Plan, and that's now posted on the town website. • They're going to try kayak rentals at Kings Highway Park. • March Creek Week was a success with lots of volunteers participating. • Also hosted educational programs about native plants and pollinators. • The Tree Board will be working with the Gardening Club to put together a whole host of activities for National Pollinator week June 19t"-25th. • The town is almost finished with the design for a 6,000 square foot concrete Skate Park in Cate's Creek Park. • The Town's Arts council is working with the Orange County Arts Commission on a public Art Festival called Uproar,this summer, between July 151" and August 151n David Stancil—Orange County • Summer camp registration is underway. In the first few hours we had almost 1,000 kids signed up. • The construction at Blackwood Farm Park is finally wrapping up.The park will have a soft opening in the next couple of weeks and will be hosting a Grand Opening May 19t".This will be the first time this facility will be open with full amenities, and the first time it will be open on a 7 day a week schedule. • The county is embarking on developing its first mini park.That is located adjacent to the Perry Hills Subdivision in the western part of the county off highway 70. We've just started a community engagement process for the small two-acre site. • Earth Evening is scheduled for Friday April 28th at the David Price Farmers Market Pavilion. • The Orange County 30-year Master Plan is at its%way point, so the Parks and Recreation Council is looking at the needs assessments surveys and what has changed since 2014.What did we miss, what is still valid and what needs to be updated.They hope to have a report finished this summer to take to the BOCC. • Staff are also working on a scope of work for an Orange County Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Plan and is hopeful to acquire funding in next year's CIP. (Adam Searing mentioned that there is a volunteer group that is mapping a lot of the informal mountain bike and pedestrian trails that exist from around Briar Chapel to the Triangle line.) • Some early planning efforts have started to replace the Central Recreation Center located in Hillsborough that is 66 years old. • For National Pollinator Week the County has several things planned. One is collecting data in the Bumble Bee Atlas project. Aaron Davis-City of Mebane • April 21-22—Dogwood festival • July- Master Plan Draft • Lake Michael— • Boathouse foundation issues will remove in the next year • Will be offering Kayaks and John boats and pedal boats • Dam/spillway replacement bid November 2023 • Trail across top of spillway via a bridge • Hope to have the go trail completely around lake Nick Adams-Triangle Land Conservancy • Expanded Brumley with additional 60 acres The next meeting is scheduled for October 13t".A potential conflict is the National Parks and Recreation Conference in Dallas October 10-12.The group will be polled for other possible dates. Meeting was adjourned at 6:55pm