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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC Agenda 12032025 AGENDA Orange County Parks and Recreation Council Natalie Ziemba, Chair; Louise Flinn, Co-Chair; Logan Cason, Gregory Husketh; Alissa Martucci; Maggie Moriarty,Allen Parker; GiGi Rashdi, Chloe Reid (YD); Trevor Robinson; Navya Sharma (YD); Xilong Zhao. December 3, 2025 6:30 p.m. Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center Board Room 1020 US 70 West Hillsborough, NC Time Item Title 6:30 I. Call to Order 6:30 II. Report of the Chair a. Chair Comments b. Additions or Changes to the Agenda 6:40 III. New Business a. Approval of Meeting Summaries, November 5 (Attachment 1) b. Biennial Joint Advisory Boards Meeting (Attachment 2) c. Nature of Orange Photography Contest d. Approval of the 2026 Calendar 7:15 IV. Old Business a. 2025 Annual Report /2026 Work Plan — Review and Approve (Attachment 2) 7:35 V. Report of the Director a. Updates 7:45 VI. Council and Committee Reports b. Items from the Council / Sharing of Volunteer Opportunities 8:00 VII. Adjournment Next Meeting: February 4, 2025 (Hillsborough) * No meeting in January Meeting Summary— Parks and Recreation Council November 5, 2025 Solid Waste Management Multipurpose Room, Chapel Hill Members Present: Natalie Ziemba (Chair), Louise Flinn (Co-Chair), Logan Cason, Trevor Robinson, Alissa Martucci, GiGi Rashdi, Navya Sharma (youth delegate), Maggie Moriarty, Allen Parker, Along Zhao, Members Absent: Gregory Husketh, Chloe Reid (youth delegate) Staff: David Stancil, Abby Mattingly Natalie Ziemba called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Report of the Chair: a. Chair Comments— Chair Natalie Ziemba held brief introductions. New Business: a. Changes to the agenda — No changes were made. b. Approval of Meeting Summary, October 1 — It was noted that Chloe Reid was present and was incorrectly marked as absent. Trevor Robinson motioned to approve; Alissa Martucci seconded. All in favor, none opposed, motion carried. c. Annual Report and Work Plan — David Stancil outlined the purpose of the annual report and work plan. Staff drafted an outline prior to the meeting, for council members to review and provide feedback. Following the adoption of the plan in December, the plan will then be forward to the Board of County Commissioners for a presentation alongside all other County advisory boards in January. Ziemba informed that she is no longer a member of the OUT Board, and that Louise Flinn's participation in the New Hope Advisory Board should be noted. Alissa Martucci suggested that dog parks should be included as an item for further study. Ziemba asked what the options were for the inclusion of new soccer fields, as a Soccer.Com expansion is no longer available. Staff will include this as an item for further investigation. The Council agreed that a potential water feature should remain as an emerging concern to be addressed in 2026. A major activity that the Council will be addressing next year will be the planning for the new Central Recreation Center. While plans for a location have not been finalized, the initial planning process will begin. The Council discussed at length on the status of nature programs, and if those could be expanded. There was a reference to partnering with schools to help expand nature programs. The work plan proposes the investigation of partnering with the schools for amenity sharing, the mention to nature programming can be added alongside of it. Maggie Moriarty suggested utilizing volunteers, specifically from UNC or Duke to help maintain programs. The second phase of Blackwood Farm Park development will also include a facility available for nature programs. Allen Parker also suggested including the Historic Preservation Board, and other advisory boards, as potential partners for programming. Logan Cason expanded on this by included other departments, such as the Department on Aging, to expand programs in the park. Parker also emphasized signage and other resources to note historic and cultural significance. The conversation expanded to include cross-cultural programming and utilizing staff resources to plan organized hikes and other spotlight features. Moriarty added increasing awareness for programs that already exist. Parker asked what could be included to emphasize the need for funding to complete these tasks, and prior successful bond referendums. Stancil suggested including this in the emerging issues. Martucci expanded on this by including private donations, and other organizations that utilize brick buying as an example for fundraising. Stancil asked all feedback to be forwarded to staff by Monday the 17t". An updated draft will be provided to the Council during the December meeting. d. Blackwood Farm Park Phase II.B. — Stancil presented the status of the Blackwood Farm Park Phase II B development. The revision to the masterplan will be presented to the BOCC on November 18'. The revision includes the planned disc gold course. Water is a desperate need for the park and will cost $200,000 to include the required loop system. There are several other proposed improvements, such as the agricultural exhibition area. There is an ongoing farmstead and farmhouse revitalization that has outside funding. Stancil displayed the master plan map and the proposed improvements. The presentation aims to have the BOCC approve the amendment to the Master Plan. Old Business a. Fairview Park Improvements and Updates—The Fairview Park landfill mitigation study will soon have a viable plan, and the results from the study have been presented to the community. The State is advocating for a "cap and seal" method for mitigation. The landfill is relatively small, and the results so far have not indicated a need for a full site excavation. With this method, the land will have a limited approve usage, as no drilling into the soil would be permitted. One of the approved uses would be soccer fields, which could ameliorate the current soccer field shortage. Ziemba asked if there was a concern for heavy metals or other pollutants. Stancil informed that there was extensive testing, and several "hotspots"were detected, but could be addressed. Report of the Director a. Project/Program Updates— Stancil provided an update on the Trails Plan Workshops. Two more workshops were held to introduce the draft trails network to the public. Staff held a pop-up event at the Soccer.Com Center which yielded much higher participation. A finalized plan should be presented in February. Regarding the Millhouse Rd property, the bids will shortly go out. If the property is sold to a non-profit for public use, then it can be sold directly, and stipulations can be made. If the property is sold on the open market, then it will undergo the length process of an upset bid sell. Council and Committee Reports a. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group— next meeting scheduled for December 3, 2025 b. Items for the Council/Sharing of Volunteer Opportunities— no updates c. Friends of Orange County Parks and Recreation — no updates Adjournment: Ziemba adjourned the meeting at 8:15pm Next Meeting: December 3 (Hillsborough)