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306 the project team to the awarding of the contract to Woolpert <br />and Associates in late March. He referenced the public <br />information meetings and noted that comments and concerns <br />from those meetings were incorporated with the final draft <br />being presented at this public hearing. He expressed thanks„ ,, <br />to the public for their attendance and noted that everyone <br />who had taken a part in any capacity in the process should be <br />recognized. <br />Kathy White, Department of Natural Resources and Community <br />Development, stated that she would speak to the importance of <br />the park and recreation master plan, to having an adequate <br />leisure service system and to the state funding of park and <br />recreation areas. She continued that NRCD administers the <br />Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF Program) which is a <br />federal grant program providing grants to local units of <br />government for acquisition and development of outdoor <br />recreation areas and facilities. In North Carolina, each <br />project submitted for LWCF funding is evaluated, rated and <br />ranked by established criteria and a point system. If the <br />Comprehensive Master Plan is adequate it will directly or <br />indirectly increase the points given to every question in the <br />grant rating system. She noted that the most points can be <br />awarded in the planning consideration section of the <br />evaluation. Points are given to a project according to the <br />extent. the applicant has planned parks and recreation. <br />Additional points are given to the applicant when the <br />governing body has formally adapted the plan. She stated <br />that a Comprehensive Master Plan shows the services available <br />for the citizens and is a planning tool to avoid duplication <br />of services. Each project is scored according to its <br />relationship to existing, complimentary and competing <br />recreation opportunities. An adequate master plan will guide <br />the proper selection of programs and activities and the <br />proper placement of the facilities.. The questions used to <br />evaluate each grant proposal are: (1) To what extent is the <br />site suitable for the intended development; (2) xs access to <br />the site adequate; and (3) To what extent is the site <br />enhanced or hindered by its location and by the effects of <br />the adjacent properties. If a sound comprehensive recreation <br />and parks plan is adopted and implemented it is obvious how a <br />proposed project would receive the highest possible scores <br />for these questions. Thus, County parks can be on suitable <br />sites with good access for users, the parks will be good <br />neighbors and adjacent properties will not negatively affect <br />the park. Proper placement of facilities also assures <br />compatible uses, more efficient maintenance and the most <br />potential revenue. <br />Next is the administrative consideration section of the <br />scoring. The same administrative considerations are <br />addressed in the comprehensive plan, such as staffing, <br />support services, adequate financing, etc. Ms. White noted <br />that her objective has been to share the direct correlation <br />between comprehensive planning and the granting of LWCF funds <br />in North Carolina. She challenged the Soard to adopt the <br />Plan, use it as a funding tool to determine where the county <br />will spend its development and acquisition dollars for parks <br />and recreation, make it the management and planning tool and <br />guide that it can be and not a dust collector. It should <br />