Orange County NC Website
~~. <br />meeting of the Equalization and Review Board to Shirley E. Marshall and Lee <br />F. Butzin. <br />AWARD PRESENTATIONS <br />1. "HEA TH YOURSELF" CONTEST_ <br />Chair Marshall presented to <br />logo contest and to Meg Molloy an <br />for the newsletter. <br />Tim Lutenski an award for winning the <br />award for submitting the winning title =' <br />PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />1. MASTER RECREATION AND PARKS PLAN <br />Chair Marshall stated that concerns have been raised about the <br />location of the proposed parks and noted that the sites have not been <br />determined. The circles on the map indicate only an area -- not a specific <br />location. She noted that she cannot ever foresee that any future Board <br />would move in and condemn land for recreational purposes when the family <br />that owns that land does not want to sell. <br />Recreation and Parks Director Mary Anne Black presented slides <br />which gave an overview of the process that was~used in developing the <br />proposed Master Recreation and Parks Plan and how the plan is unique in <br />that it addresses those recreation and park needs for the County far the <br />next twenty years. <br />The Public Hearing was open for citizen comments. <br />CHARLES BURGER , member of the Orange County Recreation and Parks <br />Advisory Council, stated he takes his responsibilities very seriously. He <br />expressed his advocacy for the cause of public parks and recreation in ._,-._r <br />Orange County. He noted that only through a well planned initiative by <br />County Government can we put together a parks system which meets the <br />recreational needs of orange County citizens. Civic and volunteer'''`' <br />organizations are important but are only a part of the whole structure. He <br />asked that adequate support be given to the talented and dedicated <br />recreational staff so they can deliver their services. He stated that the <br />plan is both proper and reasonable for Orange County. He talked about the <br />vision and courage that would be needed by the Board to initiate the Plan. <br />FRANK SHEFFIELD spoke in strong support of the proposed Master Parks <br />Plan and in particular the idea of a district park in the vicinity of a <br />proposed new reservoir that will be built somewhere near Hillsborough. He <br />also supported the need for a swimming pool at Orange High School. In <br />general he stated that more parks are needed in Orange County. He pointed <br />out that there is not a public swimming pool available north of Chapel Hi11 <br />and there is a desperate need for a pool in the northern part of the <br />County. <br />GRAINGER BARRETT spoke in support of the Master Plan. Parks are a <br />legacy for generations to came. He emphasized that approval of the plan is <br />the first step before going to the citizens with a bond referendum to pay <br />for these parks and pools. The bonds will be spread over a twenty year <br />period and will be the best dollars spent in Orange County. <br />LIBBY LUDINGTON spoke about the controversy that the plan has aroused <br />and her surprise at this controversy indicating a lot had to do with a lack <br />of understanding of what the Master Park Plan actually is. It is important <br />for the people to know that the County is not going to take their land ar <br />raise taxes. The County is growing with a rapid pace of development which <br />makes it critical that the County have a plan for the next twenty years or <br />even the next fifty years. Without a plan, the County will not be a very ---~ <br />attractive place and people will not want to come to a place without green <br />space and recreational facilities. She noted that there are a lot of <br />