Agenda - 02-11-2014 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 104 Oi•Oi',-e Coy.W, V Colrpr'eheit s=vs Pu:k-s<��1�-r Re�a �rttio:�1`�'crst�� Playa CFJAPT Cods,Objectives,and Recommeneaions private sector.These should be pursued aggressively. An awareness should be developed and reflected in Finally, efforts are underway within the community future County budgets that new parks will being the to create a "Friends of Parks, Recreation and Open need for additional operating costs, and additional Space" group, which could play an important role in staffing needs.Some staffing needs, such as the need helping to fill in gaps and address smaller level fund- for a "trails ranger" as trails open at the nature pre- ing needs — and help promote local fundraising for serves, is included in the CIP, and the CIP now in- parks and recreation programs. The opportunity to cludes projected operating costs associated with new raise funds from the community through the Orange facilities and improvements. Equipment, operating County Community Giving Fund is another vehicle and future staffing needs will not be insignificant, that may help shoulder some of the financial needs and while increasing the enjoyment of county resi- for parks and recreation services. dents and providing positive health, societal, eco- In the Community Needs Assessment, residents did nomic and environmental benefits, the costs of not look favorably on charging user fees for parks achieving these desired goals does have an associat- and recreation services, and it is recommended that ed cost to be borne. the current practice of the County (and the towns Recommendation #9: Examine the Role of within Orange County) of not charging user fees for Community Centers in Providing Public Recreation usage be retained. Opportunities Indoor facilities offer a wide array of options for lei- Another important funding source is payment-in-lieu sure, daily life activities and self-improvement capa- from new subdivisions. Shown below are the pay- bilities. Care should be taken to tailor the center de- ment-in-lieu balances for the four park districts as of sign, and the programming opportunities, for these July 1,2013: centers to ensure that they are serving the priority Northern District Park:$62,617 needs of the residents in the areas they serve. Cen- Cheeks/Hillsborough District Park:$107,104 ters should be flexible in design and activity, insofar Bingham District Park:$181,108 as possible, to allow for changing needs and desires Chapel Hill Township District Park:$125,820 and interests of the community. Total=$539,266 How the community accesses community centers, G. Tlie Importance of Operating and and how they can be adequately staffed with finan- laintensmice Funding! cial prudence, are topics around which a dialogue should start, with a common understanding of the Traditionally, Parks and Recreation Master Plans do needs and roles such places can provide. not attempt to address operational costs. Creation of an operation and maintenance schedule and Strong interest has also been expressed in having a program requires regular review and adjustment and nature center at a county park facility. This concept is not part of the scope of this plan. was included in the Blackwood Farm Park master plan, and many nature programs are also provided at However, these "O&M costs" are very real and Little River Park and Natural Area.The County should important considerations to be aware of. Operating examine its master plans, identify what type of facili- existing parks, and bringing online new parks, costs ty a nature center should be, and incorporate the money. Emptying trash receptacles, replacing lights, construction of a nature center into the capital im- resurfacing tennis courts, paying electrical bills and provements plan for parks accordingly.This may be a mowing soccer fields all are tasks that if not funded venture where partnering with other local govern- appropriately will greatly diminish the park experi- ence or even make the parks unable to function. fruitful.