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110 <br /> Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 11- Issues for Further Study/Conclusion <br /> 4. Need for a Public Pool? S.The Role of Community Centers in Orange County <br /> In the Community Needs Assessment, one of the Orange County's Recreation Division of the Depart- <br /> desired new facilities was a "swimming pool." ment of Environment,Agriculture, Parks and Recrea- <br /> Currently, there are public pools operated by the tion operates the Efland-Cheeks Community Center <br /> Town of Chapel Hill — including the Homestead located at Efland-Cheeks Park. Plans are underway <br /> Aquatics Center funded in large measure by an to create a Cedar Grove Community Center at the <br /> Orange County bond. The Sportsplex in Hillsborough old Cedar Grove School (adjoining Cedar Grove Park) <br /> has a swimming pool, and there are a number of and to construct a Rogers Road Community Center, <br /> other private pools that allow for individual or single which will primarily be operated by a neighborhood <br /> -usage passes. But there is no publicly-operated free organization. <br /> to the public swimming pool outside of Chapel Hill. Over the past few years, a number of County <br /> It is unclear whether the survey respondents intend- residents have raised questions about hours of <br /> ed to show a desire for an outdoor public pool,or an operation, service provision and access to communi- <br /> indoor pool. Since indoor pools exist, it may be likely ty centers. County staff met with residents of the <br /> that the intention is for a public outdoor pool, but Efland-Cheeks community on this topic in 2012-13 <br /> this is not known. and have taken steps to increase usage and <br /> Public swimming pools are somewhat-expensive to programming at that center. Similar themes and <br /> operate and can require significant capital and oper- discussions have occurred during the design and <br /> ating costs. The County should explore further the planning for the Cedar Grove center. <br /> intention and desire expressed in the survey to see <br /> what exactly is desired, and conduct a cost-benefit <br /> analysis looking at likely costs and potential users/ - � <br /> revenues, and then make a decision on whether to <br /> include a swimming pool as a new recreational <br /> facility for Orange County. A swimming pool could <br /> be located into the designs for one of several ex- <br /> isting or planned future parks if desired. But more <br /> information is recommended before committing to a -- - <br /> course of action in this area. <br /> Some of the desired serves are recreation or <br /> environmental education in nature, but others are <br /> more-related to other human services, such as <br /> health, seniors, library and other programming. <br /> Some residents have taken issue with the perceived <br /> "centralization"of certain services and activities that <br /> were formally offered in the different communities <br /> { of the county. <br /> lim The County should examine the role of community <br /> centers in the near future, and examine ways for <br /> departments to potentially work together to provide <br /> services that can optimally be offered in the <br /> community centers. <br /> 11-4 <br />