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

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58 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 6-Community Needs Assessment and Public input 6 What improvements/changes would you make to Nature and Environmental Programs current recreation programs? (April 25,2013) • Have county and other providers of pro- Six persons attended this focus group held at gramming work together(Baseball was a success Durham Technical Community College - Orange story with the sharing of fields) Campus. The group discussed current nature and • Build on organizations strengths – find ways environmental programs offered by the County to complement each other (primarily at Little River Regional Park) and by the • Expand camp Orange Soil and Water Conservation District to the • Don't focus on too much at one location schools. • Organizations work together on offerings • Cross publicize A number of different ideas for future programs and • (program guides and brochures) facility enhancements for nature programs were • Annual programs discussion between identified.These include: • providers–information sharing • Include a user friendly calendar in program • Signage identifying certain trees and flora at guides park sites to help educate about our native • Too much text can be overwhelming and vegetation scare away or make information hard to find • Produce a seasonal guide, 'What's in Bloom" • It is possible to have too many programs at one about the natural features at selected parks, time particularly those with substantial natural areas open What areas are not served? and o p p • Use community centers more – variety of • Look at programs about water and wastewater locations and community will feel ownership for educational purposes (e.g. "Where does our • Health Issues – reach families at community water go?") centers • Offer more adult programs • Work with partners to teach at centers (e.g., bird-watching,spring flora tour) (e.g., Health Department,Sheriff) • Look for opportunities to use water features at arks for nature programs• Special events at multiple locations p p g (people are drawn to water) (e.g., Movie in the Park) • Look at the possibility of creating a nature • Conduct survey in the community and try new programs center, perhaps with a water focus (McGowan Creek Preserve was suggested as a possible site) Who are potential partners? . Consider working with the Town of Hillsborough • Other County departments on programs at Gold Park, and generally • YMCA collaborate with other jurisdictions and entities • SportsPlex such as the NC Botanical Garden • Get seniors involved(e.g., RSVP) • Look at having "clean-up" opportunities at parks with streams,and consider creating pro grams that teach people how to live in _ harmony with nature and basic skills 't (e.g.,flint making) • Programs on camping (e.g., learn to camp) and plants(e.g.,edible plants) 6-12