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o <br /> 82 <br /> Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 9- What Does It All Mean: Summary and Findings from Inventories, Research,and Input 9 <br /> Proposed Guiding Principles for Park Standards c. District Parks—Parks of 75-150 acres in size which <br /> —Orange County NC provide for a wide range of recreation and open <br /> Section I—Parks Standards space leisure needs (or may have a specific theme <br /> of use)for a defined section of the County, In some <br /> 1. The use of national standards for parks and park facili- cases, townships may be districts. District Parks <br /> ties is no longer a common practice. Most communities should general be within a 10-mile radius for the <br /> now develop their own standards based on local needs service area, and contain a larger palette of <br /> and driving factors. facilities and recreation opportunities. (the future <br /> 2. The County should periodically convene a series of fo- Twin Creeks Park (Moniese Nomp) would be an <br /> rums to develop community-specific standards that example of a District Park—and a School Park) <br /> reflect the unique needs of the county residents.These d. Regional Parks—Parks of 150 acres or more which <br /> forums should occur no less that once every four years. provide for a unique natural or low-impact <br /> For the purposes of this master plan, the community orientation and nature-based outdoor activities. <br /> needs assessments, focus groups, relevant staff and Regional parks serve the entire county and should <br /> deliberations of the Parks and Recreation Council and be within a 20-mile radius, and may serve multiple <br /> the Board of County Commissioners should determine counties as part of the potential service area, and <br /> the strategies for future facilities and programs. are thus conducive to multi-jurisdictional partner <br /> 3. As a county park system,certain types of parks are best ships.(Little River Regional Park and Natural Area is <br /> provided by urban or municipal park systems. These a Regional Park). <br /> include mini-parks (1 acre or less) or neighborhood e. Nature Preserves — In certain cases, topography, <br /> parks (defined here as 20 acres or less).These types of geology and hydrology may combine with <br /> parks are designed for the service or close-by neighbor- identified natural areas to create opportunities for <br /> hoods with a range or urban services and transporta- nature preserves. A nature preserve's primary <br /> tion that may not exist in the rural or suburban areas of focus is the protection of the natural resources <br /> the county. present, but also allows for limited public access <br /> 4. In keeping with established practice of the last 15 for low-impact recreation. <br /> years, Orange County will seek to create the following <br /> types of parks: 5. While community-specific needs assessment will be <br /> the driving factor in planning for future facilities and <br /> a. School Parks—Opportunities exist for the creation programs, the use of population-based standards is <br /> of school parks for playing fields and other open still appropriate as a "benchmark" and double-check <br /> spaces at current and future Orange County of potential needs. <br /> Schools.The size of these parks would be variable, 6. For purposes of standards calculation, the process <br /> depending on the opportunity. The joint use of should be initiated with examination of the entirety of <br /> these facilities would allow for school resources and the County with a subsequent assessment of munici- <br /> needs to be met,while also enhancing community pal parks that exist or are planned which may help <br /> recreation needs at publicly-funded and built address the identified need.These existing or planned <br /> playing fields and school facilities. (Efland Cheeks municipal parks can then be subtracted from the total <br /> Park is a current example of a School Park) county need to identify needs that remain for the <br /> b. Community Parks — Parks of 40-75 acres in size County. <br /> which provide for the recreation and open space/ Example — Orange County standards calculated reflect a <br /> leisure needs for a defined collection of neighbor need for 1200 acres of district parks to meet the current <br /> hoods, subdivisions and residential areas within a population of the county.If approximately 600 acres of dis <br /> section of the County. Community Parks should trict parks exist within the towns of the county, and 400 <br /> generally be within a 5-mile radius of the area to be acres exist or are planned in the County system,the need for <br /> served. (Cedar Grove Park is an example of a the County parks system is 200 acres. <br /> Community Park). 7. In addressing parks needs for Orange County, signify <br /> cant coordination is needed with municipal systems <br /> both in terms of calculating countywide needs, and in <br /> coordinating future plans and park development. <br /> 9-6 <br />