Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: October 6, 2015 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-c <br /> SUBJECT: Proclamation Naming Fairview Park Ballfield for James Stewart <br /> DEPARTMENT: BOCC, County Manager, PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> & Recreation <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation to Name Ballfield Commissioner Renee Price, 245-2130 <br /> Aerial Map of Ballfield Bonnie Hammersley, 245-2300 <br /> David Stancil, 245-2510 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation naming the existing baseball/softball field at the <br /> County's Fairview Park for the late Mr. James "Junebug" Stewart. <br /> BACKGROUND: In the early 1980's, Orange County acquired property as part of a Community <br /> Development Block Grant in the Fairview community. Several years later this property, along <br /> with adjoining land owned by the Town of Hillsborough used for a former landfill, was <br /> designated for a future park. A playground and parking area was built in 1990. <br /> For the next several years, portions of the site were used for storm debris for a tornado, <br /> Hurricane Fran and ice storms. With no funding available for the envisioned park, local resident <br /> James "Junebug" Stewart built a baseball field on an open area of the former landfill site for <br /> neighborhood children to use. Known as the "Field of Dreams", the field was maintained and <br /> used for several years until safety issues related to the former landfill caused it to close. <br /> In 2011, Orange County - using voter-approved Parks and Open Space bonds - constructed a <br /> $1.4 million park at the Fairview property, which included a new full-size baseball/softball field <br /> among other facilities. The field is currently used by the community and the Hillsborough Youth <br /> Athletic Association. <br /> As part of discussion to address parking needs at the park in the spring of 2015, the idea of <br /> naming the new field for Mr. Stewart was discussed. A petition to ask the Board to consider <br /> naming the field for Mr. James Stewart (who passed away in 2005) was introduced on <br /> September 1 by Commissioner Renee Price. <br /> Attached is a proclamation that would name the baseball/softball field for James "Junebug" <br /> Stewart, along with a map of the field location. The Manager, Attorney and staff have examined <br />