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5 <br /> Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 10-Goals, Objectives, and Recommendations 10 <br /> One area of future collaboration that seems particu- future school projects and codifying joint facility <br /> larly well-timed is that with the school systems. The usage arrangements (some of which already exist). <br /> addition of a playing field at Smith Middle School is Mutually beneficial design standards for new school <br /> an example of this. As the Twin Creeks District Park facilities may enable greater use by the public of the- <br /> and Educational Campus comes to fruition in the se important recreational assets. <br /> next 10-15 years with multiple schools co-located <br /> Renewal of the Orange County Conservation <br /> with a 96-acre park, opportunities for "cross- <br /> „ Alliance, an annual meeting of conservation partners <br /> pollination would appear to be numerous between <br /> including Triangle Land Conservancy, Eno River <br /> the schools and the park. <br /> Association, Duke, UNC, Eno River State Park and <br /> Opportunities to work more closely with the Orange OWASA, should enable coordinated future planning <br /> County Schools—both in the design of future schools and the identification of joint opportunities among <br /> that may be able to serve community and education- these agencies and institutions. <br /> al needs, and in the construction and operational <br /> sharing of recreational facilities — would greatly Finally, regarding collaboration with private firms, <br /> enhance both community recreation and school the County should complete its "partnership <br /> purposes. The Intergovernmental Parks Work template" to identify mutually beneficial partner- <br /> Group's Community Use of School Facilities issue ship arrangements and use this as a tool to explore <br /> paper notes the opportunities that could be served working with existing and future employers to find <br /> by such cooperation. Co-location of the Soccer.com ways where private investment and sponsorships <br /> Center and Gravelly Hill Middle School is one exam- <br /> ple of such a result, and collaboration on future aux- 4.The Vision—Trails,Connectivity and Access <br /> iliary gymnasiums, playing fields at schools, and One of the stronger messages resulting from the <br /> schools in proximity to parks (such as Blackwood Community Needs Assessment surveys was the <br /> Farm) are opportunities that should be seized to desire among residents for more hiking, walking and <br /> optimize the investment of public dollars. There may biking trails. Nationally and locally, walking and <br /> also be an opportunity for a new school park near hiking are popular modes of outdoor exercise and <br /> Mebane. Notably, both school systems recently up- fitness, and biking is a popular recreational outlet as <br /> dated their facility use policies to allow more oppor- well as for meeting exercise goals. Whether they are <br /> tunity for coordinated usage for recreation purposes. located within a park, or for connecting parks and <br /> Finally, there are opportunities to work more closely open spaces (also strongly supported in the surveys), <br /> with large public and private institutions, such as residents are interested in seeing the County in- <br /> Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), N.C. crease the availability and accessibility of trails. <br /> A <br /> 1' <br /> State Parks, UNC and Duke to meet future recreation Recommendation #5: Develop a Master Plan for `> <br /> needs. Sponsorships and capital investment partner- the Orange County Segment of the Mountains-to- d <br /> ships should also be explored with the private sector, Sea Trail,and Work Towards Its Completion <br /> which benefits from safe and healthy outdoor The NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST for short) is a <br /> exercise and recreational areas and may be a willing part of the North Carolina State Parks system that <br /> partner. connect Clingman's Dome at 6,643 feet along the <br /> The County should schedule a meeting with the North Carolina-Tennessee border to Jockey's Ridge <br /> other local governments within the county to discuss State Park on the Outer Banks and Atlantic Ocean. <br /> future joint capital funding and possible memoranda The trail is a multi-modal route, meaning that it may <br /> of agreement for such purposes. A similar meeting be a paved greenway as it runs through an urban <br /> with the two school systems could identify ways of setting, or simply a five-foot-wide natural surface <br /> incorporating recreation needs into planning for path in rural areas. <br /> 10-8 <br />