Northern Park Master Plan (2005) - later renamed Cedar Grove Park

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Background In 1988, the Parks Element of the Orange County Comprehensive Plan identified a future park in conjunction with the Northern Human Services Center on NC 86 north. The Northern Human Services Center was originally built in the 1950's as the Cedar Grove School, an African-American school. A baseball/softball field located at the site was utilized for recreation programs beginning in the 1980's, and some programs also took place in the gym of the building. In 1998, the County acquired 40 acres (known as the Kennedy tract) adjacent to the 9-acre tract containing the Center, playground and ball field. This land was acquired to be part of the future park site. In 2001, Orange County voters approved a Parks and Open Space bond that included $1,200,000 earmarked for the future park. A draft Preliminary Concept Plan was created in 2002, and a process for planning the Northern (Human Services Center) Park was considered and approved in late 2003. In the spring of 2004, property across NC 86 from the site was acquired for a wastewater field, and plans to move forward with the park master plan were finalized. A series of 4 community meetings to design the park (excluding the building) were held between October 2004 and March 2005. At the current time, the facilities that exist at the site are: • The Northern Human Services Center (NHSC) building, including a gymnatorium, cafeteria and a number of rooms used or proposed to be used for a variety of activities • A branch library (in the NHSC building) • A children's playground adjoining the Center • A lighted playing field for softball/youth baseball In 2003, the Board of County Commissioners considered and adopted a process for the planning and design of this park. This process did not include the planned upgrades to the Northern Human Services Center, although the need for consistency and compatibility was addressed. The process may be found as Appendix 1. In general, the adopted process called for a series of community meetings to develop a master plan. As a part of the design process, the community meetings were to yield a park master plan that, among other features: • Recognizes co-location with the Center, and works in concert with and shares infrastructure where possible • Promotes a pedestrian-friendly environment and discourages unnecessary traffic or parking areas 1