Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
4 <br /> 2 <br /> Chair Shirley E. Marshall read the Public Charge. <br /> D. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br /> 1. MASTER RECREATION AND PARKS PLAN <br /> (The Master Recreation and Parks Plan Draft proposal is on <br /> file in the Clerk to the Commissioners' Office, the Planning <br /> Department and the Recreation and Parks Department. ) <br /> Mary Anne Black, Recreation and Parks Director, addressed the <br /> Boards and the citizens to introduce the Draft proposal for <br /> the Master Recreation and Parks Plan. <br /> In April of 1987, work was begun on the preparation of a <br /> Master Recreation & Parks Plan for Orange County. The <br /> preparation of the plan was carried out by the consulting <br /> firm of Woolpert Associates, in conjunction with the Master <br /> Recreation and Parks Plan Advisory Group. Following nine <br /> months of work and a series of public meetings, the completed <br /> draft plan is being presented at public hearing for public <br /> comment. <br /> In preparing the Plan, community input through public <br /> meetings, coupled with a review of typical recreation and <br /> park standards, aided in identifying immediate and long-range <br /> recreational needs of the County. These needs put into <br /> quantitative terms, provided a guide in determining land <br /> requirements for various types of recreation and park <br /> facilities. Standards were then used to formulate the <br /> direction of future recreation and park development. <br /> The Master Recreation and Parks Plan is designed to become <br /> one element of Orange County's Comprehensive Plan and is <br /> consistent with other County land use plans and ordinances. <br /> The Plan recommends that Orange County concentrate its <br /> efforts in the provision of four types of recreation and park <br /> facilities/areas: (1) community parks (serving the more <br /> densely populated unincorporated areas of the county) ; (2 <br /> district parks; (3) greenways; and (4) swimming pools. ) <br /> A crucial element in the success of the Master Plan is the <br /> effectiveness of cooperative efforts between Orange County <br /> and the two school systems, the Orange Water and Sewer <br /> Authority, the University of North Carolina, Duke University <br /> (forest properties) , and the municipalities. The Master Plan <br /> envisions providing park facilities and recreation <br /> opportunities for all citizens of Orange County and will <br /> require a long-term commitment and coordinated action on the <br /> part of these and other agencies. <br /> The Recreation and Parks Director and the Planning Director <br /> recommend approval of the Master Recreation & Parks Plan and <br /> incorporation by reference as part of the Comprehensive Plan <br /> for Orange County. <br />