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6—12 <br />Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 6 - Community Needs Assessment and Public Input 6 <br /> <br />What improvements/changes would you make to <br />current recreation programs? <br /> Have county and other providers of <br /> programming work together (Baseball was a <br /> success story with the sharing of fields) <br /> Build on organizations strengths – find ways <br /> to complement each other <br /> Expand camp <br /> Don’t focus on too much at one location <br /> Organizations work together on offerings <br /> Cross publicize <br /> (program guides and brochures) <br /> Annual programs discussion between <br /> providers – information sharing <br /> Include a user friendly calendar in program <br /> guides <br /> Too much text can be overwhelming and <br /> scare away or make information hard to find <br /> It is possible to have too many programs at one <br /> time <br />What areas are not served? <br /> Use community centers more – variety of <br /> locations and community will feel ownership <br /> Health Issues – reach families at community <br /> centers <br /> Work with partners to teach at centers <br /> (e.g., Health Department, Sheriff) <br /> Special events at multiple locations <br /> (e.g., Movie in the Park) <br /> Conduct survey in the community and try new <br /> programs <br />Who are potential partners? <br /> Other County departments <br /> YMCA <br /> SportsPlex <br /> Get seniors involved (e.g., RSVP) <br /> <br /> <br />6. Nature and Environmental Programs <br /> (April 25, 2013) <br />Six persons attended this focus group held at <br />Durham Technical Community College - Orange <br />Campus. The group discussed current nature and <br />environmental programs offered by the County <br />(primarily at Little River Regional Park) and by the <br />Orange Soil and Water Conservation District to the <br />schools. <br /> <br />A number of different ideas for future programs and <br />facility enhancements for nature programs were <br />identified. These include: <br /> <br /> Signage identifying certain trees and flora at <br /> park sites to help educate about our native <br /> vegetation <br /> Produce a seasonal guide, ‘What’s in Bloom” <br /> about the natural features at selected parks, <br /> particularly those with substantial natural areas <br /> and open space <br /> Look at programs about water and wastewater <br /> for educational purposes (e.g. "Where does our <br /> water go?”) <br /> Offer more adult programs <br /> (e.g., bird-watching, spring flora tour) <br /> Look for opportunities to use water features <br /> at parks for nature programs (people are <br /> drawn to water) <br /> Look at the possibility of creating a nature <br /> center, perhaps with a water focus (McGowan <br /> Creek Preserve was suggested as a possible site) <br /> Consider working with the Town of Hillsborough <br /> on programs at Gold Park, and generally <br /> collaborate with other jurisdictions and entities <br /> such as the NC Botanical Garden <br /> Look at having “clean-up” opportunities at <br /> parks with streams, and consider creating pro <br /> grams that teach people how to live in <br /> harmony with nature and basic skills <br /> (e.g., flint making) <br /> Programs on camping (e.g., learn to camp) and <br /> plants (e.g., edible plants) <br />76