Minutes 05-03-2018 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 • Online trails and parks information and communication methods- use more social media • Site visits to County parks • Community Centers and transition to community-based management • Naming of Fairview Park ballfield for James Stewart • Met with Sportsplex executive director on upcoming changes and collaboration possibilities Commissioner Marcoplos said he is curious about the availability of school fields, and the demand for their use. David Stancil, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director, said it is difficult at the high and middle schools, and much easier at the elementary schools. He said years ago there was a joint use of school facilities memorandum between the County and the schools. He said often the fields at elementary schools are not really the best to use. Commissioner Marcoplos said when looking at population projections and budgetary concerns, it seems that using that which already exists, and working toward some type of collaboration, would make sense. David Stancil said it can be done, and there have been some successes, but there is some proprietary interest with the athletic directors. Commissioner Jacobs suggested bringing this up with the schools during the budget work session. He said there are some legitimate security issues, which can be overcome, and this overall issue has been a problem as long as he has been a Commissioner. Commissioner Marcoplos said the fields are sometimes treated like show dogs. Commissioner Jacobs said he understands wanting the fields to be in good condition, but there has to be some middle ground. He commended Tori Williams Reid for using the phrase “low impact recreation”. Tori Williams reviewed the goals and priorities for 2018: • Advise on the pending construction of Phase 2-A at Blackwood Farm Park, including the potential for partnership on the Nature Center and the Disc Golf course among others. • Review and advise on the design and layout for of the Soccer.com Center Expansion. • Continue to participate in the Mountains to Sea Trail project as waystation and trailhead locations are identified in the coming at Seven Mile Creek and potentially other locations. Emerging Issues going forward: • The County continues to have a need for gymnasium space that exceeds the capacity of the Central Recreation Center. The County rents space at two Orange County Schools just to run existing basketball and volleyball programs, and there is evident demand for increased activity for gymnasium space. The PRC encourages discussions about the potential for finding additional gymnasium access, perhaps through the Sportsplex expansion that is starting, to help meet this pent-up demand. • The PRC proposes to look at the possibility of short-term usage of land-banked future park sites for other interim activities until such time as the parks are built, and develop a report to the Board of Commissioners on this topic during 2018. Chair Dorosin referred to their wish list, and said there is an idea of short-term usage of land banking for future parks. He asked if a report will be brought back to the BOCC in the future. David Stancil said yes, and there are three sites that have areas that could be cultivated for some farming. He said he is working with the Ag Preservation Board.