Orange County NC Website
11 <br />FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED MASTER PLAN <br />After working through the above process and considering the site information, <br />community needs and the desired facilities, the community meetings have <br />yielded a Master Plan as shown on the preceding page that features the <br />following components: <br />• Retention of the hardwood forest areas identified for low-impact <br />recreation, with a loop trail generally identified (the actual location of the <br />trail would be located later as construction drawings are prepared) <br />• Retention of the existing ball field' and a relocated play area adjacent to <br />the Center <br />• A skate park area and basketball courts located in the back portions of the <br />original 8-acre Northern Center lot, along with nearby restrooms <br />• Two new softball/baseball fields, one located in the northeast corner of the <br />40-acre tract, and another (possibly part of a future phase) to the <br />southwest) <br />• Amulti-purpose field that could be used for a variety of activities, including <br />tee-ball and other field sports, along the northern field configuration <br />• Two tennis courts and a second play area between the two northern fields, <br />along with a picnic shelter with restrooms and a horseshoes area <br />• Two other picnic shelters in the wooded trails area <br />The site would be accessed by an enhancement of the entrance road on the <br />north side of the Center, which would continue west toward the proposed new <br />facilities. The plan assumes that the proposed Northern Human Services Center <br />parking lot in front of the building will be constructed in the future (but dces not <br />rely on this lot to provide parking for the park), and that the existing lot on the <br />south side of the Center would be retained. <br />The entrance road would wind back through the park, with two additional parking <br />areas near the two new playing fields to the north. A third parking area and a <br />short drive is dashed in for future use if needed between the fields and facilities <br />along the northern boundary. This drive would involve crossing of the headwaters <br />of the newly identified stream. <br />Another facility that was identified as desirable by meeting attendees was an <br />outdoor swimming pool, but the cost of this facility led the group tc omit it from <br />the master plan, with a notation of its possible future location to the west. <br />Funding for the Northern Park comes from the 2001 Parks and Open Space <br />Bond. A total of $1.2 million from those proceeds were identified for the park <br />The potential for expanding the outfield fence was considered but eventually not recommended <br />because of cost of moving the existing lights and close proximity of adjacent structures <br />