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Orange County <br />Parks and Recreation Council <br /> <br />Meeting Summary <br /> <br />Date: June 6, 2018 <br />Place: Environment and Agricultural Center Conference Room <br />________________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br />PRESENT: Haywood Rhodes; Rachel Cotter; John Greeson; Katie Loovis; Robert Robinson; <br />Robert Smith; Tim Tippen; Michael Zelek <br />ABSENT: Gina Reyman; Tori Williams Reid; <br />STAFF: Lynn Hecht; David Stancil <br />______________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />I. Call to Order: Introductions. <br /> <br />II. Additions or Changes to Agenda, Meeting Summary: No comments on the May <br />summary. Loovis would like to give a status update on the land banked farming <br />proposal. <br /> <br />III. Report of the Chair: Membership/Vacancies, Cedar Grove and Efland Cheeks both are <br />still vacant. <br />IV. New Business <br />a. Potential Biennial Joint Advisory Board Meeting (Sept 18?) Stancil says this has <br />been identified as a good time to bring up the idea of the multi-modal trail between <br />jurisdictions in Orange County. <br /> <br />V. Old Business <br />a. Tennis Court Needs-Discussion/Follow up – Stancil said that the group spoke with <br />John Stock of the SportsPlex. While that group has an interest, they do not plan to <br />pursue a venture at this time, and there are questions about the revenue an indoor <br />tennis structure could bring in. Stancil added the Soccer.com Center and/or Cedar <br />Grove Park are other parks where there are plans for future tennis courts. Loovis <br />spoke of a study by someone commissioned by the Visitor Center’s (Laurie <br />Paolicelli) to see what would be a draw for tourism. An indoor multi-activity center <br />was brought up. Tippen would like the PRC to endorse tennis courts be considered <br />for the next phase at the Cedar Grove Park. Loovis motioned to have the staff draft a <br />letter to the BOCC asking for them to consider building tennis courts at Cedar Grove <br />Park. Tippen seconded the motion, all voted in favor. <br />b. Mountains to Sea Trail - Some of the local trail advocates are becoming anxious <br />about the speed of activity. However, several easements are underway and others <br />are closer to being finalized. The process of acquiring easements takes time and <br />requires review and negotiation among the parties <br />c. Seven Mile Creek Natural Area - This portion of the Upper Eno Nature Preserve will <br />actually have a part of the MST within the site. Staff is completing the work and <br />hopes to have it open to the public in the fall. <br />d. Update on farming on land-banked parklands proposal by Loovis - Orange County <br />has land that has been banked for future park development, some of which might be <br />able to be used in the interim for farming. Meanwhile, what can be done with the <br />area? Farm to Table to Transformation is her idea. Allow disenfranchised folks to <br />lease land at a low cost for farm use. Would the County allow for the land to be used