Orange County NC Website
14 <br /> 19 <br /> 2 . The County in 1997 passed a bond referendum that addressed a mixture of <br /> County and Town needs , both in terms of active recreation ( playing fields , <br /> programmable facilities ) and low- impact recreation (walking and hiking trails, <br /> picnic areas, etc . ) . <br /> 3 . However, even with this bond referendum , we have not been able to <br /> address Town and County parkland needs pointed up by the 1999 JMRP <br /> report, such as the need for one or two district/ regional scale parks that can <br /> serve the whole County . <br /> 4 . To make these and other park needs reality, the County is in the best position <br /> to take the lead in identifying and funding new parks that serve larger <br /> populations in both urban and rural areas . <br /> 5 . While many potential park sites have been lost in the areas near the Towns , <br /> there remain opportunities for the Towns and the school systems to <br /> collaborate on co - locating needed school and park sites . <br /> 6 . As shown in Table E on page 11 , there are $ 63 million of park needs that <br /> have been identified , with little money programmed for parkland acquisition <br /> and/or facility development . <br /> VI . Map with General Areas of Consensus for Parks Needs <br /> Whether for identified but unfunded parks , or new park opportunities, a general <br /> consensus is desirable on where joint parks projects are needed . As previously <br /> noted , these joint park projects would generally be larger parks ( community, <br /> district and regional scale parks of 25 acres and up ) that would provide a range <br /> of recreation offerings that serve both rural and urban populations . A combined <br /> map that illustrates both existing parks and new joint opportunities would be a <br /> valuable tool for planning and identifying collaborative park projects . <br /> Carrboro , Chapel Hill , Hillsborough and Orange County each have an adopted <br /> parks plan in place . Orange County will be updating its Master Recreation and <br /> Parks Element of the Comprehensive Plan in 2001 . The Town of Chapel Hill is <br /> currently undertaking its first Parks and Recreation Master Plan process . The <br /> report is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2001 . <br /> To pave the way for collaborative park efforts , a countywide map of conceptual <br /> park needs ( a ' Conceptual Future Park Sites Map ") could be developed and <br /> agreed to by each elected board . This map would illustrate conceptually (via a <br /> " bubble " approach ) : <br /> 1 . Current Town and County park facilities <br /> 2 . The general locations where parks are needed , and <br /> 3 . Projects where there is an identified joint park need , and collaboration on <br /> park acquisition and development is warranted . <br />