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Orange County <br /> ** VIRTUAL MEETING** <br /> Parks and Recreation Council <br /> April 7, 2021 <br /> Members present: John Greeson, Cecily Kritzy, Mikki Fleming, Xiong Zhao, Gina <br /> Reyman, Tim Tippin, Andrew Landstrom <br /> Chapel Hill Parks and Greenway Commission liaison: Alice Armstrong <br /> Absent: Haywood Rhodes, Bob Smith <br /> Staff: Dave Stancil, Marabeth Carr, Chris Hirni, Beth Young <br /> Vice-Chair John Greeson called meeting to order and turned it over to Dave Stancil due <br /> to technical difficulties with the GotoMeeting link. Stancil stated that the March meeting <br /> notes will be ready for the May meeting. <br /> Report of the Chair— Stancil noted that he had learned that the BOCC will need to <br /> formally move Bob Smith from At-Large position to Little River Township position as <br /> previously proposed. This would be done with the new appointment recommendation of <br /> Christopher Colvin. There are no new applications for the vacancies. No applicants from <br /> Cedar Grove Township exist, Stancil noted that the PRC may be able to recommend <br /> another applicant for that position, an action that the BOCC has taken themselves in the <br /> past. Stancil added that he had sent emails to the two applicants who had older <br /> applications, to see if they were still interested, as directed by the Council in March. <br /> Gina Reyman made a motion to appoint Greg Hughes to the At Large position. Andrew <br /> Landstrom seconded. Motion passed. Stancil noted that he was unable to find the <br /> replies to the interest email that was sent, but would send the Council an email with this <br /> information once he found it. Mr. Hughes may be one of those who were inquired about. <br /> New Business — Blackwood Farm Park Update: Marabeth Carr, DEAPR's Landscape <br /> Architect and project manager reported that the project will be going out for bid in the <br /> next week or so. Hopefully the bid will go to the BOCC in June with construction to <br /> begin in July. The site plan was reviewed with PRC, noting that it had been seen before <br /> during last winter and was largely the same. Reyman asked about a current trail being <br /> rerouted due to construction and Carr responded that it will be reconfigured. Tim Tippin <br /> asked about the disc golf course. Carr stated that is not in this contract and designer <br /> and civil engineer on the project have not done a disc golf course. Stancil added that <br /> this part of the project would be pursued under a separate arrangement. Xilong Zhao <br /> asked about parking capacity for visitors. Carr went over the parking areas and overflow <br /> parking areas which can accommodate several hundred cars. Stancil noted that for <br /> large events park and ride options will be used. Zhao also asked about the planting <br /> plans. Carr stated there is a required landscape plan with native plants included. <br /> Old Business: Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) Update — Chris Hirni, DEAPR's Natural <br /> Resource Manager reported on the updates to the trail. Currently the State and staff are <br /> working to make the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area connection to Seven <br />