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24 <br /> recreation and development throughout the year, beginning with asking the <br /> County to join the "NC Great Trails Coalition." The Council would also look into <br /> sponsoring quarterly public hikes at our parks with trails. Continued review and <br /> advice on the Mountains to Sea Trail progress, and Outside Agency review will <br /> again be major areas of energy, along with the 2023 Nature of Orange <br /> photography contest. In the fall of 2023 it is estimated that new park planning <br /> efforts may be underway, and the Council would be involved in this as well. <br /> What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming <br /> year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? <br /> • Reiterate the need to move forward with a bicycle/pedestrian/trails plan <br /> beginning in FY 23-24, with a scope of work creating this spring. <br /> • The County's Ione recreation center, the Central Rec Center on West Tryon <br /> Street in Hillsborough, is now 65 years old. In the Capital Investment Plan <br /> is a proposed additional recreation center for indoor activities, planned to <br /> work in conjunction with the existing center. As the County Facility Master <br /> Plan efforts continue, the need for a new center is being discussed. The <br /> current center has been maxed out for several years now in terms of <br /> space, with the County unable to serve the existing demand from its <br /> residents. Any new center should take into consideration not just the <br /> replacement of the 1957 facility but needed additional space to <br /> accommodate existing and future demand. <br /> • Pickleball and outdoor courts to accommodate this growing sport is an <br /> emerging trend that is actually already upon us in 2022. The County should <br /> expedite opportunities to create more courts. <br /> • In reviewing the adopted Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2030, there are <br /> a number of instances where greater coordination and facility sharing is <br /> suggested with both 1) the Orange County Sportsplex and 2) Orange <br /> County Schools. Both concepts are not new ideas, but little in the way of <br /> outcomes have been achieved. The Council would like to pursue these <br /> discussions anew with a focus toward achieving result-oriented outcomes. <br /> One example of potential coordination with the schools (also applicable to <br /> expansion without parks) is the creation of pollinator gardens and habitat. <br /> This is a low-cost/high reward activity that will be an ongoing benefit. <br /> • In a similar vein, the potential for the County and towns to work together on <br /> joint parks and facilities is more appropriate than ever before. There are <br /> scheduled projects in the CIP that offer the opportunity to pursue joint <br /> initiatives. <br /> • Survey responses to the 2014 Master Plan indicated a strong interest in a <br /> swimming pool, but the questions and responses did not provide context <br /> on what that meant. It would be useful to do follow-up survey work to see <br /> what type of facility is being suggested or is of interest. Once explored, <br /> this could also be an example of a joint venture between towns and County <br /> - that could serve both town and rural residents. <br />