Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Meeting Summary—Parks and Recreation Council <br /> April 2, 2025 <br /> Bonnie B Davis Center, Hillsborough <br /> Members Present: Natalie Ziemba (Chair), Louise Flinn, Trevor Robinson, Alissa Martucci, Allen <br /> Parker, GiGi Rashdi, Xilong Zhao, Chloe Reid (youth delegate), Navya Sharma (youth delegate) <br /> Members Absent: Gregory Husketh, Ben King, Logan Cason, Robert Zurek <br /> Staff: David Stancil, Abby Mattingly, Guest Jessica Pearson and Mikaela Hernandez <br /> Natalie Ziemba called the meeting to order at 6:32pm. <br /> Report of the Chair: <br /> a. Chair Comments—Chair Natalie Ziemba held brief introductions. <br /> New Business: <br /> a. Changes to the agenda — David Stancil added a report item for the Friends of Orange <br /> County Parks and Recreation. Ziemba moved the Chair and Vice Chair elections to after <br /> the Trails Plan Update. <br /> b. County Trails Plan-Jessica Pearson presented an update on the Orange County Trails <br /> Plan. The engagement roadmap was presented with an explanation of what steps have <br /> been completed by the consultants, and what accomplishments have been made. <br /> Pearson discussed the recent site visits that Gensler conducted with their landscape <br /> architecture consultants, Surface 678, and DEAPR Land Conservation Manager, Chris <br /> Hirni. Gensler has developed initial possible priority trail connections. These connections <br /> are general at this stage, and are: between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, the West to <br /> East Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) route, Little River Regional Park to Cedar Grove Park, <br /> and Eno River State Park and the future Northeast District Park. Trevor Robinson asked <br /> if the consultants hope to complete all four prioritized connections, or how they were <br /> prioritized. Pearson informed that the goal is to document these connections as ideas <br /> for potential trail corridors, and then to outline criteria for evaluating which ones should <br /> be prioritized for completion. As an example, she pointed out the MST, as part of it has <br /> already been completed, and is a part of a larger plan of State connection, and as such <br /> should be prioritized. While the exact criteria objectives have not yet been determined, <br /> there will be feasibility recommendations indicated. Pearson handed the conversation <br /> to Mikaela Hernandez to discuss planning for the upcoming community vision <br /> workshops. The roadmap established May as the window for initial community <br /> feedback. An open house model for the workshops has been selected. During the <br /> workshop there will be arrival activities and visioning stations. Hernandez then <br /> presented several dates in May, with the goal of having one weekday and one weekend. <br /> Alissa Martucci asked about remote options. Hernandez informed that some locations <br /> may have restrictions but that the website will include additional information and an <br /> option for public comment. Hernandez continued into detail on the workshop station <br />