Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
I (C) <br />Draft 1/24/02 <br />Park Facility Plan (PFP) <br />Process and Project Summary Sheets <br />The PFP Process is designed to address park facility projects that are within <br />the County's jurisdiction and are being pursued solely as a County facility. <br />Similar process documents are being prepared for joint parks or master- <br />planned joint facilities projects where the County is partnering with the <br />Towns and or school systems. An outline of the different types of projects <br />currently engaged may be found as Attachment 1. <br />Part I. Basic Operating Principles for All County Parks <br />Facilities/Process <br />While each park projects will need to have its own set of rules and conditions <br />that are specific to the natural and physical environment of the site, an <br />interest has been expressed in having a set of basic operating principles that <br />would apply to each park - augmented by site-specific principles and <br />guidelines as needed for individual sites. <br />1. Each park and public open space facility project should receive equal <br />footing in terms of initial appropriation and planning and design <br />potential. However, some staggering of activities may be necessary due to <br />a finite amount of human and financial resources <br />2. Opportunities for economies of scale and cost savings should be explored <br />as projects continue and are developed <br />3. Each concept plan committee will have a scope of duties and a set of <br />guiding principles set by the Board of Commissioners at the time of <br />appointment. The Board may also adopt a "pre-concept" plan to help <br />provide direction to the committee <br />4. The County's organizational vision for parks philosophy is towards an <br />"Olmsteadian" model or vision of parks; that values natural and <br />ecologically-sensitive design, and flexible public open spaces for all areas <br />not designated for other specific uses <br />5. As such, the protection of natural areas and stream corridors shall be a <br />foremost consideration in the design or parks and public open spaces, and <br />grading and alteration of the natural landscape minimized to the degree <br />possible <br />6. Water use should be minimized and xeriscaping pursued wherever <br />possible and prudent, including the retention and "capture" of on-site <br />stormwater <br />7. Plantings and landscaping of parks and public open spaces shall feature <br />native vegetation wherever practical and appropriate