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7 <br /> • As noted in last year's plan, and mentioned above, there are many <br /> opportunities for facility sharing with the Orange County Schools. This topic <br /> has been discussed at length in years past, with efforts undertaken to <br /> attempt to address the potential. In many counties in North Carolina there is <br /> a robust system of facility sharing between school facilities and public <br /> recreation needs. With the passage of the Schools Bond, the Council would <br /> like to suggest that future school planning/construction (and existing <br /> facilities) look for ways to make these facilities available for public usage. <br /> • The Countywide Trails Plan will be an important blueprint to pull together <br /> existing plans and identify new needs. It is important that the Town's trail <br /> and greenway plans be linked and coordinated in this document, and we look <br /> forward to conversations with our colleagues in the towns about <br /> interconnectivity. <br /> • The County is receiving increased interest in nature, historic, and other <br /> cross-cultural programs at our parks, both from partner organizations and <br /> individuals. Partnerships can be forged with fellow County Advisory Boards, <br /> other County departments, non-profit organizations and the school systems. <br /> The County should look to ramp up its nature programming to meet this <br /> demand, and such programs would have the double benefit of being cost- <br /> neutral and improving the community's health and quality of life. <br /> • Opportunities to increase art and natural beauty within our parks and <br /> preserves continues to exist. This could include proactively incorporating <br /> art in parks at the design phase and creating more areas of natural beauty <br /> and pollinator-friendly habitat in our important open spaces. <br />