Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
v 1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: September 17, 2002 <br /> Action Age da <br /> Item No. T <br /> SUBJECT: Review and Consideration of the Southern Park Conceptual Plan Committee <br /> Report _ <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br /> Conservation <br /> ATTACHMENT INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1) 3/25/02 Town Council Item and Materials David Stancil, 245-2590 <br /> 2) Conceptual Plan (under separate cover) <br /> TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968.4501 <br /> Durham 688-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br /> PURPOSE: To review and consider the "Report of the Southern Park Conceptual Plan <br /> Committee." <br /> BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2001, the Chapel Hill Town Council commissioned and <br /> charged a Southern Park Conceptual Plan Committee to develop a plan for Southern <br /> Community Park. In January 2002, the Committee issued its report and conceptual plan. . <br /> The history of this proposed park dates back to 1988, when the Town acquired the initial <br /> portions of what would become a 70-acre site south of the town on US 15/501 for the <br /> purpose of a community park. In 1990, a concept plan was prepared but not adopted, as the <br /> Town's fiscal situation and a need for attention to the development of what is now <br /> Homestead Park in northern Chapel Hill took precedence. In 1996, Town residents <br /> approved a bond referendum that included $5 million for parks. Those funds were used for <br /> much of the cost of Homestead Park and other recreation facilities, with none allotted for <br /> Southern Park. However, a proposed park and ride lot at the northern section of Southern <br /> Park was constructed. <br /> In 1997, Orange County included $1 million toward the construction of Southern Park in its <br /> successful bond referendum. Of that amount, $105,000 has been used to construct a soccer <br /> field at adjacent Scroggs Elementary School. In the fall of 2000, at the Town's request, an <br /> additional $100,000 was made available from the 1997 County bonds to hire a consultant <br /> (OBS Landscape Architects)to develop the conceptual plan, working with a citizen <br /> committee appointed by the Town Council. <br />