Parks And Recreation
Author: Jen Dalrymple, Chairman Parks and Rec Board
Parks and Recreation
Jen Dalrymple
Chairman Parks and Rec Board
The County Parks and Recreation Board wants to facilitate recreational planning and development opportunities on the County's 10-acre property at Mill Road and Centerville Lane, and the 82-acre property along Canton Lane that encompasses Connors Field, the Rod and Gun Club, and the golf course. To plan for projects that represent community needs, we needed to hear from the public. Their feedback will guide the development of a master plan that enables the County and its non-profit partners to target and apply for grant monies to build the parks and facilities on the land.
Parks and Recreation partnered with Great West Engineering, the County’s on-call engineering firm, to develop a public survey which was promoted on flyers, to local committees and email listservs, and at the Christmas Stroll. We truly appreciate the public response and input regarding their hopes for recreational opportunities in the county, especially on these two pieces of land.
There were over 200 respondents during the two-week survey period and Parks and Rec especially wants to thank Jeannie Steele, who allowed board members to set up a table and materials at her office during the Christmas Stroll. Board members were able to canvass a large amount of people as they passed through the food lines.
The results showed that there is a desire by the public to make the land available for recreational use. Respondents also confirmed the Board's priority should be planning and facilitating the County's development of recreational facilities for the community.
The top three requests were for
* more multipurpose fields
* indoor courts for year-round play
* graveled or paved walking paths
Our next steps for the master plan are to further analyze survey results, draw up visionary drafts for the properties, and host public hearings to get additional input for designs.
Stay tuned for further information and details about how you can be involved in this process. Thank you to those who graciously responded to the survey.
