Rowan County needs to find land for at least three new parks with 150 to 200 acres each,
according to recommendations from Jim Foltz, county parks and recreation director.Foltz presented a $3.5 million shopping list of wants and
needs to county commissioners during the board’s retreat at Pinehurst. The $3.5
million does not include the price of buying hundreds of acres of land for new parks.
The park director is recommending a nearly
150-acre park near Atwell, a 150-acre park in the Old Concord Road-N.C. 152 area and a
200-acre park in the western area near Bear Poplar.
Foltz showed commissioners a county map with three
large circles to mark general areas, where he said parks are needed to accommodate
population growth.
He called on commissioners to buy land, allowing
the current property owners to have full use of the land — called lifetime rights
— until their death. Foltz said this could greatly help in efforts to obtain large
tracts.
“We must start securing land. It’s an
investment in our grandkids’ future,” said Foltz.
He urged the county to act swiftly, pointing out
that “outside groups are buying up all the properties.”
Commissioner Dave Rowland asked about expanding
Sloan Park, saying that would be preferable to going nearby and starting a new park.
Foltz said Sloan Park is now virtually landlocked
because others have bought all the land.
Rowland cited a nearby property and offered to go
with Foltz to talk with the landowner.
Foltz outlined plans for Phase 2 of Sloan Park,
which would cost $518,000 to add shelters, rest rooms, roads and parking lots.
The county plans to seek a cost-sharing grant that
will obligate the county to about $250,000.
An immediate need at Sloan Park incudes $16,000
for a new maintenance building. The last ice storm flattened the existing building.
Chairman Newton Cohen asked if property on the
LandTrust for Central North Carolina can be used for parks. Foltz indicated that he is
exploring that possibility.
Foltz also provided commissioners with specifics
needed for short-term parks and recreation.
He outlined plans to construct a new operations
building at Dan Nicholas Park. The projected cost is $2.2 million.
Foltz has proposed the facility, which includes a
full service restaurant, in previous years. Other parks and recreation projects listed for
possible funding include:
- Surveillance cameras to ensure safety for visitors
and employees, $19,000.
- New parking and rest rooms at Dan Nicholas Park,
$200,000. Foltz said attendance has outgrown those facilities.
- Paving and repaving at Sloan Park, $200,000.
- Extended train route, $160,000. Foltz said they
have received many complaints that the route is too short. The park took in $88,000 from
July 1- June 30, 1999 from train fees.
- Lights for Ellis ballfields, which would extend
available hours of fields now heavily used by young players, $45,000.
- Rewire the campground, $135,000. New campers which
use 60 amps are overloading the 30-amp system. Camping fees
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