Chapel Hill is about to spend nearly $400,000 for a consultant (Berry/Dunn) and take up to a year starting in January to develop a new master plan for Chapel Hill Parks, Greenways and Recreation. The plan will outline needs for facilities, programs, staffing in the next 10+ years, and lay the groundwork in terms of priorities for future park needs, bond financing and grant application funding.
The Town Council killed off one advisory board (police advisory) by an 8-1 vote last month and left others like parks/greenways/ recreation hanging by a thread. The council should leave this one be for the time being, although the monthly Dec. 17 advisory board meeting was canceled Dec. 4 and board membership has dropped to only four members as vacancies were not filled.
The council’s decision to scale back Legion Park in favor of more housing kicked the legs out from under the advisory board interest and membership, and Adam Searing’s council candidate pro-park slate was soundly defeated in the last election.
Perhaps temporary appointments could be made to get the board up and running for 12-15 months for the master plan project. Some interested folks I asked are no longer considering volunteering, but others might be encouraged to help for the specific project.
The town needs broad and significant help from both staff and public at large on this project. The town manager is retiring, the rec department director is new and unimpressive, both rec administrators are new. The department’s principal planner is guiding the project and it’s her first Master Plan.
Public engagement and involvement are major needs for the project and likely will be the first steps taken.
Meanwhile, I’ll put together my own list of city park needs—more pickleball courts (but I’ll be careful not to go overboard since many players are not city residents, do not pay city taxes since they live in Governors Club, Fearrington, Briar Chapel), upgrade the Community Center climbing wall, build a splash pad, add more sand volleyball courts/lights, greenway trails linking Carrboro and Orange County parks.
This commentary was too late. The council voted 5-4 Dec. 4 to eliminate all advisory boards not required by state law.
Joel Bulkley
Editor’s Note: Bulkley served two terms on both the city and county rec advisory boards and participated in previous master plan efforts with both.