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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-06 Agenda NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS & GARDENS 896 Airlie Road · Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 798-7620 · (910) 798-7621 FAX · www.nhcgov.com PARKS ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 8:15 A.M. Airlie Cottage 896 Airlie Road 1. Call to Order John Hinnant, Chair 2. Approval of August Minutes John Hinnant 3. Director/Staff Report and Q&A Tara & Andy 4. Top of Mind Topics All 5. Adjournment NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PAGE 1 REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 2, 2023 ASSEMBLY The Parks Advisory Board held its regular meeting on Wednesday, August 2, 2022, at River Road Park at 8:15 a.m. Present: John Hinnant (presiding), Caleb Rash, Carol Hunter, and Lindy Ford. Excused: Gayle Tabor Absent: Stephanie Walker and Ryan Blisplinghoff Guests: Malik Shabazz and Rex Burford Staff: Tanya Gurganious, Andy Johnson, and Latashia Smith WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES The meeting was called to order by John Hinnant. Gayle Tabor provided notice that she would be absent from the meeting and was deemed excused. John then asked if there were any changes to the June minutes. th MOTION: John Hinnant MOVED; SECONDED by Caleb Rash, that the minutes of the June 7 minutes be approved. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1.Top of Mind Topics. John briefly discussed the growth dominating the area and not having enough water access in the community. He thinks that amenities like River Road pier should be celebrated and promoted more for providing fishing and kayaking access. Andy spoke about the pier being the highlight of the park and it has been under repair for the past few years due to damages from Hurricane Isaias. Between design and construction, the cost for the new pier was close to $1 million dollars which was fully reimbursed by FEMA. Caleb Rash asked for an update on Northern Regional Park and what the timeline might be. Andy shared that it is under design and waiting on erosion permits. He is hoping to have them by fall of this year. Construction should start just before or after the new year. It will be a fairly small project consisting of two athletic fields, a parking lot, infrastructure, and a BMX style pump track. Gordon Road widening project: The county partnered with the DOT and contributed $160k to add sidewalks and crosswalks to connect to the asphalt multipurpose path that is being constructed with the widening of Gordon Road as a recreation and transportation alternative. There will be trails and multipurpose paths on Market Street from Middle Sound Loop Road going to Marsh Oaks and from Marsh Oaks to Wal-Mart at Porters Neck. Gordon Road will connect to that pathway as well. The county is also looking at installing multipurpose paths along North College Road from Gordon Road a to Northchase Parkway where the new NHC library is being developed. Additional paths are also under design along South College Road. Market Street is already under construction and hopefully will be completed by fall. North College Road and South College Road are at 65% design. Will not be able to fund both projects at the same time because of the $6 to $8 million dollar cost per project. North College Road will probably be constructed first. John mentioned that he had received a request for more disc golf courses. This would have to be looked at in the future, as 15 to 20 acres would be needed to construct a course. Long Leaf Park would not be ideal for NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PAGE 2 REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 2, 2023 a par 3 course. John also mentioned that the Olsen family is interested in selling the remainder of the land on the other side of I-40 if the county was interested. Director/Staff Q&A. Hanover Pines Park still on target to be completed by middle of October. Andy briefly discussed the adopted budget for fiscal year 2023-2024. Operations is $6.3 million and with salaries it totals $7.2 million. Requested LED lights for Northern Regional Park pickleball courts. New Ogden Park playground Long Leaf Park pedestrian bridge design. Capital Improvement Projects Expand Echo Farms tennis courts with an additional 4 to 5 clay courts. Smith Creek Park Phase 2 is under design. Trails End Pier design this year and construction to begin next year. MOTION: John Hinnant MOVED; SECONDED by Lindy Ford, that the meeting be adjourned. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2.Next Meeting. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. 3.Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 9:03 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Latashia Smith Program Assistant Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Airlie Gardens Foundation Board meeting.