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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-03-17 NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS & GARDENS 896 Airlie Road · Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 798-7620 · (910) 798-7621 FAX · www.nhcgov.com PARKS CONSERVANCY BOARD AGENDA JANUARY 20, 2026 – 5:30 P.M. Airlie Cottage – 896 Airlie Road 1. Call to Order Dana Lingenfelser 2. Approval of November Minutes Dana Lingenfelser 3. Financial Report Sean Olds 4. Staff Report Jodi Rich 5. Old Business/New Business 6. Adjournment Next meeting: March 17, 2026 NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS CONSERVANCY BOARD PAGE 2 REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2025 ASSEMBLY The Parks Conservancy Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Airlie Cottage. Present: Dana Lingenfelser, Walter Whaley, Hillary Stevens, Dave Ellegood, Wood Flynn, Leanne Pierce, and Mark Ihnat Excused: Sean Olds, Cassidy Santiguida, Susanne Werner, Rex Burford, Nivine Richie, and Monty Hobbs Staff: Tanya Gurganious, Janine Powell, Jodi Rich, and Latashia Smith WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES Dana Lingenfelser welcomed everyone in attendance and called the meeting to order. She asked if everyone had a chance to review the minutes and asked if there were any changes. Hearing no changes, the following motion was made: MOTION: Mark Ihnat MOVED; LeAnn Pierce SECONDED, to approve the July minutes as amended. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Financial Report. Janine reported on the financials. The account had a balance of $90,270.97. This month $259.27 was brought in. There were some expenses related to business registration fees and taxes that were accounted for. Staff Report. Jodi and Janine gave an overview of Parks and Gardens and the purpose of the Parks Advisory Board. Janine explained that the mission is to strive to maintain and operate parks and facilities that enrich the lives of the community and promote an overall healthier lifestyle. The department manages more than 1800 acres, including 16 county parks. Airlie Gardens, one park preserve, which is Pages Creek, and 50 nonpark properties. Janine also explained how ideas become projects for Parks & Gardens. The guiding document is the Parks & Gardens 10 year master plan. That ties into the New Hanover County Capital Improvement Plan. If its in the master plan and it is included in the Capital Improvement Plan, then it becomes a Parks and Gardens project. One of the things factor in is the maintenance plan. Anytime a new park is opened, or a new project is added, that becomes associated with maintenance. Parks and Gardens has an annual budget of $8.7 million. There are 61 full-time staff members and two part-time staff members. Jodi presented an overview of Parks and Gardens, including highlights from the 2017 Master Plan. The plan is due for an update, with work anticipated to begin in the next fiscal year. Members of the Parks Conservancy Board will be invited to participate . The current master plan will be distributed electronically to interested parties. An overview of the current Parks and Gardens Master Plan was provided, highlighting priorities that include expanding trail systems, developing recreational facilities and amenities, increasing NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS CONSERVANCY BOARD PAGE 3 REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2025 parking and ADA accessibility, and adding convenience features such as shade, seating, and public art. The plan also addresses land acquisition, development, and land banking. The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was discussed as a five-year planning tool for county projects exceeding $100,000 and requiring more than one year to complete. The CIP is updated annually in January by the Capital Improvement Program Committee, which submits recommendations to the County Manager. The County Manager then presents recommendations to the Board of Commissioners, which adopts the annual budget and CIP concurrently. Several capital projects currently in progress were reviewed, along with general cost considerations and market-driven increases in construction expenses. Updates included: Market Street and Middle Sound Loop Connector Trails: Projects that have been in development for several years and are now authorized to proceed, with construction expected to begin soon. North College Road Trail: Recently issued for bid and progressing as planned. South College Road Trail: Near bid readiness following completion of right-of-way acquisition; remaining administrative approvals are underway. Northern Regional Park: Construction is underway on two new athletic fields. The pump track is complete but awaiting final paving and roadwork before opening. Smith Creek Park Phase II: Trail and parking lot paving has been completed. Additional work includes striping, construction of a footbridge to address drainage concerns, and restroom construction, with materials expected mid-December. Echo Farms Expansion: Awaiting grant decisions, including funding from the U.S. Tennis Association. Minor adjustments were made to meet USTA standards, increasing eligibility for additional grant funding. Trails End Bulkhead Repair: Currently in the design phase. Future Planning: Long-term plans include extending a multi-use trail connection to Carolina Beach. The Parks Conservancy’s mission was reviewed, emphasizing care and enhancement of county parks to support environmental, community, and economic benefits. Activities align with three primary focus areas: volunteerism, advocacy, and fundraising. Current initiatives include roadside cleanups (“trash mobs”), special events such as the Food Truck Rodeo, beautification projects (tree planting, mulching), and advocacy through community engagement and outreach. Opportunities also exist for participation in local festivals and civic group presentations to raise awareness of parks and Conservancy efforts. NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS CONSERVANCY BOARD PAGE 4 REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2025 A financial summary of the Conservancy was presented. Current assets total approximately $90,000, with a portion designated as unrestricted funds available for general mission -related use and the remainder restricted for specific programs. Key restricted funds include: • Plant an Azalea Program • Grant funds supporting memorial maintenance, beautification projects, pollinator initiatives, and stormwater education • Beautification and park-specific funds, including Northern Regional Park Fundraising totals since 2018 exceed $117,000, primarily from individual and corporate contributions, special events, and grants. Major fundraising successes include the Food Truck Rodeo, Plant an Azalea program, skate park development support, and grant -funded improvements at Pages Creek Park. Discussion focused on future priorities, including trail connectivity, recreation demand (such as pickleball and dog-friendly amenities), and opportunities to strengthen advocacy and volunteer engagement. Board members emphasized the value of addressing tr ail gaps to improve countywide connectivity and discussed the potential for partnerships and donor -supported projects. Volunteer engagement strategies were reviewed, including quarterly trash mobs, coordination with community events, and outreach to corporate partners interested in volunteer service opportunities. The creation of a shared calendar to track events, outreach opportunities, and volunteer activities was proposed, with a preference for a Google-based format accessible to all members. Board members discussed advocacy as a means of increasing public awareness of parks, programs, and the Conservancy’s mission. Participation in festivals, community events, and educational outreach was encouraged. Existing outreach materials were reviewed, with recommendations to update printed materials, add QR codes for donations, and include testimonials highlighting personal connections to county parks. The next steps for the Parks Conservancy include • Explore development of a shared calendar for events, volunteer activities, and outreach opportunities. • Revisit scheduling for quarterly trash mobs, with a tentative target of beginning in March. • Continue discussions on fundraising enhancements and event-based revenue opportunities. • Identify upcoming community events suitable for Conservancy advocacy and engagement. NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS CONSERVANCY BOARD PAGE 5 REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 18, 2025 Old Business/New Business: none ADJOURNMENT Since there was no further business there was a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Dave Ellegood MOVED; Mark Ihnat SECONDED. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 pm. Next meeting: January 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Latashia Smith -Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Parks Conservancy Board meeting.