2023-10-04 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
OCTOBER 4, 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. Top of Mind Topics All
4. Director/Staff Q&A Tara/Andy
5. Adjournment
NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PAGE 2
REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
ASSEMBLY
The Parks Advisory Board held its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at the Airlie
Cottage.
Present: John Hinnant éltjtrê, Ryan Bisplinghoff, Lindy Ford, Carol Hunter, Caleb Rash, Gayle Tabor
and Stephanie Walker.
Staff: Tara Duckworth, Tanya Gurganious and Andy Johnson.
WELCOME AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by John Hinnant who asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the
nd
August 2 meeting. The following motion was presented:
MOTION: Carol Hunter MOVED; SECONDED by Ryan Bisplinghoff, that the minutes of the August 2,
2023, meeting be approved. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1.Director/Staff Q&A. Tara provided a detailed overview of the department. Highlights were as
follows:
~ The department has a budget of $7.2 million
~ We currently have 65 full-time and 19 part-time seasonal staff members
~ Upon the completion of Hanover Pines Park, the department will have 17 parks plus Airlie Gardens.
~ Non-park properties such as cemeteries, FEMA parcels, multi-use trails, medians as well as NHC
office grounds are maintained by the department.
~ Airlie Gardens is a 501c3 non-profit foundation with a $7 million endowment and $1.4 million
operating budget
~ Parks conservancy is a 501c3 nonprofit established in 2013. It is the fundraising arm of parks
~ Environmental education responsible for butterfly releases, nature and bird walks, park pop-ups
as well as NHC school visits to Airlie Gardens
~ There is recreational programming such as tennis programs, clinics and tournaments as well as
aquatic programs and public swimming. We also have special events and health & wellness
classes
~ Multi-Use trails have been in development for the last several years on Middle Sound Loop Road,
Market Street, Military Cut0ff Extension, Gordon Road, as well as North & South College Roads
trails
~ There are several capital projects that are currently underway: Hanover Pines Park é gl
h~}llj t Ahglê and Airlie Gardens service center renovations to be completed this month.
~ The following projects have all been completed: River Road Pier replacement, Arrowhead
pickleball conversion and tennis court resurfacing/lighting at Ogden, Hoggard & Long Leaf
Parks.
~ Upcoming/Current capital projects are NRP phase 2 construction, Echo Farms expansion, Smith
Creek Phase 2, NRP pickleball lighting, Trails End pier redesign and Ogden playground replacement
Tanya shared pictures of the latest park artwork which was painted just last weekend along with
pictures of all of the other artwork. Also shared a picture of the owl playground which is a main
feature of Hanover Pines Park.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY PARKS ADVISORY BOARD PAGE 3
REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
Top of Mind Topics. John asked the group where they would like to have the next meeting. Possibly
Hanover Pines Park or Airlie Gardens to look at the renovations. Tara also shared that there will be a
member evening held at Airlie soon and board members could attend to see garden services center
renovations. She will verify the date and share that information with the board via email.
th
2.Next Meeting. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 4at Hanover Pines Park.
3.Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 9:22am.
Respectfully submitted,
Latashia Smith
-Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Airlie Gardens Foundation Board meeting.