45.3 F
Wrightsville Beach
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Many unaware of improved New Hanover park system

Must read

Most New Hanover County residents know Airlie Gardens and Hugh MacRae Park. Those who live in the northern part of the county may be familiar with Ogden Park and the Olsen Park recreational complex. But a survey found that many residents, even those who have lived here for a long time, don’t know the county has 15 parks in addition to numerous recreation facilities, said Tara Duckworth, the county’s parks and gardens director.

“People said, ‘We had no idea,’” Duckworth said. Through social media, presentations to civic groups and a relatively new group of volunteer fundraisers, she aims to change that.

Taxpayers have, in recent years, funded significant additions to the county park system, but only recently has the county undertaken an organized effort to raise the profile of the parks system. Duckworth said she was somewhat surprised to find many residents don’t know about some of the major improvements made with the county’s share of a $35 million bond issue voters approved in 2006.

Among the apparently well-kept secrets is Smith Creek Park, an expansive nature park tucked inside a residential neighborhood between Gordon and Murrayville roads. The park, which was developed with bond money, has a pond accessible to kayaks and small boats, as well as a walking/biking trail and playground. There is even a “seek-and-find” activity that encourages children to look for various plants as they exercise their legs.

County officials are hoping to use the foundation’s model to raise money and public support. In 2012 the county created the Parks Conservancy, whose primary function is to raise private money and recruit volunteers. Last year the conservancy raised about $14,000, Chairman Theron Marshall told the commissioners.

Compare that with Airlie Gardens, which has a $2.6 million balance in its endowment. The park is well established and has a long history of private support, whereas the conservancy only recently obtained its status as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

“That’s the beauty of Airlie. We have the brand,” Duckworth said.

Airlie Gardens also charges admission, unlike the other parks.

Vivian “Zeke” Partin, who chairs the Airlie Gardens Foundation board, said fees from admission, weddings, memberships, rentals and other events brought in more than $575,000. The foundation raises money for amenities and improvements beyond what county resources will fund.

Duckworth called the parks conservancy’s fundraising “slow but steady” and said she hopes things will pick up as a campaign to fund a new skatepark begins.

The skate park soon will be under construction at Ogden Park near the pond and picnic shelters. The county is depending on fundraising for some of the $450,000 cost of the two-phase project, Duckworth said. The rest will come from the county’s construction and capital spending budget.

More improvements are yet to come.

The county’s share of the $35 million green space bond supplied $1.5 million to build two additional, lighted multipurpose fields and a beginners’ mountain-biking slope at Castle Hayne Park, which soon will be renamed as the Northern Regional Park to suit its larger footprint. The park also has a popular disc golf course, tennis courts, picnic shelters and a playground.

Construction on two new fields and a new, more prominent park entrance is underway.

The second phase is expected to cost $2.9 million. Design on that phase, which will add more fields, a basketball court, a walking/biking trail and a dog park, will begin in the 2016-17 budget year.

In the meantime, Duckworth said she hopes prominent events that bring large numbers of people to the parks — such as the Food Truck Frolics, which will soon be held twice a year — will continue to increase awareness of the county’s parks and their varied amenities.

email [email protected]

- Advertisement -spot_img

More articles

- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest articles