New Parks In Store Across Nash County
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Nash County soon will be donning an emerald necklace – a string of new parks.
A parks and recreation master plan calls for development of three community parks‚ a regional park and numerous smaller parks throughout the county‚ says Patsy King‚ services and grants director for the county.
“These new parks are something that the people who live here will enjoy and people who are thinking of moving here will consider an attraction‚” King says.
First to open will be a 30-acre community park in the town of Red Oak‚ where playgrounds‚ walking trails‚ picnic shelters‚ restrooms‚ and athletic fields and courts are to be created.
“We had about 85 people show up at the public information meeting on the Red Oak park‚ and most everyone expressed support‚” King says. “It looks like we could break ground in summer of 2006.”
The $1.5 million park got an early go-ahead because the town already owned the land. State and federal grants totaling $750‚000 have been obtained‚ and the nearby town of Dortches also is committed to contributing funds.
Park programs are available in Rocky Mount and the town of Nashville. Until recently‚ however‚ Nash was one of the few counties in North Carolina that had not offered parks and recreation services‚ King says.
“The county commissioners felt like we needed to take a look and see if it was something the citizens would be interested in‚” she says.
At the commission’s request‚ planning consultant Site Solutions of Charlotte helped survey local residents about their needs and wishes. “We found out there was strong interest in parks and recreation in Nash County‚” King says.
County Commissioner Robbie B. Davis was among the first to recognize the advantages of creating county parks. “I was raised in the county myself and didn’t have access to some of the ball leagues and other facilities like the kids who lived in town‚” says Davis‚ a former Little League coach. “I believe that kids who are involved in structured activities tend to stay out of mischief more often than not.”
But children aren’t the only ones who will benefit from the parks program. “We’re trying to do something for all age groups‚ from kids to senior citizens‚” Davis says.
The master plan is expected to be implemented over 10 years at a cost of just under $6 million.
In addition to the park being built to serve Red Oak and Dortches‚ community parks are to be developed in the New Hope-Momeyer and Bailey-Middlesex areas.
Plans are to address the specific needs of citizens in all parts of Nash County based on results of the local surveys as well as state standards. “For instance‚ we found that we needed to create three adult baseball fields‚ five youth baseball fields‚ eight softball‚ four football and eight soccer fields‚” King says. “Then there’s basketball‚ tennis‚ volleyball‚ picnic shelters‚ trails‚ camping‚ pools‚ golf and canoeing. The list goes on.”
Story by Renee Elder
Photo by Wes Aldridge
