HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-20-2018 Minutes PRB Regular meetingPage 1 of 5
Minutes
Parks and Recreation Board
7 p.m. Feb. 20, 2018
Town Barn, 101 E. Orange St.
Present: Vice Chair Kate Albrecht, Board of Commissioners representative Mark Bell (ex officio),
Ashley Campbell, Robb English, Annie Jarabek, Noah Mace, Rebecca Swartz, Nancy
Taylor, Chris Wehrman (Planning Board representative)
Absent: Chair Todd Stabley and Kim Woodell
Staff: Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood
Item 1: Call meeting to order; confirm presence of a quorum.
Vice Chair Kate Albrecht called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Public Space Manager Stephanie
Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum.
Item 2: Consideration of changes or adjustments to the agenda
There was none.
Item 3: Approval of minutes from Jan. 16, 2018, meeting
Motion: Board Member Rebecca Swartz moved approval of the minutes as presented. Board
Member Nancy Taylor seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 4: Discuss development of Murray Street Park Master Plan
Trueblood reviewed that she had incorporated two minor edits and added the priorities suggested by
board members last month. She noted this item was continued to this month to give neighborhood
residents time to comment before the master plan was approved. The town published a news release,
which was also shared on the social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor, to try to boost
participation.
Albrecht invited those in the audience who wished to make suggestions or ask questions about the
master plan to speak.
An audience member said he had concerns if a parking lot were to be added. Trueblood said the
neighborhood park is intended for people who live within walking distance. There is no plan to add
parking but a plan to add a handicapped-accessible pedestrian entrance. The audience member said
that plan suited him.
Swartz asked about the timeframe for the bird park. She said Birds Unlimited will donate the birdfeeders
even though she does not work there anymore. Trueblood said she was thinking the bird park could be
started in year 1 but added to each year. A Girl Scouts troop is also interested in building birdhouses in
this park. The scouts will present a proposal at a future meeting.
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Board Member Ashley Campbell noted the master plan looks a lot like the original plan, which she likes.
Trueblood reviewed that the master plan would be revisited roughly every three years. It would not
prevent the board from following up on other opportunities should there be something everyone wants
to do in the park.
Motion: Albrecht moved to adopt the Murray Street Park Master Plan. English seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 5: Discuss interest in a town skate park and other teen recreational resources
Trueblood said Member Noah Mace requested this agenda item. Mace said he wanted to get this
discussion on the agenda again because it has been awhile since the board discussed it and there is a
new member. Also, this winter some unfortunate things happened to kids who skate in his
neighborhood, which made him want to strengthen the Hillsborough skate community. He would like to
see this board and the town come up with a plan so there is a safe, sanctioned place for teenagers and
others to skate. He feels some mentorship and solid friendship could have changed the decisions the
teenagers made.
When someone asked, Trueblood explained that skateboarding is not allowed on the downtown
sidewalks, so kids have to skateboard in the streets.
Trueblood acknowledged people were in the audience for this item. She reviewed that several years ago
this board discussed the lack of recreational facilities for teens. Every few years, a group of teens comes
before the board requesting a skate park, outgrowing the teen years before anything is done. A few
years ago, this board examined several pieces of property and determined Exchange Club Park was an
appropriate location for a skate park because it is close to the greenway, served by the bus system and
is closer to where the town’s population is growing than other locations would be. The Exchange Club is
interested in giving the town, or leasing to the town, the green space for a skate park and other
amenities The Exchange Club would continue to hold the building and lease out the baseball field
separately to Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association. The adjacent Park Valley Pool is a separate parcel
of land. The town would have access to the rest of the green space and several acres of woods on the
other side of the creek. The town conducted a safety inspection of the existing playground and
restrooms and determined it would immediately need to create handicapped-accessible parking and
restrooms and install new playground equipment and picnic shelters to take over the areas. The
Exchange Club green space became an unfunded request in the budget for the last several years.
Trueblood shared possibilities had been discussed by this board of installing a disc golf course or
mountain biking trails in the woods and installing a graffiti wall near the skate park. This would be a
space where teens would be welcome and where parents of younger children would not chase them off,
which Trueblood says happens on playground equipment at other parks.
A board member asked how to let the Board of Commissioners know that 10 people came for this item
today. Another said there is a petition in support of a skate park with 85 signatures. Trueblood noted
Commissioner Mark Bell is present at this meeting and is an ex officio member of the Parks and
Recreation Board.
Bell explained the town budget process where commissioners rank the priority of requests and then
vote on items to include in the budget. That will happen at a budget retreat in April.
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Board members explained to the audience that they have tried to incentivize basketball courts by
offering more recreation points to developers for them.
John Gaddy addressed the board. He said he is an Orange County teacher and he and his son skate. They
travel to skate parks in Durham and Chapel Hill. They are interested in having a skate park located in
Hillsborough. He said Exchange Club is a great location because not much is going on there. Trueblood
asked for thoughts on concrete. Gaddy’s son, Tucker Gaddy, said concrete is good.
John Gaddy said it is critical that society pays more attention to teenagers and he believes in having a
safe space for teens to socialize. He pointed out this is an ongoing need and events like active shooters
in high schools are a reminder that socialization is important.
Gaddy asked what it would take to move the Exchange Park opportunity along. Trueblood explained
that the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners is contributing to some of the organization’s grounds
maintenance costs now. Bell said the Hillsborough and Orange County boards of commissioners would
be having a joint meeting two days after this meeting and park partnerships were on the agenda.
Scott Metheny addressed the board. He skates and is excited about the idea of Hillsborough building a
skate park. He follows two groups that build skate parks and sees skate parks popping up in little towns
all over North Carolina. He has two teenaged boys who ride bikes in downtown Hillsborough, hang out
at Weaver Street Market or walk on the Riverwalk. He does not think they are getting into trouble, but it
would be nice if they had more recreational options. He likes the idea of trails in the woods at Exchange
Club Park as well. His office is across the street from the Durham skate park. He remembers when it was
under construction some people said it was a waste of money and would not get used much, but people
are always at that skate park. He is a builder and is interested in helping in any way he can.
A board member asked about material options besides concrete. Trueblood answered Skatelite is a
material like Masonite that holds up to the weather and which the Chapel Hill park used. Concrete
would be easier for the Town of Hillsborough to maintain. Trueblood noted that the Chapel Hill skate
park is screened from view. The Hillsborough Police Department has requested that the park be visible,
which it would be at Exchange Club Park.
Bell said Orange County is conducting a soil impact analysis for Fairview Park to determine whether the
park can be expanded. Trueblood said a skate park was not one of the amenities the county was
considering. She shared her idea with Bell that if the remainder of the Fairview Park land is buildable, it
might be a place where Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association could place all four ball fields together.
An audience member said he skateboards and has three future skateboarders. The skate park in his
hometown of Minneapolis was a cultural center for teens as well as recreation. It attracted teens who
were not involved in anything else. He would love for there to be a graffiti wall. He loves that the
Exchange Club Park is close to Weaver Street Market so that people can leave and buy something to
drink and come back. Wi-Fi would be a huge asset.
Trueblood said Exchange Club Park is also nice because it has large, mature trees and is well shaded.
Tree-climbing recreational companies could be attracted to these areas as well.
There was wrap-up talk of gathering names of people supportive of a skate park.
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Item 6: Review Riverwalk Survey results
Albrecht said about 100 surveys have been gathered. Many of these surveys were in the 2 to 8 p.m. time
frame. A few were conducted in the morning. If board members wanted to gather some survey answers
around lunchtime, that could be helpful. About half of the responders identified as Hillsborough citizens;
some of those aren’t technically Hillsborough residents. Albrecht reported that almost half of the people
surveyed use Riverwalk two to five times a week and that a quarter of responders use it daily. She
reviewed the average ages, with many users between 36 and 55 and 10 percent at least 66. Albrecht
said it was noted that almost a quarter of those surveyed felt comfortable, empowered and happy using
Riverwalk alone.
Albrecht said suggestions included expanding Riverwalk to connect to Occoneechee Mountain and Ayr
Mount, allowing bicycles on the American Classical Homes Preservation Trust property, and installing
water fountains for people and pets.
Albrecht suggested establishing Riverwalk as a “check-in” site on Facebook and then pulling that
information to have a better sense of the number of users. Trueblood said she would check in with the
Public Information Office on how to do that. There was interest in publishing this information in a
newsletter, perhaps tied in with the fourth anniversary of Riverwalk.
Item 7: Annual Election of Officers: Chair and Vice Chair
Motion: Swartz moved to appoint Board Member Robb English as chair. Board Member Chris
Wehrman seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Motion: English moved to appoint Todd Stabley as vice chair. Board Member Annie Jarabek
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 8: Reports and updates — (Parks and Recreation-related reports)
• Board of Commissioners — Bell said staff is working on the budget process. Quality of life is
important to everyone in Hillsborough. The budget ties to the town’s strategy map. There are
five candidates for Commissioner Brian Lowen’s seat on the board. The board has outlined a
process for conducting interviews on Feb. 26.
• Planning Board — Wehrman said many U.S. 70 residents who live near the proposed county jail
site spoke against the location at the joint public hearing in February.
• Orange County Parks and Recreation Council — Jarabek was unable to attend.
• Mountains-to-Sea Trail — Trueblood said the Orange County Commissioners adopted the
corridor plan.
• Intergovernmental Parks Work Group — Trueblood said it now meets twice a year. The next
meeting is in April.
• Park steward reports:
1. Gold Park — No report. Dog Park — Taylor said some users have asked her if it is possible to
extend the concrete to the gate because of the mud. Trueblood said she has mulch
scheduled to be brought in. The town needs some warm, dry weather. She thinks concrete
is an option but not in this budget year.
2. Cates Creek Park — English said it is still often used.
3. Turnip Patch Park — No report.
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4. Murray Street Park — Campbell said one bollard was knocked over.
5. Kings Highway Park — Mace said it looks really good, particularly after an Eagle Scout
project was completed there.
6. Hillsborough Heights Park — No report as Member Kim Woodell was absent.
7. Riverwalk— Trueblood said Chapel Hill gravel was added on Phase 3 where some fabric was
showing.
• Staff updates:
○ The Sidewalk Connections Project for West Hillsborough is out to bid again.
○ The bridge in Gold Park near The Expedition School was repaired last week.
○ The planting project in the dry basin off Gold Park is complete.
○ The pollinator gardens at Cates Creek Park, Gold Park and the downtown pollinator gardens
will all get mulched this spring.
○ The detour is still in place on Riverwalk until the ground dries out where the sewer work was
done.
○ Trueblood is working with an engineer to redesign the entrance to Kings Highway Park. She
had a successful meeting with Piedmont Electric Membership Cooperation about clearing
the easement for better visibility in the parking area.
○ The butterfly garden at Turnip Patch Park will be moved out of the creek area this spring.
Item 9: Adjourn
Motion: English moved to adjourn at 9 p.m. Mace seconded.
Vote: Unanimous