HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-23-2019 Minutes PRB Joint MeetingJoint Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting
Hosted by Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board
7pm, Tuesday, April 23, 2019
105 East Corbin Street, Hillsborough
MEETING ATTENDANCE: 28
Hillsborough: 10, Chapel Hill: 6, Carrboro: 4, Orange County: 7, Efland: 1
MEETING NOTES
Community Engagement
What Works
- Dedicated spaces for teens, CH and Carrboro; these can be used as recreational,
educational, or simply safe hangout spaces
- Teen Advisory Board Seats, CH and Carrboro; positions advertised in brochures, Twitter,
schools, teen-focused community organizations
- Youth Advisory Board, Carrboro; extends beyond advising Parks and Rec topics, meets
during school year, dedicated member from youth council serves as liaison
- Planning teen engagement events with the input of teens has proven way more successful
than events planned without their input
- Reach out and partner with existing organizations that are already serving the population
you’re looking to engage (for teens: HS environmental clubs, community service clubs,
farm/garden club, school counselors, Scout troops, sports recreation leagues)
- Using language that resonates with the community you’re speaking to; providing materials
in other languages
Needs Assessments and Data Sharing
Existing Resources
Interactive Parks Locator Map: http://server2.co.orange.nc.us/parklocator/
Interactive Trails Map: https://gis.orangecountync.gov:8443/TrailsAndParks/default.html
Town of Hillsborough Parks Information
o Meetings and agendas posted under Meeting Information
o Master Plans for all parks also share here
- In order to report to Town Boards, critical to have data that supports/demonstrates strong
needs or opinion about parks projects; if data is available to support your story, leadership is
more
- Survey at grocery stores, laundry mats, gas stations – rather than at park facilities where
you’re engaging only the people that already utilize the resource
- Coordinate survey or outreach with a “tour guide” that already has access and connections
to whatever population you’re hoping to engage
- Pool data inventories to share regionally, digital inventory
Environmental Stewardship and Conservation Efforts
- Limit use of chemicals in grounds maintenance; steam weeding an option worth trialing,
potentially resource share between jurisdictions to share costs
- Developing maintenance plans that don’t require excess mowing; using native plants and
pollinators
- Resilience plan, Climate Action Plan, Chapel Hill
Collaboration and Funding Partnerships
- Utilizing Friends networks to make connections and collaborate on fundraising
- Using private partnerships to fill budget funding gaps; foundations, local businesses,
transportation funds doubling as parks fund
- Communication is critical, we all exist as resources to each other from lessons learned to
personal connections and idea creation
Multi-Modal Trail
- Identified three different potential routes (Old NC 86, NC 86, and rail line that currently
serves as transport for the UNC campus coal supply)
- Potential next step: feasibility study to determine which option is worth pursuing
- Question of what we mean by “multi-modal,” do we really mean to extend beyond
bike/ped? How can we also provide resources for equine recreation?