HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-15-2020 Minutes RPB Regular Meeting
Minutes
Parks and Recreation Board
7 p.m. Dec. 15, 2020
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Vice Chair Jesse Mowles-Aring, Commissioner Robb English, Lisa Frazier, Chelsea Gailey, Cole
Kenworthy, Andrew Landstrom, Breanna McCormley
Staff: Stormwater and Environmental Services Manager Terry Hackett and Public Space Manager
Stephanie Trueblood
Guests: Drew Kelly
1. Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum
Vice Chair Jesse Mowles-Aring called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Public Space Manager Stephanie
Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum.
2. Agenda changes and approval
Motion: Member Breanna McCormley moved to approve the agenda as presented. Member Liza Frazier
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
3. Minutes review and approval
A. Review minutes from regular meeting on Feb. 18, 2020
Motion: Member Andrew Landstrom moved approval of the minutes as presented. Member Cole
Kenworthy seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
4. Proposal by Drew Kelly to improve trails in the wooded section of Cates Creek Park for mountain biking
Drew Kelly said he enjoys Cates Creek Park and would like to improve the trail through the woods for
mountain biking. He had met with Trueblood and Hillsborough Stormwater and Environmental Services
Manager Terry Hackett at the site. Hackett has trail-building experience including in Brumley Forest. Kelly has
talked with several others who enjoy using the trails. The improvements would benefit both bikers and hikers.
Trueblood said people have already created a main trail into the woods, and Kelly is interested in creating
loops and switchbacks off the main trail. There is not a lot of underbrush or lower vegetation in the area
where he would like to build the trails.
Trueblood said Hackett is a good person to answer questions because he is a mountain biker as well as
Hillsborough’s stormwater and environmental services manager.
There was brief discussion about sharing the trail with hikers. Kelly said he calls out to warn hikers that he is
coming. Mowles-Aring noted that the Riverwalk greenway is multiuse.
Trueblood said the trails at Cates Creek Park would be a small entry-level trail system, so it would not attract
people from far away.
Hackett said multiuse trails are common now, including those in Brumley Forest. He said this would be a
gateway trail, built for beginner to intermediate riders. He would reroute the existing trail away from the
wetland areas. Triangle Off-Road Cyclists may be interested in funding the trail. Volunteers would help build
it. He thinks this organization would create a very well built and sustainable trail that would not damage the
Cates Creek wetlands.
Commissioner Robb English said he did have a concern about hikers and bikers both using the trail. He is
supportive of Triangle Off-Road Cyclists building the trail.
Kenworthy said students at The Little School love the trails and he is relieved to hear multiuse is the new
norm.
McCormley spoke in support of the project.
Trueblood said there would need to be signage explaining what the trail is for and reminders to be courteous
toward others using the trail.
Trueblood said trails in our area tend to be maintained by the users, and she could find volunteers to help do
any maintenance. Hackett said Triangle Off-Road Cyclists tends to provide a memorandum of understanding
that includes a promise of volunteer workdays.
Motion: Kenworthy moved approval of the project. McCormley seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
5. Election of Officers: Chair/Vice Chair
Motion: McCormley nominated Mowles-Aring as chair. Kenworthy seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Motion: Kenworthy nominated Frazier as vice chair. Mowles-Aring seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
6. Parks and Recreation-related reports
A. Board of Commissioners
English summarized recent board activity included approving a townhome project off U.S. 70A and the
Waterstone EMS and Fire Station and starting on a Comprehensive Sustainability Plan.
B. Planning Board
Frazier, the Planning Board representative to the Parks and Recreation Board, gave brief Planning Board
updates.
C. Intergovernmental Parks Work Group
There was none.
7. Park steward reports
Board members reported on the conditions of the parks for which they serve as stewards. Trueblood noted
COVID-19-related changes in the parks and gave other brief updates.
8. Adjournment
Motion: Landstrom moved to adjourn. McCormley seconded.
Vote: Unanimous