2020 – 2030 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan
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PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN 2020 – 2030 PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMEN TOWN OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TOWN OF WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH PLANNING AND PARKS DEPARTMENT DR. JAMES H. HERSTINE, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, UNC Wilmington TAYLOR DAVIS, Student, UNC Wilmington CHARLEE FREEMAN, Student, UNC Wilmington MARCUS NEWBERG, Student, UNC Wilmington Formally adopted by the Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on November 4, 2019 Formally adopted by the Town of Wrightsville Beach Mayor and Board of Aldermen on February 13, 2020 Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Page 1 Department Department PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation staff would like to thank the citizens, elected officials, Town staff, the members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, volunteers and all members of the Wrightsville Beach community who participated in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan process. Your dedication and commitment to your community are a testament to the high quality of life that is present in the Town of Wrightsville Beach. Special thanks are due to the following: Town of Wrightsville Beach Mayor and Board of Aldermen Darryl Mills—Mayor Hank Miller—Mayor Pro Tempore Jeffrey DeGroote—Alderman Kenneth Dull—Alderman Zeke Partin—Alderman Bill Blair – Mayor, December 14, 2017 – December 12, 2019 Elizabeth King – Alderman, December 10, 2015 – December 12, 2019 Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Bridget Bendjy—Member Susan Collins—Member Eric Leach—Member Edwin Martin—Member Sandy May—Member Jeff Turpin—Member Amy Ulshoefer—Member Town of Wrightsville Beach General Administration Tim Owens—Town Manager Sylvia Holleman—Town Clerk Town of Wrightsville Beach Planning and Parks Department Tony Wilson—Director of Planning and Parks Katie Ryan—Recreation Program Supervisor Evan Morigerato—Parks Maintenance Supervisor Kris Thompson—Administrative Support Assistant Interested and Engaged Citizens of the Community Special thanks to all the citizens who participated in the public meetings, public forums, interviews and focus group and to those who responded to the needs’ assessment survey. The dedication, commitment and feedback from these individuals energized and guided the master plan process. THANK YOU! Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Page 2 Department Department PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary of the Master Plan Process & Recommendations 5 – 19 Chapter One: Introduction 20 – 22 . Purpose and Scope of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan 21 . Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Overview 22 . Town of Wrightsville Beach Planning and Parks Department, Parks and Recreation Division Statement of Purpose 22 . Town of Wrightsville Beach Planning and Parks Department, Parks and Recreation Division Mission Statement 22 . Previous Community Studies and Assessments 22 Chapter Two: Master Plan Vision, Goals & Objectives 23 – 30 . Vision 24 . Goals and Objectives 25 – 30 Chapter Three: Town of Wrightsville Beach Characteristics & Demographics 31 – 36 . Location/Geography/Natural Resources 31 – 32 . General Demographics 33 – 36 Chapter Four: Inventory of Existing Programs, Services, Events, Activities, Facilities, Areas & Parks 37 – 50 . Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation “Parks” 39 – 42 . Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation “Special Areas and Facilities” 43 . Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation “Programs, Special Events and Special Collaborations” 44 – 46 . North Carolina Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Sites 47 . Other Relevant Public Parks, Recreation & Open Space Programs, Services, Areas & Facilities 47 . General Boating Access Locations and Paddle Trails 48 . Relevant Private, Commercial, Non-Profit and Church Recreational Programs, Services, Areas and Facilities 48 – 50 Chapter Five: Assessment of the Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks, Recreation & Open Space Needs and Summary of Public Input 51 – 140 . Inspection, Analysis and Evaluation of Existing Parks, Recreation and Open Space “Parks” 52 – 56 . Inspection, Analysis and Evaluation of Existing Parks, Recreation and Open Space “Special Areas and Facilities” 57 – 58 . Inspection, Analysis and Evaluation of Existing Parks, Recreation and Open Space “Programs and Special Events and Special Collaborations” 58 . Community and Citizen Input on Parks, Recreation and Open Space Needs and Priorities—Meeting with Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Parks and Recreation Staff 59 – 60 . Community and Citizen Input on Parks, Recreation and Open Space Needs and Priorities—Public Forum Meetings (3) 61 – 65 . Community and Citizen Input on Parks, Recreation and Open Space Needs and Priorities—Interviews with Key Stakeholders (4) 66 – 69 . Community and Citizen Input on Parks, Recreation and Open Space Needs and Priorities—Focus Group 70 – 74 . Community and Citizen Input on Parks, Recreation and Open Space Needs and Priorities—Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment Survey 75 – 100 . 2007 Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Department Survey 101 – 102 . Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation 2012 Needs Assessment Survey 103 – 105 . Wrightsville Beach 2013 Community Transportation Plan 106 – 114 . Town of Wrightsville Beach 2013 – 2018 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan 115 – 121 . Wrightsville Beach Park 2016 Master Development Plan 122 – 127 . New Hanover County Parks and Gardens 10-Year Master Plan 2017 128 – 132 . Town of Wrightsville Beach CAMA Land Use Plan 133 – 140 Chapter Six: Parks, Recreation & Open Space Standards 141 – 161 . Nature Preserves 143 – 144 . Regional Parks 144 . Community Parks 145 . Sports Complex 146 . District Parks 147 Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Page 3 Department Department PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN . Neighborhood Parks 148 . Mini-Parks 149 . School-Parks 149 . Greenways 150 . Boat Access Sites 151 . North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Plan 2015 – 2020 Park and Recreation Area Class Names and Description 152 – 153 . 2016 NRPA National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Field Report Park and Recreation Agency Performance Benchmarks 154 – 155 . Parks Level of Service per 1,000 Population Standards and Standards for Public Facilities 156 . Town of Wrightsville Beach: Facility, Area and Park Standards 157 . Town of Wrightsville Beach: Existing Facilities, Areas and Parks 158 . Town of Wrightsville Beach: Current Facility, Area and Park Demand 159 . Town of Wrightsville Beach: Current Facility, Area and Park Need 160 . Evaluation of Town of Wrightsville Beach Current Facility, Area and Park Need in 2020 161 Chapter Seven: Master Plan Proposals & Recommendations 162 – 182 . Land Acquisition—2020 – 2030 164 – 165 . Facility, Area and Park Development—2020 – 2030 165 – 171 . Program, Service, Event and Activity Development—2020 – 2030 172 – 173 . Policy and Procedure Considerations—2020 – 2030 174 – 178 . Personnel Considerations—2020 – 2030 179 – 182 Chapter Eight: Implementation Plan 183 – 216 . Land Acquisition—2020 – 2030 184 – 187 . Facility, Area and Park Development—2020 – 2030 188 – 198 . Program and Service Development—2020 – 2030 199 – 202 . Policy and Procedure Considerations—2020 – 2030 203 – 207 . Personnel Considerations—2020 – 2030 208 – 209 . Funding Sources and Opportunities 210 . External Grant Funding Sources and Opportunities 210 – 216 Appendices 217 – 273 Appendix A—Population Figures and Estimates 1960 – 2020 217 Appendix B—Persons by Age 218 Appendix C—Racial Composition 219 Appendix D—Median and Mean Household Income 220 Appendix E—Educational Level Attainment 221 Appendix F—Parks, Recreation and Open Space Needs Assessment Survey Instrument 222 – 226 Appendix G—Responses to Participation in Programs/Service/Events/Activities (Q9) 227 Appendix H—Responses to Why Respondents “Never”, “Rarely” or “Sometimes” Participate in Recreational Programs/Services/Events/Activities (Q10) 228 – 235 Appendix I—Responses to Future New Recreational Programs/Services/Events/Activities (Q11) 236 Appendix J— “Other” Responses to Future New Recreational Programs/Services/Events/Activities (Q11) 237 – 239 Appendix K—Responses to Future New Facilities/Areas/Parks (Q14) 240 Appendix L— “Other” Responses to Future New Facilities/Areas/Parks (Q14) 241 – 243 Appendix M—Methods for Raising all Ratings of Department to at least “Good” (Q18) 244 – 247 Appendix N— “Other” Responses to Best Methods for Informing Participants (Q19) 248 Appendix O—Responses to ONE Thing to do Better or ONE Facility to be Added (Q20) 249 – 259 Appendix P—Responses to Any Additional Improvements/Enhancements (Q22) 260 – 268 Appendix Q—Current 2019 – 2020 Fiscal Year Organizational Chart 269 Appendix R—Proposed Organizational Chart Effective by End of 2022 – 2021 Fiscal Year 270 Appendix S—Proposed Organization Chart Effective by End of 2023 – 2024 Fiscal Year 271 Appendix T—Proposed Organization Chart Effective by End of 2024 – 2025 Fiscal Year 272 Appendix U—Proposed Organization Chart Effective Beyond 2025 – 2030 Fiscal Years 273 Town of Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Page 4 Department Department PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE MASTER PLAN PROCESS & RECOMMENDATIONS The Parks, Recreation