Parks and Recreation Tourism Development
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THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN JUNE 2005 Davidson County Parks and Recreation and Tourism Development Master Plan June 2005 Piedmont Triad Council of Governments -The Davidson County Parks and Recreation and Tourism Development Master Plan- The master plan was developed in cooperation with the citizens of Davidson County, the Board of County Commissioners, the Town of Denton, the City of Thomasville and the City of Lexington. Funding for the plan was provided by Davidson County in partnership with the Denton Chamber of Commerce, Thomasville Chamber of Commerce, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, North Davidson Chamber of Commerce, Davidson Vision, Lexington Tourism and the Davidson County Horsemen’s Association. The plan provides recommendations for the coordination of strategic recreation and tourism investments to create economic development and quality of life opportunities. Implementation of plan recommendations will help protect and enhance the county’s natural, cultural and historic resources while capitalizing on unique assets to stimulate public and private investment in the local economy and to enhance parks and recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. Deep appreciation is extended to each of the project funders. A special thanks to all task force members who contributed so freely of their time, energy, and ideas under the able leadership of tourism co-chairs Bill Patterson and Vickie Holder and Recreation Chair Gene Klump. A warm thanks to those who so generously hosted our meetings and provided a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Davidson County’s premier attractions. A very special thanks to project Steering Committee members for their outstanding leadership throughout the planning process. A particularly heartfelt thank you to Jo Ellen Edwards for her steadfastness, conscientious attention to detail, and extraordinary project support. Board of Davidson County Commissioners Project Steering Committee Members Don W. Truell – Chairman Jocelyn Beyeler – Denton Chamber of Commerce Larry Potts – Vice Chair Bill Colonna - City of Thomasville Planning Department Cindy Akins – Commissioner Guy Cornman – Davidson County Planning Department Fred McClure – Commissioner Jo Ellen Edwards - County Tourism Development Partnership Fred Sink – Commissioner Catherine Hoffmann – Davidson County Historical Museum Max Walser – Commissioner Tammy Kepley – City of Lexington Planning Department Sam Watford - Commissioner Charles Parnell – Davidson County Recreation Department Gaston Penry - County Tourism Development Partnership Recreation Task Force Members Ben Ross – Davidson Vision Gene Klump – County Tourism Development Partnership (Chair) Ana Agud – Lexington – Forsyth Medical Center Tourism Task Force Members Edie Allen – Lexington – DC Aquatic Association Vickie Holder – Thomasville Tourism Commission (Co-Chair) Lewin Arcilla – North – Breeden Insurance Agency Bill Patterson – Denton – RCR Enterprises (Co-Chair) Jocelyn Beyeler – Denton – Denton Chamber of Commerce Cecil Conrad – West - BBQ Center, Lexington Tourism Authority Kevin Bowers – Thomasville – Hasty Booster Club President Guy Cornman – Davidson County Planning Department Wayne Briggs – North – Babe Ruth Softball Melissa Darr – North – A Culinary Destination Mary Ann Brown – Davidson County Recreation Department Jo Ellen Edwards – Tourism Development Partnership Dr. Lacy Caple – Lexington – Dentist Maynard Edwards – Central – Davidson County Schools Corbie Causey – Denton – South Davidson Booster Club Charlie Hall – Thomasville – Thomasville Ford Lee Crook – Davidson County Recreation Board Robert Hairston – West – Teacher Mike Darrow – North – Arcadia Booster Club Catherine Hoffmann – Davidson County Historical Museum Bruce Davis – City of Lexington Recreation Department Bessie Holmes – West – RN Kevin Firquin – Central – Central Senior High School Keith Loflin – Denton – Denton Farm Park Billy Freeman – Thomasville Recreation Department Robert Lopp – Davidson County Cooperative Extension Service Trevor Gooch – Central Edgar Miller – Central – Conservation Trust for North Carolina Jimmy Hamblin – West – Reeds Booster Club Andy Morris – Denton – Uwharrie Real Estate Woody Huneycutt – Thomasville Haggith Montoya – North – Don Juan’s Restaurant Randy Holmes – Davidson County Recreation Board Liz Parham – Lexington – Uptown Lexington, Inc. Stuart Koontz – Lexington Ben Ross – Central – Davidson Vision Vera McRae – Lexington – ARC Mark Scott – Thomasville – Thomasville Tourism Susan Medlin – Central – Stanley Furniture Charlotte Sears –Thomasville Historic Preservation Commission Doug Meredith – North – DC Horsemen’s Association Frank Stoner – Lexington – Bob Timberlake Galleries Charles Parnell – Lexington – DC Recreation Department Radford Thomas – West – Lexington Chamber of Commerce Gaston Penry – Wallburg – Tourism Development Partnership J. B. Trotter – Denton Lynda Phillips – Central – High Rock Lake Paula Turlington – West – SII Dry Kiln J. Ross Simeon – Lexington – Pinewood Golf Club Stephanie Walker – Thomasville Chris Skeen – Denton – Tour De Kale Chris Watford – Thomasville – Davidson County Schools Mark Skeen – Denton – Clear Lake Water Ski Association Rev. Eddie White – Thomasville – Minister Kelly Smith – Denton – Rick’s Restaurant Teresa Snider – Davidson County Recreation Department PTCOG Project Staff Members Robert Suggs – Thomasville Paul M. Kron – Regional Planning Director Lucia Zimmerman – North – Davidson County Social Services David Long – Planning Consultant Johanna Isakson Cockburn – Senior Planner Elizabeth Garnett – GIS Planner Paula Sloneker – Special Projects Analyst Anne Edwards – Information Services Director The Davidson County Parks and Recreation and Tourism Development Master Plan Page i Table of Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................iv Chapter 1 – Master Plan Purpose and Process.......................................... 1 Purpose of the Master Plan ........................................................................................... 1 Vision, Mission and Goals ............................................................................................. 1 The Public Involvement Process................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2 – Current Conditions in Davidson County................................ 7 County Location and Market Area ................................................................................... 7 County Demographics...................................................................................................... 8 County Development and Commuting Trends.............................................................. 13 County Heritage and History.......................................................................................... 14 County Planning Efforts ................................................................................................. 15 Chapter 3 – Parks and Recreation Conditions and Trends .....................17 National Recreation Conditions and Trends.................................................................. 17 State Recreation Conditions and Trends ...................................................................... 18 Existing County Recreation Assets................................................................................ 18 Park Planning Categories and Land Requirements...................................................... 22 Assessment of Existing Davidson County Parks .......................................................... 23 County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment....................................................... 25 Public Involvement – The Primary Recreation Needs Assessment Tool..................... 27 Chapter 4 – Parks and Recreation Recommendations ............................33 Parks and Recreation Findings...................................................................................... 33 Parks and Recreation Task Force Recommendations ................................................. 34 Parks and Recreation Development Recommendations.............................................. 36 Recommended Park Development Priorities ................................................................ 38 Recommendations for Existing Parks............................................................................ 39 Recommendations for New Parks and Recreation Facilities........................................ 49 Parks and Recreation Department - Administrative Recommendations...................... 59 Parks and Recreation Department - Budgeting Recommendations ............................ 61 Funding Opportunities and Recommendations............................................................. 63 Partnership Opportunities and Recommendations ....................................................... 68 The Davidson County Parks and Recreation and Tourism Development Master Plan Page ii Table of Contents Chapter 5 – Tourism Development Conditions and Trends ....................71 National Tourism Conditions and Trends ...................................................................... 71 State Tourism Conditions and Trends ........................................................................... 71 Regional Tourism Conditions and Trends ..................................................................... 72 Davidson County Tourism Conditions and Trends ......................................................