Holly Springs Veterans’ Park Public Meeting

Town Council Chambers 7:00 pm

May 12, 2005

Presentation: Joe Lyle, Thompson & Associates, Landscape Architect

Michael Weeks, Weeks-Turner Architecture

Staff: Len Bradley, Johnny Dickinson, Sarah Kennedy

P&R Advisory Members: Randy Adamson, Libby Wilhelmson, Mary Beth Healy-Henrick, Kathy Hamilton-Brown, Matt Clifton

Town Commissioner: Hank Dickson

Commissioner Hank Dickson brought the meeting to order and introduced Joe Lyle and Michael Weeks.

The consultants started the meeting by stating they were not here to present a plan but to gather information and receive feedback and comments. A map was presented which showed the property with no improvements. The property has a 1200 sq. ft. house on approximately 10 acres of land with a pond. Structurally the house is in good shape and consists of a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedrooms. The property is not large enough for an athletic complex, but more suited for a neighborhood or passive park with amenities such as volleyball, horseshoes and picnic areas. Part of the property was excavated to rebuild the dam on the pond, and wetlands will be created where the dirt was removed.

Comments and Suggestion from Public (red) and Responses from Consultants and Staff (blue):

• Keep trees and huge magnolia tree. Will be possible if construction can work around it.
• Parking area handicap? Building would have to have handicap parking and be handicap accessible. Based on the size of the property there would be about 20 parking spaces. The Town requires parking lots to be screened from adjacent properties with buffering, and additional trees added in the parking lot landscape.
• Concerned about kids hanging out if park had amenities such as volleyball. Jones Park which backs up to this park will have volleyball, picnic areas, etc. and that is something to kind in mind when planning for this facility.
• Would like to see something like tether ball; activities kids can easily do.
• Concerned about a possible cut through street to Windward Point; don’t want the added traffic.
• Would like to see walking and biking trails. Per a developer agreement, pond will have an asphalt walking trail around it. This facility is also located on a major greenway trail which starts at Sunset Lake Road and runs to Holly Springs Elementary School. At next meeting will bring Jones Park Master Plan and Greenway plan to see how this facility ties in with the greenway and other park facility locations. Could also have environmental nature trails and tree identification trails
• Boats? Doubt boats will be allowed on pond.
• Fishing allowed at pond? Yes, should be allowed to the public.
• Will this facility have lighting? No lighting; however, will probably have motion lighting for security.
• What kind of shape is house in? House has vinyl siding and is in good structural shape; however all the windows have been busted out. Could put in two bathrooms and open up the living area and make a large meeting/multipurpose room. Have open beams; create a rustic look more in line with the natural setting. Could make the restrooms accessible from outside the building. Structure could be used for rentals, leisure programs, educational programs, and community meeting room for boy scouts/girl scouts.
• Will there be permanent personnel to manage the property? This will not be decided until the programming is in place for the facility. Possibly a part-time person to oversee both Veterans Park and Jones Park.
• Will there be rod and reel program here? Possibly.

The meeting was concluded and a date set for another public meeting. The public meeting will be held June 7 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall in the Council Chambers. The consultants will make a presentation based on the results of this meeting. Immediately following the public meeting, the Recreation Advisory Committee will meet.