4/21/05

May 12 Meeting to Get Citizens' Ideas for Veterans Park

Town residents are invited to shape the future Holly Springs Veterans Park by sharing their ideas for its development at a meeting Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. While not an entirely blank canvas – existing features at the 10-acre park include a small pond and 1,200-square-foot house – the property has room for other park developments. And, town officials are looking for Holly Springs residents' input on what they would like those developments to be.

Veterans Park, originally known as Windcrest Park, is located at the eastern edge of the Windcrest Subdivision, off Main Street, north of its intersection with Holly Springs Road. The property was given to the town as part of an agreement by the subdivision developer.

The public meeting will be held in conjunction with the Recreation Advisory Board meeting. After a brief introduction by architectural contractors who will give an overview the park's dimensions and current features, the public will be asked for their ideas for the park.

“As with all of our town parks, Veterans Park is for our citizens, so it is vital that we take our citizens' input and their ideas and incorporate them into this park,” said Len Bradley, Parks & Recreation Department director. “I'm looking forward to hearing the ideas citizens will bring to this meeting.”

Bradley said that while Veterans Park is too small for athletic fields, current possibilities for the park include a walking trail and playground. The town is considering renovating the house on the property and making it available to rent for special events.

“At this stage, none of our ideas are set in concrete,” Bradley said. “The input we get from this meeting truly will shape this park into what it is going to be.”

Following the meeting, consultants will combine the public's ideas with those of town staff and the Recreation Advisory Board. The consultants then are to hold a follow-up meeting showing how the ideas were implemented into the park plan. After further revisions, the plan would be presented to the Town Council for approval. The Parks & Recreation Department is anticipating opening Veterans Park in 2006.

For additional information, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (919) 557-3930.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us