Master Plan

Transcription

Master Plan

Town of Davidson
Parks and Recreation
Master Plan
August 28, 2014
DRAFT
Acknowledgements
Davidson Board of Commissioners
Mayor – John Woods
Mayor Pro Tem – Beth Cashion
Commissioner – Stacey Anderson
Commissioner – Jim Fuller
Commissioner – Rodney Graham
Commissioner – Brian Jenest
Town of Davidson Staff
Town Manager – Leamon Brice
Assistant Town Manager – Dawn Blobaum
Finance Director – Cindy Jones
Planning Manager – Ben McCrary
Davidson Design for Life Coordinator – Katherine Hebert
Town Planner – Jason Burdette
Parks and Recreation Manager – Kathryn Spatz
Healthy Living & Wellness Supervisor – Leslie Willis
Natural Assets and Sustainability Coordinator – Charlene Minor
Athletics / Recreation Program Supervisor – Chad Thomas
Project & Public Works Manager – Doug Wright
Operations Supervisor – Jesse Bouk
Livability Board
Ann Todd, Chair
Barbara Markham, Secretary
Jeff Rose
Loretta Wertheimer
Martin Metzker, Vice-Chair
Mike Van Hecke
Steedman Lyles
Stephanie Shryock
Sterling Martin
ThomasHazel
Stephanie Schauder
Steering Committee Citizens
Connie Wessner
Mark Sullivan
Roy Alexander
Consultants
Meg Nealon, Partner – LandDesign
Beth Poovey, Project Manager – LandDesign
Daniel Bursuck – LandDesign
Jake Petrosky – LandDesign
Don Kostelec – Kostelec Planning
Contents
01 Introduction
01|
04|
05|
05|
07|
Benefits of Parks and Recreation Systems
The Planning Process
Davidson Parks and Recreation Mission
Seven Dimensions of Health as a New Model
Goals
02 Community Profile
09| Demographics
12| Health and Recreation Trends
13| Market Profile
03 Needs Assessment
15| Inventory of Existing Parks and Recreation Facilities
19| Service Standards
20| Assessment
04 Community Preferences
23 | Stakeholder Interview Summary
23 | Public Meeting Summary
24 | Davidson Parks and Recreation Survey
05 Benchmarking and Performance Measures
31 | Benchmarking and Performance Measures
06 A New Standard for Davidson
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Neighborhood/Mini Park
Community Park
Community Central Park
Special-Use Parks
School Parks
Greenways and Trails
07 Recommendations
47
48
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58
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Overview
Policy Recommendations and Actions
Park Facility Recommendations and Actions
Programming Recommendations and Actions
08 Implementation Action Plan
63| Policy Recommendation Action Plan
66| Facility Recommendation Action Plan
72| Programming Recommendation Action Plan
09 Funding Strategies
77
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Funding Tools
Capital Improvement Program
Municipal Bonds
Development Assessment Fees
10 Appendix
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170|
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181 |
Appendix A: Town of Davidson Livability Board
Appendix B: Seven Dimensions of Health
Appendix C: Plan Review
Appendix D: Facility Inventory
Appendix E: Facility Assessment
Appendix F: Town of Davidson Park and
Recreation Master Plan Stakeholder Interviews
Appendix G: Community Meeting #1 Summary
Appendix H: Community Meeting #2 Summary
Appendix I: Survey Results
Appendix J: Example Joint-Use Agreements
Appendix K: Activity Connection Plan
Appendix L: Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms
Appendix M: Typical Costs
Appendix N: HIA Report
01
Introduction
A park is more than a place to recreate.
Parks contribute to the livability of a community and the health and well-being of its
citizens. A park is an asset to the community, often functioning as one or more of
the following: a community meeting space, a venue for the arts, an environmental
conservation area and an economic driver. It is a space that: (1) enhances the quality of
life in a community; (2) catalyzes development (or redevelopment) stimulating private
investment, particularly on land in close proximity; and (3) improves the overall health and
well-being of the residents.
Benefits of Parks and Recreation Systems
As illustrated in the following graphic, the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Synopsis of 2010 Research
Papers summarizes the key categories to which parks and recreation contribute to building healthy and vibrant
communities.
Physical
health
Environmental
Health
Youth
Development
Quality
of Life
Social
Function
Economic
Impact
Mental
health
parks and recreation master plan : 1
Physical Health
Social Function
Parks and recreation facilities play a key role in the physical
health of a community. Designated outdoor recreation space
encourages physical activity and provides a connection to
nature. Studies suggest that communities with a greater
availability of parks, greenways and trails have residents with
lower rates of chronic disease and obesity and longer life
spans. (National Recreation and Park Association, Synopsis of
2010 Research Papers: The Key Benefits).
Parks provide community meeting space, a place for residents
to come together regardless of class or race. Research
suggests that access to parks and recreation facilities
alleviates isolation in individuals, especially the elderly.
Mental Health
Parks and recreation departments have an immense impact on
residents’ mental health. “Numerous studies demonstrate that
access to green views and environments can improve cognitive
functioning, impulse control, resilience to stressful life events
and overall mental health. Conversely, studies report a link
between low nature access with increases in attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), clinical depression, stress and
anxiety.” (National Recreation and Park Association, Synopsis of
2010 Research Papers: The Key Benefits).
Environmental Health
Parks have often been described as the “lungs of the town.”
Parks contribute to air quality, reduce heat island effect and,
when well-designed, serve as natural water and wastewater
treatment facilities. In addition, well-connected parks and
designated open space serve as wildlife corridors and promote
contiguous natural flora habitat.
2 : Town of Davidson
Youth Development
Effective park and recreation programming supports “the
development of life skills in adolescents.” One study suggests
that “students who participate in at least one hour of
extracurricular activities per week are 49% less likely to use
drugs and 37% less likely to become a teen parent.” (National
Recreation and Park Association, Synopsis of 2010 Research
Papers: The Key Benefits).
Economic Impact
The economic impact of parks can be measured in a variety
of ways. Researchers indicate that parks are one of the most
cost-effective ways to lower long-term health care expenditures,
reduce costs associated with removing air pollutants from the
air and generate greater tax revenues from properties near parks
and designated open space. Parks can provide employment
opportunities for groups typically marginalized in the traditional
workforce such as youth. Parks and open space serve as a
catalyst for economic development by often increasing the
value of nearby properties, increasing property tax revenue and
attracting businesses and trained employees in search of a high
quality of life.
Introduction
project purpose
about the plan
Davidson residents recognize the health, economic, social
and environmental value of parks. The town has expressed
a dedication to improving community health and an interest
in investing in parks and related recreation facilities to
ensure that Davidson is a location of choice for residents,
businesses and visitors alike. More importantly, they have
demonstrated support for taking formal steps to develop a
plan through an inclusive public process to determine the
appropriate future investments. For this reason, the town
engaged its residents and other stakeholders in a planning
process to develop a Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
This assessment describes the planning process and progress
to date. In addition, it presents the following:
In general, a plan is a guiding policy document. It is a
framework and tool that helps inform and guide decisions
throughout a community. For Davidson, the master plan
provides a resource for the public to learn about the value
of parks and recreation facilities, defines priorities, informs
decisions made by town leaders about investments and
aids the coordination of community and health-focused
programming throughout the municipality. The master plan
brings together elements of Davidson’s past and present,
recognizes the values of the community and provides structure
through a community-supported set of recommendations that
will move Davidson toward its desired future.
“
•
the goals of the plan as determined with input from the
community;
•
a summary of data gathered through research,
stakeholder interviews, public meetings, community
survey, field observations and a review of available
relevant information (i.e., GIS data, adopted plans and
other relevant policy documents);
•
a community profile, which summarizes demographic
information about the community;
•
nationally accepted service standards that provide
guidance in local investment decisions;
•
an inventory and assessment of the existing facilities and
programs in and around Davidson.
•
A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and health
performance metrics will be developed to better
understand parks and recreations role on overall
community health.
The results of the assessment inform this Parks and
Recreation Master Plan and supporting recommendations
for implementation.
You can measure the health of a town by the
vitality and energy of its streets and public
open space.
”
- William H. Whyte
The Planning Process
The process to develop the plan took the community from
an understanding of the current system (the facilities and
programs available today), to the creation of a vision for a
future system, to the identification of near-term and long-term
steps to realize that future vision. Carried out over an ninemonth period, the planning process included three phases:
Phase One: Inventory & Analysis, Phase Two: Community
Input and Phase Three: Final Report.
complete list of Livability Board members please refer to
Appendix A.)
•
Feedback from five meetings with the Town of Davidson
Livability Board, gave insight into on how to incorporate
their ideas and helped provide input to develop new
health- and livability-based performance measures.
•
To supplement the quantitative and qualitative data
gathered through the project team’s efforts, interviews
with key personnel from relevant town departments,
key staff members of county and regional agencies
and selected stakeholders, such as community group
representatives, recreation leaders and recreation-based
business organizations, were conducted.
•
Input solicited at two community meetings held at critical
decision-making points during the process gave the public
opportunities to become acquainted with the planning
process, understand the purpose of the plan, provide
feedback, help guide plan development and offer ideas for
implementation action steps.
•
A community survey of existing and future facilities and
programming was administered both online and in person
to the residents of Davidson.
This document provides the components of the plan: a summary
of the aforementioned phases, and a 15-year implementation
action plan that includes recommendations, target dates for
implementation, potential costs and funding strategies.
Critical to the success of the project was a comprehensive
public engagement component that provided multiple
opportunities for Davidson residents and other stakeholders
to give feedback and offer suggestions regarding the future
system. These efforts included two public forums, monthly
public status meetings and other engagement activities.
The following is a summary of the avenues through which
community input from these activities was gathered.
•
Guiding the entire process is a Livability Board made up
primarily of individuals representing residents, property
owners, local business interests, town representatives
and staff, supplemented by community leaders
representing schools and land conservancy. (For a
All of the input received through these activities has
been synthesized to formulate the goals presented in this
document, and they will provide guidance throughout the
remainder of the planning process.
Introduction
Planning Process
1
Inventory & Analysis
Existing conditions
assessment
2
Community Input
Public meetings,
stakeholder
interviews,
community survey
Davidson Parks and Recreation Mission
Community health and welfare is a central focus of the Town
of Davidson and a primary goal of its many policies and plans.
It is listed as a core value in the town’s Mission Statement
and they have conducted several plans and studies regarding
health, including the Davidson Design for Life: Health Impact
Assessment of the Pedestrian and Active Transportation Plan,
Davidson Walks & Rolls: An Active Transportation Plan and the
Davidson Aging in Place Task Force (see Appendix C for Plan
Review).
It is through this lens that the Parks and Recreation Master
Plan has been developed. The following seven dimensions
of health were used as a guide when assessing the existing
system and developing policies and a vision for the future:
•
Intellectual Health
•
Physical Health
•
Social Health
•
Environmental Health
•
Occupational Health
•
Spiritual Health
•
Emotional Health
These dimensions, along with health performance metrics,
provide a system to improve the overall health of Davidson and
check the plan’s effectiveness as it is implemented. Please see
Appendix B for complete definitions of the seven dimensions
of health.
3
Final Report
Implementation
Strategies and Action
Plan for the Town of
Davidson Parks and
Recreation Master Plan
Seven Dimensions of Health
as a New Model
Historically, parks and recreation departments have been
defined in relatively narrow terms. Their emphasis is placed
on the quantity and quality of facilities and programs being
provided to the public. While health and wellness programs
are nearly always referenced with their potential benefits,
such as reduced obesity, fewer incidences of chronic
disease, decreased stress levels and improved mental health,
less emphasis has been placed on measurable benefits
of specific facilities and programs. In addition, traditional
methods of benchmarking do not always provide an adequate
understanding of the scale and scope of health and wellness
benefits provided by a parks and recreation department. It
is the goal of this effort to refocus the Parks and Recreation
Master Plan to incorporate the specific health and wellness
benefits that the community can achieve through the process.
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan process for the Town
of Davidson helped to create a better method for measuring,
developing and understanding the health and wellness benefits
available to the town’s residents. In addition to the traditional
planning steps completed during this process, additional
measures were taken to include the seven dimensions of
health. For every potential recommendation, the impacts
that these health dimensions will have on residents were
considered. These Dimensions, along with the Health Impact
Assessment (HIA) and health performance metrics, provide a
system to improve the overall health of Davidson and check
the plan’s effectiveness during its implementation.
Figure 1: balance of data sources in parks and recreation Master Plan
Qualitative
Qualitative
• Stakeholder interviews
• Community meetings
Quantitative
• Comparison to standards
• Survey
Observational
• Park reviews
• Demographics + trends
The results of these efforts is a plan that relies more heavily
on qualitative data for its development than in the past. Figure
1 illustrates the typical balance of data sources used for parks
and recreation master plan development, and how that balance
has shifted in this process.
Increased emphasis on the qualitative analysis in this plan led
to the creation of quantitative metrics that the town can track
and measure to determine the success of implementation
efforts and the impact of implementation on the overall health
and wellness of Davidson’s residents.
An important step in developing this model is the creation of a
framework that will allow for its implementation and continued
use in future master plan updates. The following steps have
been taken, and should be repeated in future iterations of this
planning process:
1. Define the seven dimensions of health based on the
municipality’s principles.
• Stakeholder interviews
• Community meetings
• 7 dimensions of health
Quantitative
• Comparison to
standards
• Survey
Observational
• Park reviews
• Demographics +
trends
○○ At public meetings, attendees can determine
preference for facilities or programs, but will then be
asked to determine which dimension of health the
facility or program will impact.
○○ Establish a new parks and recreation classification
system that helps to maximize impact on the seven
dimensions of health. Utilize feedback from public
meetings to determine the public’s perception of
which activities / facilities have added value for each
of the seven dimensions of health.
○○ Thoroughly map the area to spatially determine
spatially how well Davidson’s needs are being met in
regard to each of the seven dimensions of health.
○○ When developing a set of recommendations, create
a running list of how many of the dimensions each
recommendation will improve. Use this as an element
to prioritize activities in the action plan.
2. Establish current issues facing Davidson’s Parks and
Recreaton Department for each of the seven dimensions
of health.
4. Develop metrics to help measure how parks and
recreation policies have effected change in each of the
seven dimensions of health and the issues identified
earlier in the process.
3. Continually revisit and consider the impacts on the seven
dimensions throughout the process, when applicable.
Examples of when and how the dimensions can be
incorporated are as follows (the list not exhaustive):
These steps ensure that the seven dimensions of health are
addressed throughout the process and lead to a plan that
results in a healthier community.
Introduction
Goals
Davidson is a growing community, a college town with
residents from all over the country and a sizable international
population. It has strong connections to the past and great
aspirations for the future. Recognizing this, the following goals
were defined early in the process to ensure the community’s
values remain in focus throughout the planning effort and as
implementation of the plan occurs. These goals are based on
a study of related plans and studies (located in Appendix B),
research of demographic and socioeconomic data, stakeholder
interviews, and meetings with staff. Ultimately, the goals
are intended to help guide all related decisions in order to
realize a parks and recreation system that meets community
expectations.
Project Goals
•
Increase physical exercise
•
Promote safety to reduce injuries
•
Increase access to healthy food
•
Improve air + water quality
•
Minimize the effect of climate change
•
Decrease mental health stressors
•
Strengthen the social fabric of a
community
•
Provide fair access to resources
02
Community Profile
The Town of Davidson is located in Mecklenburg County
approximately 20 miles from downtown Charlotte. Founded in 1837 with the establishment
of Davidson College, the economy has largely been dominated by academia for the past
100 years. Davidson has also grown steadily over the past century due to its textile mills,
relative location to the railroad, and in-migration of residents commuting to Charlotte. Today,
Davidson is a growing community and a location of choice for residents and businesses due
to the quality of life, presence of Davidson College and the town’s proximity to Charlotte.
Demographics
Population
Davidson had an estimated population of 11,484
residents in 2012. The 3,808 new residents between
2000 and 2010 equated to a growth rate of 53.3%
(Table 1). This rate was significantly greater than
Mecklenburg County, which only grew at a rate of
32.2% during the same period.
TABLE 1: Population Growth from 2000 to 2010
Population
Davidson
Meck
County
N. C.
groups that experienced considerable growth were the
45-54, 60-64 and the 65-75 age cohorts.
TABLE 2: Population Growth by Age 2000 - 2010
Age
2000
2010
% Change
Under 5 years
417
337
-19.2%
5-9
501
842
68.1%
10-14
415
842
102.9%
15-19
824
1661
101.6%
20-24
1074
983
-8.5%
25-34
662
834
26.0%
Population, 2000
7,139
695,454
8,049,313
35-44
1158
1546
33.5%
Population, 2010
10,944
919,625
9,535,483
45-54
825
1920
132.7%
% Change
53.3%
32.2%
18.5%
55-59
275
379
37.8%
60-64
222
523
135.6%
65-74
333
716
115.0%
75-84
279
225
-19.4%
Over 85
154
96
-37.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts
The North Carolina Office of State Budget and
Management is projecting Davidson to grow annually
at a pace of 2.4%. Assuming this estimate to be true,
the town can expect the population to be 18,883 by the
year 2030.
Population by Age Cohort
Table 2 provides Davidson’s population change
between 2000 and 2010 by age cohort. Schoolaged children, from 10-19 years of age, had some
of the highest growth rates indicating that Davidson
continues to be a location of choice for families. Other
As shown in Figure 2, the largest groups of people and
the largest amounts of population growth are from
10-19 years old, 35-44 years old and 45-54 years old.
Interestingly, the 25-34 year-olds have a significantly
lower population than the other age cohorts; possible
reasons for this trend are that Davidson College
students leave after graduation to find jobs, or they are
being priced out of the market.
Figure 2: Population Change by Age 2000 - 2010
2500
Population
2000
1500
1000
2000
500
2010
59
U
nd
er
5
ye
ar
s
y
10
ea
-1
4 rs
y
15 ear
s
-1
9
y
20 ea
rs
-2
4
25 ye
-3 ars
4
35 yea
rs
-4
4
y
e
45
-5 ars
4
55 ye
-5 ars
9
60 yea
rs
-6
4
y
65 ea
-74 rs
75 yea
rs
-8
4
O
y
e
ve
r 8 ars
5
ye
ar
s
0
Age Cohort
Ethnicity and Race
Households
Davidson’s racial and ethnic composition in 2010 paints a picture
that is much different than the compositions of Mecklenburg
County and the rest of the state. The largest group, whites,
comprised a vast majority of the town (87.8%). It appears to
be a much less racially diverse town than Mecklenburg County
and surrounding municipalities, and would therefore require a
different set of parks and recreation facilities and programs.
There are an estimated 4,253 households in Davidson, a
73.4% increase from 2000. This increase is outpacing the
population growth rate, indicating that the average household
size appears to be shrinking in Davidson. Seemingly at odds
with this estimate, Davidson also has a higher percentage of
homeowners in owner-occupied, single-family structures, when
compared to Mecklenburg County and the state. In addition,
as noted in Table 4, the median value of owner-occupied units
in Davidson is more than two times higher than Mecklenburg
County and nearly three times higher than those of the state.
TABLE 3: Ethnicity and Race by Percentage 2010
Ethnicity & Race
Davidson
Meck County
N. C.
White
87.8%
60.1%
68.5%
Black
6.4%
31.8%
21.5%
American Indian and
Alaska Native
0.2%
0.8%
1.3%
Households
Davidson
Meck County
N. C.
4,253
403,553
4,327,528
Asian
2.8%
5.1%
2.2%
Housing units,
2010
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacific Islander
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
Homeownership
rate, 2005-2009
78.3%
60.8%
68.1%
Persons reporting
two or more races
1.7%
2.2%
2.2%
17.8%
30.9%
16.8%
Hispanic or Latino
origin
3.8%
12.5%
8.4%
White persons not
Hispanic
85.6%
49.8%
65.3%
Housing units
in multi-unit
structures,
percent, 20052009
$411,700
$186,100
$143,700
TABLE 4: Household Information
Median value of
owner-occupied
housing units,
2005-2009
Community Profile
Educational Attainment
TABLE 5: Income Information
Davidson continues to outpace both Mecklenburg County
(88.8%) and North Carolina (83.0%) in terms of high school
graduation rates at 97.5%. The percentage of persons older
than 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher (68.5%), is also
significantly higher than Mecklenburg County (40.3%) and
North Carolina (25.8%).
Income
The median household income in Davidson is currently
estimated at $83,730, which is significantly higher than
Mecklenburg County ($55,961) and the state median of
$45,069. In addition, as noted in Table 5, poverty rate of
Davidson is much lower than Mecklenburg County and North
Carolina.
Income
Davidson
Meck County
N. C.
Median
household
income,
2005-2009
$83,730
$55,961
$45,069
People of all
ages in poverty,
percent,
2005-2009
6.4%
14.5%
15.1%
Davidson,
NC
Health and Recreation Trends
Community Health Analysis and trends
Within the health industry, hot spotting has been defined
as using data mapping to identify pockets of specific health
conditions or social determinants of health. In healthcare,
hot spotting is used more commonly to target areas within
communities or states where there are high utilizers of health
services to identify interventions needed to address the burden
on the healthcare system. In integrating planning and public
health, hot spotting is used to identify pockets of the community
or study areas where there is a concentration of various
indicators of poor health or determinators of health risk.
In an attempt to define how hot spotting exercises pertain to
the recommendations identified in the Parks and Recreation
Master Plan, an analysis of the following two previouslyconducted hot spotting exercises was conducted: the
Davidson Walks & Rolls Active Transportation Plan (2013)
and the Region 4 Community Transformation Grant. These
exercises provided information that project team was
able to adapt to the previously-stated goals to develop
recommendations regarding investments in parks and
recreation facilities and programs as well as greenways within
Davidson.
Davidson Design for Life, through the work conducted on the
Rapid HIA for the Davidson Walks & Rolls Active Transportation
Plan, worked with Alta Planning + Design to conduct hot spot
analysis using Census data available at the Census block level.
This analysis, called the Social-Health Equity Model, utilized
the following Census datasets to define areas of highest need,
moderate need and lowest need. The datasets utilized in this
analysis included:
Social Equity Model Metrics
•
Youth Population (under 18 years of age);
•
Elderly Population (over 65 years of age);
•
Non-White Population; and
•
Single-Parent Families;
Health & Environmental Equity Model
•
Transit Access;
•
Transit Boardings;
•
Medicaid Population; and
•
Subsidized Housing.
This analysis was taken and incorporated into this Parks and
Recreation Master Plan document and its recommendations
by targeting specific populations and geographies identified
with those recommendations.
Community Profile
Parks and Recreation Trends
By looking at demographics and trends within Davidson, an
idea of the existing and future population makeup can begin to
form, which leads to an understanding of existing and future
parks and recreation facility and programming trends. The
highest age growth (by volume) cohorts from 2014 to 2030 are
the 35-44, 45-55, and 65 years and older cohorts. Some of the
trends within each of these groups are the following:
Trends within 35-55 age cohort
•
Need convenience &
want comfort
Environment & education
•
Work longer hours
Enhanced discretionary
income
•
Stressed
•
Shift to more low
pressure games
•
Family one-stop shopping
•
Individuals
•
•
•
Community-minded
Market Profile
While Davidson is interconnected with Mecklenburg County
and the Charlotte metropolitan area, it also has unique market
characteristics when compared to surrounding communities.
As apparent from the demographic analysis section, Davidson
is a rapidly growing community that is primarily both affluent
and well-educated. In preparation for this Parks and Recreation
Master Plan update, the Davidson Economic Strategic Plan
was reviewed. This was a market study the Town of Davidson
completed in 2012 as recommended in the Town of Davidson
Comprehensive Plan. Within this analysis, the following relevant
information about the Davidson market arose:
•
Davidson is among the highest educated, with the highest
household income and highest home values in the region.
•
The lifestyle characteristics include affluent young families,
empty nesters and retirees.
•
The local government that provides services is largely
supported by residential property taxes with opportunities
for revenue growth in commercial property taxes, retail
sales tax and hotel occupancy/food taxes.
•
Davidson’s economic base is driven by: Education;
Professional & Technical; Finance & Insurance; and Health
& Social Assistance industries.
•
Davidson has limited opportunities in the retail sector due
to market constraints, trade area and competitive supply.
The focus should be on differentiating from the traditional
“big box” and suburban models of shopping experiences.
•
Housing in Davidson continues to favor traditional singlefamily development, while leaving opportunities for
senior living, apartments and other alternative housing
options that might appeal to young professionals. These
opportunities would provide additional population and
capital to support retail shopping and dining in the
community.
Potential Facilities and Programs
•
Volunteer programs
•
Trails
•
Multipurpose facilities
•
Relaxation skills
•
Alternative camping
•
Water sports
•
Dance
•
Gardening
•
Movies
•
Mini-soccer
•
Food & drink
•
Pickleball
Trends within 65+ age cohort
•
Enhanced discretionary
income
•
Greater concerns for
health issues
•
Longer retirement period
•
•
Higher leisure literacy
(more expectations)
Need for social spaces
and all-inclusive facilities
Potential Facilities and Programs
Some important assets to the Town of Davidson are the
following:
•
Aquatics / warm water
therapy
•
Large cardio fitness
space
•
Gyms
•
Educational programs
•
•
Arts & crafts studios
•
•
Dance
Indoor recreational
facilities
Currently, the growth in population and capital flows in
Davidson are a result of inbound residential migration.
•
•
Health-focused classes
and programs
There are relatively large amounts of discretionary income
available to residents of Davidson.
•
Davidson has a highly educated and highly skilled
workforce due to its location relative to Davidson College.
•
Davidson has a highly engaged citizenry that is
intellectually and socially diverse.
•
The housing market is varied in terms of price and size.
•
Movies
•
Food & drink
•
Walking programs
03
Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment
Inventory of Existing Parks and Recreation Facilities
Facilities maintained and operated by the Town of Davidson
The Town of Davidson currently owns and maintains 17 different
parks and 4.1 miles of greenways. These parks range from
active (McEver Fields and River Run Athletic Fields) to passive
(Fisher Farm Park and Faulkner Park) recreational facilities. These
facilities offer a wide variety of uses for many age groups. This
list includes facilities not owned and operated by Davidson
in order to indicate that a portion of the Town’s population
participates in recreation activities outside of Davidson-owned
facilities. Please see Appendix D for a complete matrix of
facilities, programs and events operated by Davidson Parks and
Recreation.
Abersham Park - 243 Acres
Located just north of Fisher Farm Park off Shearer Road,
Abersham Park is a nature preserve with access roads, trails
and parking.
Ada Jenkins Center Recreation and Fields - 4.2 Acres
Located in northwest Davidson, the facilities at the Ada
Jenkins Center and fields include a multipurpose field, an
outdoor basketball court, indoor mini-gymnasium, public
meeting spaces, restrooms, a playground and seating areas.
Bradford Park
Located in southeast Davidson, this park is a shared facility
with Huntersville Parks and Recreation and Mecklenburg
County Park and Recreation. Davidson has access to one large
baseball field and one small baseball field during the week. The
park also includes a playground, disc golf course, restrooms
and soccer fields.
Caldwell Green Tot Lot - 0.3 Acres
This fully-enclosed neighborhood park, located in the St.
Alban’s neighborhood, features benches, tables, a large
sandbox, shade structures, trike path, tunnel, riding toys and a
drinking fountain.
Faulkner Square Park - 0.6 Acres
A formal garden square located in the St. Alban’s
neighborhood, this space includes two decorative trellises,
benches for seating and lawn areas.
Fisher Farm Park - 200 Acres
This district park is located south of Abersham Park on Shearer
Road. Currently the park includes 12 miles of multipurpose
trails, primitive camping sites, picnic tables and parking.
Forest Park Playground - 2 Acres
Located in the St. Alban’s neighborhood, the Forest Park
playground is a neighborhood park with a playground, picnic
tables, trails and a wetland area.
Jetton Street Park - 0.25 Acres
Located on Jetton Street, the Jetton Street Park is a small
pocket park next to Harris Teeter. It includes one playground.
Lake Davidson Nature Preserve - 14.5 Acres
Lake Davidson Nature Preserve is located on Jetton Street
and provides frontage to Lake Davidson. It has nature trails, a
kayak/canoe launch and storage racks.
Lawn Park - 0.6 Acres
Located in the St. Alban’s neighborhood, Lawn Park is a grassy
area in the center of the development.
McEver Fields - 11.1 Acres
McEver Fields is a community park located south of downtown
on South Street, near Davidson Elementary School. It consists
of 3 lighted softball/baseball fields, a picnic area, restrooms
and concessions.
Parham Park - 2.5 Acres
Parham Park is a neighborhood park located on Lake Cornelius.
It consists of a natural surface trail, a kayak/canoe launch with
storage racks and exercise stations.
River Run Athletic Park - 4.4 Acres
This community park is located southeast of downtown off
Davidson-Concord Road. Its facilities include one baseball/
softball field, one multipurpose field, a drinking fountain and
winterized restrooms.
Roosevelt Wilson Park - 9.5 Acres
Roosevelt Wilson Park is located on Griffith Street as one
approaches downtown from Interstate 77. It has a central pond,
paved trails, winterized restrooms, playground and picnic shelter.
Summit Tot Lot - 0.3 Acres
The Summit Tot Lot is located in downtown Davidson
behind Summit Coffee and includes benches and playground
equipment.
The Preserve Dog Park - 2 Acres
This fully-enclosed dog park in the St. Alban’s neighborhood
features a hiking trail, natural area, parking lot, water fountain,
horseshoes and picnic tables.
Village Green - 1.4 Acres
Located in the center of town, the Village Green is a large
grassy area used for passive recreation and events.
Davidson School Facilities
Community School of Davidson High School
Located on the north side of town on Armour Street and next
to Lake Davidson, Community School of Davidson High School
features soccer fields, trails and a gym.
Davidson College
Located in the center of town, Davidson College has myriad
outdoor facilities that serve its students, faculty and staff.
They include: two ballfields, six multipurpose fields, 16 tennis
courts, one multi-use court, three basketball courts, two
volleyball courts and natural surface and paved trails.
Davidson Day School
Located on Jetton Street and Griffith Street as one enters
Davidson from Interstate 77, Davidson Day School features a
gym, playground and a multi-use field.
Davidson Elementary School
Located on South Street across from McEver Fields and a
part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Davidson Elementary
School has a playground and a multi-use field.
Lake Norman Christian School
Formerly Davidson IB School, Lake Norman Christian School,
located on South Street, features one soccer field, two
multipurpose fields, benches, bike racks, a playground, an
indoor gym and an outdoor basketball court.
Private/Regional Facilities
The following private and regional facilities were identified
through the public engagement process as those most widelyused by Davidson residents.
Bailey Road Park
More than 66 acres, Bailey Road Park is operated by Cornelius
Parks and Recreation and includes an amphitheater, baseball/
softball fields, basketball courts, batting cages, disc golf,
multipurpose fields, picnic areas, picnic shelters, tennis courts,
soccer fields, trails and a walking/running track.
Lake Norman YMCA
Located on Main Street, just south of downtown Davidson, the
YMCA has a wide variety of programs and services including
child care, fitness and wellness programs and indoor and
outdoor pools.
Legion Park
This seven-acre facility, operated by Cornelius Parks and
Recreation, is located in the center of Cornelius and very close
to Davidson. It includes a baseball/softball field, batting cages,
picnic shelter, playground, restrooms, walking trails and parking.
Private Development Amenities
Many of the residential developments in and around Davidson
have private recreation amenities including pools, walking trails
and dedicated open space. While these facilities are widely
used by their residents, they are private and therefore are not
accessible to the general public.
Smithville Park
Approximately nine acres, Smithville Park is operated by
Cornelius Parks and Recreation and includes a baseball/
softball field, a batting cage, multipurpose field, picnic shelter,
playground, restrooms and parking.
Town of Davidson Facility Evaluation
To better understand the current condition of the parks and
recreation system, an evaluation has been conducted of all the
facilities the Town of Davidson operates. The conclusion drawn
from this evaluation is that the system is well-maintained but
but could use some improvements. The following map depicts
the facilities that were evaluated and their scores. A complete
table of scores is listed in Appendix D.
Map 1: Davidson Parks and Recreation Existing Facilities Map
Map 2: Davidson Facilities evaluation map
Needs Assessment
The Level of service standards seek to identify key areas where
the Davidson Parks and Recreation Department could improve. As a commonly-used method of
determining a department’s ability to meet its community’s needs, this provides an understanding of
how Davidson compares to other communities nationally.
Service Standards
The following are the generally-accepted (according to Small Communities Parks and Recreation Standards) park planning
standards for small communities:
Table 6: Acres Required for Recreation Facilities
Facility Category
Total Acres Required
per 10,000 Residents
Sports Fields (soccer, multi/use, baseball/softball)
44
Courts (tennis, basketball, volleyball)
30
Outdoor Recreation (skate park, dirt trails, fishing access, etc)
85
Leisure (playgrounds, picnic areas, general park areas)
8
Other Recreational Facilities (swimming pool, hockey, outdoor events)
15
Source: Small Community Parks and Recreation Standards
The following table indicates the population served by one facility and the number of facilities needed per 1,000 residents:
TABLE 7: Population Served by Facilities
Facility Category
Sports Fields
Courts
Outdoor Recreation
Total Population Served
by 1 Facility
# of Facilities Needed
per 1000 residents
Soccer/Multi-Use
1050
.95
Baseball/Softball Fields
1640
.61
Tennis
1030
.97
Basketball
1100
.91
Volleyball
7540
.13
Small Skatepark (7000sq ft)
6410
.16
Full-size Skatepark (17,000+sq ft)
15560
.06
960
1.04
Facility Type
Paved Trail
Nature Trail
430
2.33
Leisure
Playgrounds
6270
.16
Other Recreational
Facilities Pool
8250
.12
Outdoor Event Venue (per acre)
2380
.42
Assessment
The following section provides an analysis of the recreation
system serving Davidson’s existing and expected future
population. This type of analysis is referred to as a Level of
Service study and identifies the type and scale of facilities
required by the current and future population in terms of
demand and supply. Schools have been included in the analysis
to raise awareness of the opportunity to, through joint-use
agreements, utilize school facilities to make better use of
available resources in meeting Davidson’s needs.
Existing Demand
The Town of Davidson has grown considerably in recent years.
Such growth places heavy burdens on infrastructure, facilities
and services. In order to best understand the impact of this
population growth on the town’s need for additional recreation
facilities, it is necessary to conduct both a current and future
Level of Service analysis. The Level of Service analysis is
summarized in the following table (Table 8), which is based
on the previously-mentioned small community parks and
recreation standards.
TABLE 8: Existing Facilities by Acres
Total Acres
Recommended per
10,000 Residents
Facility Category
Current Supply
(Acres)
without
Schools
with
Schools
Existing Demand
Based on 2010
Population
Current Gap
(Acres)
without
Schools
with
schools
Sports Fields
Soccer, multi-use, baseball/softball
44
13.3
18.8
50.5
37.2
31.7
Courts
Tennis, basketball, volleyball
30
0.2
0.5
34.5
34.2
34.0
Outdoor Recreation
Skate park, dirt trails, fishing access, etc.
85
840.6
840.6
97.6
(743.0)
(743.0)
Leisure
Playgrounds, picnic areas, general park
areas
8
31.9
32.9
9.2
(22.7)
(23.7)
Other Recreational Facilities
Swimming pool, hockey, outdoor events
15
0.9
0.9
17.2
16.4
16.4
Small Community Parks and Recreation Standards
The following table (Table 9) indicates the number of facilities needed to meet the standard based on Davidson’s current
population.
TABLE 9: Existing Facilities by Number of Facilities
Facility Category
Sports Fields
Courts
Outdoor Recreation
Facility Type
Existing Facilities in
Davidson
without
Schools
with
Schools
Soccer/Multi-Use
2.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
Tennis
0.0
Basketball
1.0
Existing Demand for
Davidson
Current Gap
(Facilities)
without
Schools
with
Schools
10.9
8.9
4.9
7.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
11.0
11.0
11.0
5.0
10.4
9.4
5.4
Volleyball
0.0
0.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
0.0
0.0
1.8
1.8
1.8
Full-size Skatepark (17,000+sq ft)
0.0
0.0
0.7
0.7
0.7
Paved Trail (per mile)
3.9
3.9
11.9
8.0
8.0
Nature Trail (per mile)
13.0
13.0
26.5
22.5
13.5
Leisure
Playgrounds
4.0
10.0
1.8
(2.2)
(8.2)
Other Recreational
Facilities
Pool
0.0
0.0
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.0
1.0
4.8
4.8
3.8
Needs Assessment
The existing Level of Service analysis compares current demand
to the current supply of recreation acreage. Davidson currently
has 873.3 acres of recreation facilities. Given the generally
accepted park planning standards, roughly 10 acres per 1,000
residents, and the current population (2012) of 11,484, Davidson is
currently operating a system that is exceeding its demand. Much
of that space, however, comprises naturally-preserved lands.
When those lands are not included in the analysis, Davidson has
13.5 acres of active parkland. The exclusions of these lands in the
inventory helps to paint a picture of a town with a large amount of
passive recreational facilities, but few active recreational facilities.
In reality, much of the existing demand for actve recreation is
currently being met by private amenities and regional recreation
facilities. The previous section details additional information on
the type and scale of these supplemental recreation facilities.
Future Demand
In order to forecast future demand for recreation facilities,
a population estimate is needed. Given the historic and
anticipated continued growth of Davidson, an annual
population growth multiplier of 2.4% was used to forecast
the population in 2030. This figure is consistent with the
projections used by the North Carolina Office of State Budget
and Management. If Davidson continues to grow at this
rate and pace, the town can expect the population to be
18,883 in the year 2030. Table 11 illustrates the current and
future demand for recreational acreage based on estimated
population figures and the existing and future Level of Service
Standards for recreation facilities in Davidson:
TABLE 10: Future Demand in Acreage
Current Supply Acres
Facility
Current Demand
Based on 2010
Population
Current Gap
(Acres)
without
Schools
with
Schools
Sports Fields
13.3
18.8
50.5
37.2
31.7
Courts
0.2
0.5
34.5
34.2
34.0
840.6
840.6
97.6
(743.0)
(743.0)
Leisure
31.9
32.9
9.2
(22.7)
Other Recreation
Facilities
0.9
0.9
17.2
16.4
Outdoor
Recreation
without
Schools
Future Demand
Based on 2030
Population
with
Schools
Current + Future Gap
(Acres)
without
Schools
with
Schools
83.2
69.9
64.4
56.7
56.5
56.3
160.7
(679.9)
(679.9)
(23.7)
15.1
(16.8)
(17.8)
16.4
28.4
27.6
27.5
For the Town of Davidson to address future demand (including schools), it would require the following type and number of facilities (in total):
TABLE 11: Future Demand in Number of Facilities
Facility Category
Sports Fields
Courts
Outdoor Recreation
Facility Type
Soccer/Multi-Use
Existing Facilities in
Davidson
without
Schools
with
Schools
2.0
6.0
Total Number of Facilities
Needed
18.0
Current + Future Gap
(Facilities)
without
Schools
with
Schools
16.0
12.0
6.0
7.0
11.5
5.5
4.5
Tennis
0.0
0.0
18.3
18.3
18.3
Basketball
1.0
5.0
17.2
16.2
12.2
Volleyball
0.0
0.0
2.5
2.5
2.5
0.0
0.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
Full-size Skatepark (17,000+sq
ft)
0.0
0.0
1.1
1.1
1.1
Paved Trail (per mile)
3.9
3.9
19.7
15.8
15.8
Nature Trail (per mile)
13.0
13.0
44.0
31.0
39.0
Leisure
Playgrounds
4.0
10.0
3.0
(1.0)
(7.0)
Other Recreational
Facilities
Pool
0.0
0.0
2.3
2.3
2.3
1.0
1.0
7.9
6.9
6.9
04
Community Preferences
Community input is an essential element of the Parks
and Recreation Needs Assessment process. In order to better understand the needs
and preferences of the population, stakeholder interviews, two public meetings and a
community survey were conducted during the planning process. Based on this input, a
clear portrait of local trends and preferences for facilities and programs began to emerge.
Stakeholder Interview Summary
•
Davidson needs a permanent and sheltered
farmers’ market in the center of town.
Stakeholder meetings were held early in the master
planning process in order to gain a quick and
comprehensive understanding of Davidson’s needs.
These meetings included members from local schools,
sports organizations, religious organizations, businesses
and town staff, among others. Some of the overall ideas
that arose during the process were the following (for
more detail please see Appendix F):
•
Davidson needs an indoor and outdoor pool or
aquatic facility.
•
Davidson LifeLine is a big step towards
improving mental health in town.
•
Davidson could benefit from reaching out and
partnering with faith-based organizations.
•
The highest priority should be active space and how
this space is adequately provided to residents.
•
A connected, cohesive system that is physically
(i.e. trails, which also provide a transportation
option) and visually linked is desired.
Public Meeting Summary
•
Better utilization of the Ada Jenkins Center should
be incorporated into the plan.
•
The Town of Davidson has historically been
focused on passive recreation and programming.
This has left a large deficit of active recreationbased spaces.
In early February, the town and the consultant team
conducted a public meeting to introduce the park
and recreation master planning process and to solicit
the community’s input on existing and future park
and recreation needs. The meeting’s format and
organization was divided into five exhibits/exercises.
•
The greenways are a real strength in Davidson;
the town needs to continue to expand the system.
•
There is a need for additional attention to the
community’s overall health. How can the parks and
recreation system help to improve overall health?
Live, Work and Play: As attendees entered the
room they were asked to indicate on a map,
where they live, work and play.
•
In addition there were many specific comments about
facilities and programming in Davidson which were
very important to understanding the town’s parks
and recreation needs in regartd to future trends. The
following is a sampling of these comments:
Goals Exercise: An exhibit described the goals of
the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the project
schedule and some existing conditions statistics.
Attendees were asked to comment on the draft
project goals and suggest additions to the list of
goals.
•
Seven Dimensions of Health Exercise:
Attendees were asked to place dots on seven
boards depicting images correlating with the
seven dimensions of health. These dots were
placed on any images or activities that they
•
•
Davidson needs to complete its greenway system
and connect the green space throughout town.
•
The town needs a community recreation center
that is central and easily accessible.
thought had an impact on a particular dimension of health.
Cards with additional activities and a computer and printer
to print off activities that may not have been represented
on these boards were also available.
•
Light Board Exercise: Attendees identified locations on a
map where they would like to see additional facilities.
•
Ideas Board Exercise: Attendees were asked to offer any
ideas they had in addition to the feedback they had given
through the previous exercises.
Of the more than 80 attendees, a vast majority reside within
a 1.5-mile radius of downtown Davidson. The following types
of facilities, activities or features received the most votes
(number of dimensions in parenthesis):
•
Rowing/kayaking facilities and launch (7)
•
Tennis (6)
•
Natural trails (4)
•
Bike trails (4)
•
Baseball (3)
•
Basketball (3)
For a complete chart of votes from the first public meeting,
please see Appendix G.
The project team completed a second public information
session in April to present the draft recommendations for
the plan and to receive feedback on the progress to date.
Residents were given stickers to vote on their preferences.
The following list is a summary of that feedback:
•
The highest number of votes indicated a desire for the
expansion of greenways (multi-use paths).
•
Many people expressed a preference for centrally-located
facilities and a Town of Davidson Community Central Park.
•
The programming recommendations which received the
most votes were for watersports like rowing/kayaking and
active recreational activities.
For a complete chart of votes from the second public meeting,
please refer to Appendix H.
Davidson Parks and Recreation Survey
Overview and Results
As part of the Parks and Recreation needs assessment and
master plan process, the Town of Davidson conducted a
community survey. The survey was designed to focus on the
seven dimensions of health and gather information regarding
the following categories: demographics, current programs and
facilities, future programs and facilities and health and wellness.
It was drafted and distributed through Survey Monkey, then
advertised through town email lists, public meetings and the
town website. In total, there were 387 responses, which is more
than the 372 responses needed to create a survey with a 95%
confidence level and a 5% margin of error. This minimum number
of responses was calculated using Survey Monkey’s formula for
determining the required sample size in order to attain validity. For
more information on how this number was determined, please
visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/sample-size/.
The following charts give an overview of this survey. For the
entire survey results see Appendix I. Responses from the
survey represented broad segments of the population. Figure
3 shows responders to the survey grouped by age.
While there was good distribution throughout age groups,
the biggest number of responders came from the middle age
cohorts, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, and 55 to 64. When compared to the
current population distribution indicated earlier, the distribution
is similar, except for a significantly lower percentage of younger
respondents, primarily accounted for by the low percentage of
Davidson College students (2.4%) who had taken the survey
(see question 28 in the appendix). The survey had a significant
mix of responses from many different types of households.
This geographically dispersed group included households with
children (51%) and without(49%), from different age groups and
from a variety of incomes.
Current Programs and Facilities
An understanding of current programs and facilities is essential
to determining which new programs and facilities Davidson may
need, and which ones may require expansion. In the survey,
respondents were asked what facilities were most beneficial to
them and their families. The facilities indicated in Figure 4 were
the top five choices of the current offerings that are important to
the Davidson community. Respondents ranked The Village Green
as the facility most beneficial to the community, along with
Ada Jenkins, the paved trail (greenway) system, Fisher Farm
and Roosevelt Wilson Park. Similar to what is illustrated on this
chart, many people commented on the importance of greenway
facilities, their connectivity and their continued improvement.
The survey also included several comments about the maintenance of current facilities. All of the facilities ranked quite well, with
an average score of more than 3 on a range of 1 to 5. Figure 5 shows respondents’ opinions about maintenance of the facilities.
Figure 3: Age Groups of Responders
140
120
110
# of responses
100
80
73
70
60
53
40
26
20
0
0
11
0-14
years
15-24
years
10
25-34
years
35-44
years
45-54
years
55-64
years
65-74
years
75+
years
Figure 4: Facilities Most Beneficial to Davidson
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Ada Jenkins
Center
Fisher Farm
Park
Kincaid Trail
and other
paved paths
Roosevelt
Wilson Park
Village Green
Figure 5: Opinion of Overall Maintenance Level - average ranking 1 (worst) to 5 (best)
3.72
Bradford Park (Southeast)
Village Green (Downtown)
3.88
3.40
Roosevelt Wilson Park (West)
River Run Athletic Park (Southeast)
3.56
Parham Park (West)
3.45
Kincaid Trail and other paved paths
3.86
3.76
McEver Fields (South)
Lake Davidson Nature Preserve (Northwest)
3.67
Forest Park Playground (St. Albans)
3.38
Fisher Farm Park (Northeast)
3.64
3.23
Caldwell Green Tot Lot (St. Albans)
Ada Jenkins Center (Downtown)
3.12
Abersham Park (Northeast)
3.14
3.11
Summit Tot Lot (Downtown)
The Preserve Dog Park (St. Albans)
3.35
Faulkner Square Park (St. Albans)
3.37
0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
of this is due to Davidson’s geographic disposition (very linear), it
is clear there are unmet recreational needs in Davidson.
A key issue that surfaced throughout the public input process
and stakeholder interviews, is the distance residents are
traveling to meet their recreational needs and where those
needs are met. These charts illustrate the distance residents
are walking, biking or driving, and where they may be going.
Currently many people are driving to facilities within walking
and biking distance.
Additionally, while the community is meeting the needs of
other age groups, there is a definite lack of adequate facilities
among middle/high school age groups. Many of the individual
comments refer to lack of facilities (i.e. tennis, soccer,
rowing, etc.), in the middle/high school age group and the
fact that respondents are driving to other communities to
meet those recreational needs.
These results indicate that a large number of respondents, as
many as 66.3%, are traveling to other communities. While some
Figure 6: Travel Distance outside of Davidson
250
200
150
100
Automobile
50
Walking/Biking
0
0-1 Mile
1-5 Miles
6-10 Miles
11-20 Miles
21-30 Miles
More than
30 Miles
Figure 7: Travel location outside of Davidson
% of responses out of 387
100
80
60
40
51%
30%
42%
27%
20
9%
Charlotte
Concord
10%
3%
0
Cornelius
Huntersville
Kannapolis
Mooresville
8%
Somewhere
Somewhere
Else in
Else in
Mecklenburg
Iredell
County
County
Future Programs and Facilities
In assessing existing gaps and programs and facilities needed in Davidson, there were several areas that stood out. The following
(Figure 8) shows the result when residents were asked “what type of park is most needed in Davidson?”
Figure 8: Most Needed Facility Types
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Small
neighborhood
parks
Large multi-use
parks that serve
the whole
community
Park
consisting
primarily of
sports fields
Parks with river,
creek, or water
frontage/access
Walking
trails
Biking
trails
Multipurpose
indoor recreation
When asked about specific programs, the needed facilities were further defined. Passive recreation facilities, especially greenways/
trails, lakefront access and community gathering spaces, received the most votes. While traditional active recreation facilities, such
as upgraded athletic fields, received a considerable amount of votes, they ranked tenth overall.
Figure 9: Additional Specific Facilities
Greenways/trails
226
farmers’ market
213
Lake front access/facilities
181
Multi-use recreational complex
147
Amphitheater or auditorium
Swimming pool
143
130
Larger town-wide central park
122
Improved streetscapes and entrances
122
Community gardens
122
Upgraded athletic fields
120
While many of the comments reinforced these results with
requests for more passive natural space and greenway
connectivity, there was also a considerable number of
comments requesting active recreation opportunities such
as tennis and basketball courts, rowing, or additional soccer
and baseball fields. In addition, there were a few facilities that
appeared in the comments repeatedly but are not indicated
in this chart. Examples of those were dog parks, a disc golf
course and pickleball. Many times, these comments signal
future trends in a community’s needs.
While great facilities are of paramount importance, they will
never reach their potential without quality programming. The
following (Figure 10) shows the survey results, when asked
what programs are most beneficial to Davidson.
Consistent with the assessment of the current facilities and programs, this chart illustrates a need for programming for teens,
adults and families. Likewise, many people expressed the importance of community events, and that they would like to see
additional concerts and festivals.
Figure 10: Most Beneficial Programs to Davidson
80
% of responses out of 387
70
60
50
47%
40
30
36%
27%
38%
30%
20
10
0
Life skills
programs (social
skills, cooking,
computer
classes, etc.)
Nature-based
education
programs
Water sports
(kayaking,
rowing, etc.)
Fitness and
wellness
programs
Special events,
concerts &
festivals
Health and Wellness
Figure 11: Adequate opportunities for healthy / active lives
As an essential part of the Town of Davidson Parks and
Recreation Master Plan, residents’ perception of their
health and wellness and how well these needs are
being met is of great importance. In this assessment,
respondents were asked what motivates them to use
parks and recreation facilities, how they perceive their
own health and wellness, and what could be provided to
improve these. The following is an overview of the health
and wellness survey results.
5%
7%
Yes
No
When asked, “Do you feel you (and your family) have
access to adequate opportunities to lead healthy/
active lives?,” an overwhelming number of respondents
answered “Yes.” (See Figure 11.)
I Don’t Know
88%
When broken down by the types of access they may
have, a majority of residents believe they have access to
many different types of healthy activities and facilities.
Figure 12: access opportunities
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
I have easy
access to
park(s) or
open space
I have easy
access to
greenways
I have easy
access to
fresh food
I have easy
access to
educational
programs
I have easy
access
to social
groups and
activities
In an open-ended question, respondents were asked to complete the statement, “I would lead a healthier lifestyle if ... “ The
following were some of the most common responses:
•
“... I had safer options for walking and riding around town.”
•
“... I worked a little less.”
•
“... I had more time and money.”
•
“... there were more adult-focused activities were offered after work (6pm and after) and on Sundays.”
•
“... there was more active space in Davidson.”
•
“... I had greater variety of exercise in my routine.”
05
Benchmarking and Performance Measures
Equally as important to the INTIAL development of
the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is implementation and its flexibiltiy to
change over time. Three mechanisms have been built into this plan to allow for its
implementation and flexibility to adapt to changing trends.
First, the plan should be updated at least every 10 years
to remain current with the preferences of Davidson’s
residents and trends regarding parks and recreation.
Second, the Davidson Livability Board is tasked with
aiding in the implementation of the plan. The Parks
and Recreation Department will rely on them heavily
to advocate for, promote, and support the plan’s
development and growth. The board will continue to
meet monthly, recommend potential projects and help to
evaluate the plan annually. This can be accomplished by
documenting department staffing and spending through
measures such as parks and recreation dollars spent per
resident and parks and recreation Full Time Equivalent
(FTE) hours, which will allow for benchmarking against
other similar communities. Finally, the plan includes
health and well-being performance measures, a series
of metrics to help determine the success of the facilities
and programs in terms of the town’s overall health and
wellness, that should be tracked over time.
The increased emphasis on linking planning, the built
environment and health is emerging at the same time
communities and planning organizations are asked to
justify the performance of investments through a series
of performance-based metrics. For towns like Davidson,
this provides a great opportunity to improve how health
is considered when determining how and where to
invest resources, and identifying potential funding
sources and partners to implement recommendations
in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Communities
that track the performance of their investments stand to
strengthen their ability to continue providing programs
and services as it makes it easier to identify high- and
low-performing investments and provides defensible
data to elected officials making budgetary decisions.
Existing data is available through countywide health
assessments, Census data, and some programmatic
utilization and facility use data specific to Davidson.
The metrics identified in this chapter have been refined
from a complete analysis of metrics organized by the
seven dimensions of health and wellness. For the fullscale analysis, see the charts at the end of this section.
There are several challenges to applying these metrics:
•
Existing data from the Census is useful in some
dimensions, but not all. Census block group data
for Davidson includes some areas outside the
town limits. Census bock level data is suspect
due to the small geography and the potential to
imply a level of specificity in the data that is not
consistent with actual outcomes or conditions.
•
For Davidson to fully integrate a system of
performance metrics into its parks and recreation
planning, programming and investment, it may
require collection and analysis of additional data.
Some will be easy to obtain and project while
other data may require longitudinal surveys.
•
Documenting direct linkages between parks
and recreation (and other built environment)
investments and health outcomes is difficult, even
with good data, due to the many influences on an
individual’s or a community’s health. Identifying
evidence-based research over time as these
linkages are studied further across the United
States will be important to future plan updates and
continued application of performance measures.
•
When analyzing the block group level, the
presence of additional facilities impacting
Davidson residents not under the authority of the
town or within the town limits are not considered.
The facilities within a short walk or bike ride
for residents with a Davidson address, though
outside city limits, should not be ignored, as
collaborative efforts may be possible to ensure
safe connections are made or to increase potential
usage.
The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) conducted in conjunction
with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan identified several
potential outcomes and metrics based on a literature review. The
HIA serves as the starting point for the identification of more
integrated metrics. Davidson will have to pursue the collection
of data and the application of metrics within the limitations
of a small-town budget and the time constraints related to
existing staff, budgetary cycles and grant opportunities. All of
these efforts must be conducted with an understanding of the
potentially significant lag time between surveys and project
implementation. This means that if a project is not due to be
constructed in a timely manner upon completion of the surveys,
it may be useful to conduct limited, periodic updates of these
surveys to continually keep tabs on the pulse of Davidson
residents.
Currently, there is little health data that is obtainable for areas
within Davidson that are smaller than the Census tract level
(Davidson is one Census tract), therefore identifying pockets
of poor health within Davidson to measure future impacts in
relation to parks and recreation investments will be difficult.
Davidson can address this through two potential actions (listed
below). Each will require resources and partnerships with
organizations such as Mecklenburg County Health Department,
Davidson College, faith-based organizations and/or non-profits.
Figure 13: Performance measures
Performance Measures (PM):
From Health Impact Assessment (HIA)
to Parks and Recreation Master Plan
HIA 7 Dimensions Research
Relationships, Baselines &
Recommendations
Overall PM
Framework
Capacity
for PM
1. Conduct a Davidson-specific survey aimed at identifying
baseline health conditions within different neighborhoods of
Davidson, similar to a Community Health Assessment; or
2. Identify short-term qualitative conditions through user
survey and focus groups to identify broad-based health
conditions within different neighborhoods.
The next step in applying these metrics will be determining
which metrics are a priority given limited resources; deciding
which metrics are best measured by the town, the county or
other stakeholders; and then testing the metrics over a short
period of time to determine how best to apply them. To help
maximize resources, the town should consider the timing of
the 2020 Census and subsequent release of its data as that will
likely be very helpful. (Data is released over time, usually 1-3
years post Census)
Figure 13 illustrates the process by which performance
measures have been refined from the HIA submitted to the CDC
in November 2013, which was used to create the larger universe
of potential performance measures presented in the Davidson
framework and now refined further to include a defined set of
performance measures that are implementable in the short term,
and within the confines of the town’s budgetary and staffing
constraints.
Implementation
The following charts provide suggested performance
measures that can be implemented by the Town of Davidson.
They should continue to be explored and expanded as the
department grows.
TABLE 12: performance measures
Metric
Indicator
Data Sources
Additional or
Long-Term Analysis
Physical Dimension
Phy1.
Current Physical activity levels for
residents.
Phy2.
Current rates of overweight or
obese people, or those with
chronic diseases.
Number of days residents
exercise (self-reported); user
counts in parks and recreation
facilities and along greenways
(and at schools with joint-use/
shared-use agreements in place).
Baseline data:
Survey or Community Health
Assessment.
Prevalence of chronic disease
(self-reported); BMI from local
schools or from events held
at community parks or along
greenways.
Baseline data:
Survey (townwide or site-specific)
or State Center for Health
Statistics data.
Longitudinal survey of town
residents.
Projections:
Evidence-based research.
residents. Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Projections:
Evidence-based research .
Phy3.
Rate of injury due to recreational
activity.
Number of injuries in the town
related to recreational activity.
Baseline data:
Survey
Hospital or Urgent Care
admissions analysis.
Projections:
Phy4.
Access to healthy food via parks
and recreation facilities and
programs.
Number of community gardens or
plots within town parks/recreation
facilities; number of programs to
promote the growing and cooking
of fresh fruits and vegetables;
number of participants; number
of healthy food outlets within
walking distance of a park,
recreation facility or greenway.
Baseline data:
Community inventory.
Number of poor mental health
days reported in relation to parks
and recreation facility usage and
program utilization; decrease in
suicide rates.
Baseline data:
County-wide data.
Number of signs, programs,
reflective areas etc. promoting
positive mental health through
use of parks and recreation
facilities and greenways.
Baseline data:
Existing counts.
Number of people participating
in social events at town parks;
number of events conducted at
town parks.
Baseline data:
Existing event attendance.
residents.
Projections:
Existing utilization combined with
evidence-based research.
Emotional Dimension
Emo1.
Rate of poor mental health days.
Emo2.
Messaging positive mental health
outcomes in community facilities.
Baseline survey of town residents
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance
System (BRFSS).
Projections:
residents.
Projections:
Yearly investment or increase,
analyzed every 3 to 5 years.
Social Dimension
Soc1.
Attendance at events in parks that
promote social cohesion.
Projections:
Use of past data of event
attendance.
Survey at events to determine
purpose of visit and how well
people relate it to the social
dimension of health.
Soc2.
Programs/utilization of free or
reduced fee access to improve
social equity and health equity.
Participation in programs by
individuals among various
population cohorts.
Baseline data:
Existing utilization by key
population measures (race,
income, age).
Analysis of program utilization
to tailor messaging and program
organization to identified gaps in
user patronage.
Projections:
Environmental Dimension
Env1.
Improved and enhanced natural
areas that protect water quality
and wildlife habitat.
Acreage preserved or restored
to natural conditions; number/
acreage in a conservation
easement.
Baseline data:
Existing acreage.
Env2.
Increased access to natural areas.
Number of acres of land
remaining in a natural state that
can be accessed on foot or by
bike.
Baseline data:
Existing proximity of natural areas
to population base; utilization;
active transportation facility
linkage.
Before/after analysis of water
quality and wildlife habitat in
preserved or restored areas.
Projections:
Future park sites and targeted
areas for conservation
easements.
Survey of users at natural areas.
Projections:
Economic/Occupational Dimension
Econ1.
Current economic circumstances
of different population cohorts.
Unemployment rates, household
income, families living at or below
the poverty line.
Baseline data:
Census, Active Transportation Plan
HIA
residents.
Projections:
Literature review and evidencebased research
Econ2.
Economic activity surrounding
parks/recreation facilities and
greenway.
Econ3.
Messaging to businesses and
employees of health-related
programs and facilities.
Business licenses and residential
building permits issued within a
defined radius of a park/recreation
facility or greenway; number of
park- or trail-oriented businesses
in the town; property tax
generation in proximity of sites.
Baseline data:
Existing businesses and housing
density near parks/recreation or
greenway sites and number of
trail-oriented businesses.
Number of brochures distributed
to employers and information
sessions held at major employers
and health fairs.
Baseline data:
Existing outreach methods.
Survey of existing businesses
within a defined radius of facilities
to determine their relationship and
reliance on those facilities; county
tax assessor records.
Projections:
Projections:
N/A
Survey of employees while on-site
at information sessions or health
fairs.
Intellectual Dimension
Int1.
Programs and information within
along greenway.
Number of kiosks and interactive
sites that include an educational
component.
Baseline data:
Existing number of locations per
acre of park or mile of greenway.
Survey of users to determine
relationship between intellectual
health and educational elements.
Projections:
Planned acreage of parks or miles
of greenway and ratio of locations
per acre.
Number of classes utilizing
facilities or programs as part
of the curriculum; number of
students engaged through these
programs.
Baseline data:
Survey of schools and college
instructors.
Number of new residents that
come to Davidson because of
the town’s status related to
intellectual health.
Baseline data:
New resident survey.
Sp1.
Partnerships between the town
and faith-based organizations and
businesses.
Number of programs and
utilization rates of programs
conducted on town property
or in town facilities related to
spirituality (e.g. church, yoga,
prayer groups)
Baseline data:
Existing partnerships.
Sp2.
Relationship between faith-based
organizations/programs and
greenways.
Number of faith-based
organizations and other faithbased organizations utilizing park
and recreation and greenway
facilities; proximity/access
measures.
Baseline data:
Survey of faith-based
organizations and spiritualityrelated businesses to gauge use
of facilities.
Int2.
Utilization of facilities by schools
and the college.
Int3.
Attractiveness of Davidson
because of healthy and intellectual
community status.
Survey of faculty at area schools.
Projections:
School and college enrollment
projections related to existing
utilization rates.
Work with the College and
schools to survey students, faculty
and parents on attractiveness.
Projections:
Population projections related to
survey findings.
Spiritual Dimension
relationship between spiritual
health and facilities/programs.
Projections:
Yearly increases and utilization,
tracked over time.
relationship between spiritual
health and facilities/programs.
Projections:
Survey of spirituality-related
entities on their likelihood of
future use if programs or facilities
were oriented toward spiritual
health.
06
A New Standard for Davidson
The Level of Service analysis is a good starting point
to determine demand for a recreation system. By incorporating these findings with
community values and priorities, and the knowledge that some of this demand is being
met by other facilities, a tailored level of service for the Town of Davidson was defined.
Based on extensive community engagement through
meetings with the Davidson Parks and Recreation
Department, Livability Board, stakeholder interviews,
public meetings, and the community survey, the
Davidson level of service standard is defined as the
following:
•
10 acres per 1,000 residents for parks
•
16 acres per 1,000 residents including dedicated
open space
•
A new town-wide greenway system, connecting
parks and open space
•
Dedication standard for new development
•
Park classification system for Davidson
The following section describes the parks and greenway
types that comprise the Davidson classification system.
This classification system should be used as a standard
for developing park land in respect to park size, types
of amenities offered and service radius to citizens.
By applying these classifications to the existing park
facilities and future park development, the park system
framework is created.
The parks serve as the destination points or nodes
of the system, while sidewalks, greenways and trails
provide the links or corridors between the nodes.
Examples of Existing
Neighborhood Parks:
•
•
Forest Park Playground
Parham Park
Source: Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and open spaces Department
Neighborhood/Mini Park
The Neighborhood/Mini Park is the basic unit of a park and
recreation system and the foundation of all great systems.
These parks are the smallest in size of the parks types, but
often times the most widely used. They offer a recreational
and social focus for the neighborhood they serve and are
gathering spots for informal active and passive recreation.
Neighborhood/Mini Parks generally have a 1/4-mile service
radius of their intended users and are typically located on
lightly travelled local roads. As with all parks in the parks
system, it should be connected to or provide linkages to
the greenway system. A Neighborhood/Mini Park size can
be up to 10 acres in size often offering optional parking or
on-street parking.
Minimum Neighborhood/
Mini Park standards:
•
Up to 10 acres in size
•
¼-mile service radius
•
Connection to the greenway
•
Unprogrammed, multipurpose open space
•
Internal path system
•
Picnic and seating areas
•
Pedestrian scale lighting for safety and security
•
Design should reflect the neighborhood character
•
One small unique and accessible active space
•
Space for a community garden, if desired
examples of Existing
Community Parks:
•
•
River Run Athletic Fields
McEver Fields
Community Park
The Community Park serves the community on a broader
scale than the Neighborhood/Mini Park. The main purpose
of the Community Park is to provide the community a focal
point for a variety of recreational needs. It can also function
as a community meeting place for social and recreational
activities. The average size for a Community Park is between
10 to 50 acres and has a service radius of three miles from
the park. Since the Community Park is designed to service
the recreational needs of the community, it is usually located
near arterial and collector streets that can accommodate the
number of visitors to the park.
Minimum Community Park standards:
•
10-50 acres in size
•
3-mile service radius
•
Internal path system which connects to the town-wide
greenway system
•
Restroom facilities
•
Programmed recreational fields and courts
•
Picnic shelters
•
Children’s play area
•
Shelter building
•
Landscape features
•
Parking areas
•
Lighting for security, safety and facilities
•
EXAMPLEs of Existing Community
Central Parks:
•
•
•
Roosevelt Wilson Park
Ada Jenkins Center
Village Green
Source: Miami-Dade County Parks,
Recreation and open spaces Department
Community Central Park
The Community Central Park concept was identified early in
the public input process as a centralized park in the historic
downtown where the community can gather and have a sense
of place. The character of the Community Central Park should
reflect the historical and cultural resources found within the
surrounding community, making it the iconic park for the
park system. Within the Community Central Park would be
a community center facility. The center will provide a place
for citizens to gather, hold meetings, and offer community
programs and events. The primary focus of the center will be
to offer programming and services for seniors.
Minimum Community
Central Park standards
•
Multipurpose Community Center
•
Focus on seniors and youth programming
•
Indoor recreation facilities
•
Indoor/outdoor aquatics facilities
•
Outdoor community gathering area for events
•
Lighting for safety, security, and facilities
•
Informal open space for recreation
•
Children’s play area
•
Dog area
•
Internal paths connected to city-wide greenway system
•
Located in or near downtown
•
Strong street presence
•
Parking
•
•
farmers’ market, if desired
Special-Use Parks
EXAMPLEs of Existing Special
Use Parks:
Special-Use Parks play an important role within the park system framework. These parks
offer users different activities not typically found in a parks and recreation system. Parks are
typically a single-use facility catering to a single activity. Special-use parks can range in the
amount of programming and free use depending on the nature of the activities. Examples
of these types of facilities would be skate parks, dog parks, a sports complex, or a nature
preserve.
•
•
The Preserve Dog Park
Fisher Farm Park
School Parks
School Parks are a great asset to the community. A School
Park is a joint-use facility between the Parks and Recreation
Department and school district. The park is located next
to a school facility and is used by both the school and the
public. The park can function either as a neighborhood
park or community park depending on the acreage of
land being developed and the facilities that are being
proposed. A School Park offers both active and passive
recreational activities and is oriented more towards youth
recreation. Due to the nature of the park as a shared-use
facility between the Parks and Recreaton Department and
the school district, a joint-use agreement will need to be
enacted. The joint-use agreement will need to address
financial responsibilities, maintenance, liabilities and
accessibility of use. See the explanation and examples of
Joint-Use Agreements in Appendix J.
Example of Existing
Greenway and Trail:
•
South Prong Rocky River
Greenway
Greenways and Trails
Greenways and Trails provide the essential link between
parks and destination points throughout the park system.
Greenways and trails can be located in a variety of settings.
Greenways are typically separated from vehicular traffic
and follow streams and river corridors. Locating greenways
in these natural corridors provides a buffer to the riparian
corridors protecting them from future development. They
also can be located within existing utility corridors, making
construction and obtaining easements less time consuming
and less of a financial burden for the town. Greenways
offer multiple users, including hikers, runners and bicyclists,
opportunities for recreation. Access points to greenways
are called trailheads. Trailheads, with such amenities as
signage with instructions and maps, benches, lighting and
trash receptacles, should be located every ½ mile along the
greenway and public streets. Depending on the location
and potential number of users accessing the greenway at
that location, they can contain different types of amenities.
Smaller trailheads may simply have a sign indicating access
to the greenway, while larger trailheads may contain parking
areas, seating, and restroom facilities. When developing
future parks, they should be located along the greenway
system. By linking and constructing parks and greenways
together, it creates a cohesive park system of corridors
and nodes that can be enjoyed and accessed by citizens
regardlesss of their location within the town.
Map 3: Davidson parks and recreation system map
07
Recommendations
This section of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
provides recommendations and specific implementation strategies to meet existing and
future community needs. These recommendations stem from the findings of the needs
assessment and are based on research, an understanding of the trends and standards, and
community input.
Project Goals
•
Increase physical exercise
•
Promote safety to reduce injuries
•
Increase access to healthy food
•
Improve air + water quality
•
Minimize the effect of climate change
•
Decrease mental health stressors
•
Strengthen the social fabric of a
community
•
Provide fair access to resources
All of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
recommendations and policies have been
crafted throughout the master plan process
are reflective of the project goals, stakeholder
interviews, public meetings, survey, meetings
with staff, and the seven dimensions of
health.
All of these recommendations were created
through the lens of the seven dimensions of
health. Please see Appendix B for an in-depth
analysis of how the seven dimensions of
health influenced these recommendations.
Policy Recommendations & Actions
The Town of Davidson has been proactive in planning for parks and greenways as demonstrated through the recent park
developments and acquisitions by the Department, subdivision requirements for parks and greenways and the efforts to proactively
seek funding and partnerships. This section outlines further steps necessary to meet the goals of a growing town through
departmental policies and partnerships.
The following are recommendations pertinent to the governance of the Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation Department.
Included with each recommendation are its rationale and applicable key action steps to be taken for implementation.
Policy Recommendation 1
Update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Rationale
Increase resources (funding) for the parks and recreation
department.
To keep current with emerging trends, evolving
demographics, new preferences, and changing grant
opportunities, the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
should be updated regularly.
Action
•
Action 1.1 Update the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
every 10 years, minimum.
Rationale
Compared to other highly-rated municipal parks and
recreation departments nationally, Davidson spends
considerably less money per capita.
Action
•
Action 4.1 Increase resources (funding) as recommended
in this master plan.
Adopt new level of service standards that focus on the
seven dimensions of health.
Rationale
Adopting a new set of level of service standards is one of
many methods to allow the Town of Davidson to compare
itself to other communities. Additionally, many federal and
state grantors will require this analysis for grant eligibility.
Action
•
Action 2.1 Adopt the level of service standards shown in
this master plan.
Adopt a new park classification system as outlined in this
master plan.
Establish healthy living metrics by partnering with
Mecklenburg County Health Department, Community
Health Services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and the
entities that deliver existing programs.
Rationale
Identified through stakeholder interviews and a part of
the Davidson Design for Life initiative, it is imperative to
be able to evaluate how successfully the Department is
improving community health and if adjustments need to
be made. The Davidson Parks and Recreation Department
should encourage all other town departments to operate
with a “health lens.”
Action
•
Action 5.1 Increase outreach for diabetes screenings and
other healthy living metrics through existing and future
programs run by the parks and recreation department.
•
Action 5.2 Partner with Mecklenburg County Health
Department, hospitals and schools. to gain access
to community health data broken down by municipal
boundaries.
Rationale
A new classification system will allow the town
of Davidson to define a system that will be more
representative of the vision of the town, as reflected in
this master plan.
Recommendations
Partner with public and private schools and places of
worship to provide more opportunities for sharing existing
and future facilities.
Create a marketing strategy to promote and educate
residents about parks and recreation opportunities with
a thorough system map, a unified wayfinding system and
branding.
Rationale
Joint-use agreements are useful tools for maximizing the
amount of parks and recreational resources which can
be provided, especially for smaller communities such as
Davidson.
Action
•
Action 6.1 Establish standard forms and joint-use
agreements that clearly lay out facility maintenance and
terms of use and access for all identified stakeholders.
Rationale
Action
•
Action 8.1 Develop a branding system for the Town of
Davidson Parks and Recreation Department.
•
Action 8.2 Develop and institute a standardized
wayfinding system for parks, greenways and recreational
facilities.
•
Action 8.3 Coordinate with Mecklenburg County,
Cornelius and Huntersville in this effort.
Coordinate with Cornelius and Huntersville to create a
tri-municipal, northern Mecklenburg joint-use agreement/
partnership to benefit the residents of all three communities.
Rationale
The survey indicates a significant portion of the
community is traveling outside of Davidson to meet
their recreational needs; a majority of these trips are to
Huntersville and Cornelius. Due to budgetary realities,
it is unrealistic for the town to build and maintain all of
the facilities needed to meet the community’s identified
recreational needs. Currently each municipality is providing
different types of facilities that could naturally complement
each other and support the larger community’s needs.
Seek opportunities to foster public/private partnerships
for land acquisition, park/trail development, funding and
sponsorship opportunities.
Rationale
Continuing to seek these partnerships will allow more
rapid growth of the system with a limited budget.
Action
•
Actions
•
•
•
Action 7.1 Create working relationship between
Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville and Mecklenburg
County to share parks and recreation facilities, and expand
bike and pedestrian connectivity.
Action 7.2 Work with Cornelius and Huntersville
to establish a joint programming and fee structure
agreement that treats the residents of each municipality
equally.
Action 7.3 Work together with these municipalities to
minimize duplication of services.
A well-utilized marketing strategy has the potential to
expand the use of existing and future facilities to current
and new users.
Action 9.1 Increase partnerships throughout the
community to increase access to parks, trails and
programs.
Develop a benchmarking system to measure the
effectiveness of the master plan. Refer to Chapter Five.
Rationale
To better understand efficiencies of the parks and
recreation department and potential need for additional
staff, a benchmark system should be established.
Action
•
Action 10.1 Establish metrics to help determine the
success of the system as it grows.
Survey the community bi-annually through the National
Citizen Survey for satisfaction and community needs to
measure community health.
Establish a plan to transition more direct oversight and
responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of the system
to the parks and recreation department.
Rationale
Rationale
It is imperative to be able to determine if the Department
is facilitating improved health and if adjustments are
needed to further improve overall community health.
Action
•
Action 11.1 Develop a set of questions regarding
community health metrics and add them to the bi-annual
National Citizen Survey.
Continue to expand the use of alternative funding through
sponsorships, volunteers, grants and donations.
Actions
•
Action 14.1 Develop a specific maintenance plan and
schedule for parks and recreation facilities that gives
the parks and recreation Manager the oversight of
the parks and recreation maintenance staff and their
responsibilities.
•
Action 14.2 Ensure there are sufficient labor hours
dedicated to the maintenance of the parks and recreation
facilities to provide a high-quality system throughout the
town.
•
Action 14.3 Provide the parks and recreation department
access to staff during nights and weekends to ensure
high-quality and safe facilities are maintained.
Rationale
Alternative funding is essential to the ongoing
development of a parks and recreation department. With
dwindling municipal budgets, this allows funding of
projects that otherwise would not be built.
Actions
•
Action 12.1 Expand volunteer opportunities for park and
greenway construction and maintenance projects.
•
Action 12.2 Expand tracking of volunteer hours and the
value of volunteers used in lieu of necessary staff time
and attribute this as cost recovery.
•
Action 12.3 Expand sponsorship opportunities.
•
Action 12.4 Consider seeking a corporate endowment to
fund select services.
•
Action 12.5 Continue to seek state, federal and private
grants.
Establish Town of Davidson parks as tobacco-free through
ordinance.
The parks department needs more oversight of facilities
to allocate maintenance resources as needed. The
survey indicated that 32% of the public felt the current
system’s quality was neutral to poor. Based on these
observations, the level of maintenance across the parks
is not consistent. Based on stakeholder interviews,
the department is not able to respond adequately to
community complaints under the current maintenance
structure.
Set up neighborhood/community improvement grants
available through the Town of Davidson to help fund
community gardens.
Rationale
Community gardens and increased access to healthy
foods were identified as important in stakeholder
interviews, public meetings and the survey. These
would help lower the barriers for neighborhoods to start
their own community gardens.
Rationale
Tobacco-free facilities support healthy living.
Action
•
Action 13.1 Enact tobacco-free ordinances for all public
parks.
Establish composting and recycling programs in all Town
of Davidson Parks and Recreation facilities.
Rationale
These programs will improve the environmental health of
Davidson, and have been recommended in the Davidson
Comprehensive Plan.
Recommendations
Rationale
Further the proposed improvements for South Street Park
Master Plan.
Rationale
Many of the facilities identified in the public meetings and
the survey are already included in the design of South
Street Park. By continuing the development of South
Street Park, the Town of Davidson can further meet the
needs of its residents.
Actions
•
Action 18.1 Create a committee within the Livability
Board whose charge is to develop partnerships to
enhance the offerings of the parks and recreation
department. At least one parks and recreation staff, and
key community leaders should sit on the committee.
The committe should target partnerships with: Davidson
College, Ingersoll Rand, Carolinas HealthCare System,
Duke Energy and the NC Fish and Wildlife Commission.
•
Action 18.2 Meet with Livability Board; provide progress
updates for plan implementation and gather input
regarding parks and recreation issues.
•
Action 18.3 The Livability Board should continue meeting
on at least a monthly basis, and one of their meetings
annually should be reserved to stay current with and
evaluate the goals of this plan.
Actions
•
Action 17.1 Secure easements from Charlotte
Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and The Pines for a 25-year
commitment.
•
Action 17.2 Upgrade the joint-use agreement with CMS
to reflect the master plan.
•
Action 71.3 Prepare a submission for PARTF grant for the
South Street Park.
Continue to work through the Livability Board to advocate
for, promote and support the development and growth of
the parks and recreation department to meet the needs of
the community.
By continuing to utilize the Livability Board, the parks and
recreation department can ensure the implementation of
the master plan is flexible and able to adapt to the town’s
changing needs.
TABLE 13: Policy Recommendations & Actions
Environmental
Emotional
Spiritual
Intellectual
Economic
Social
Physical
1. Update Parks and Recreation Master Plan a minimum of every 10 years to stay relevant
and meet grant opportunity requirements.
X X X X X X X
2. Adopt new level of service standards that focus on the seven dimensions of health.
X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X
3. Adopt a new park classification system as outlined in this master plan.
4. Increase resources (funding) for the parks and recreation department.
5. Establish healthy-living metrics by partnering with Mecklenburg County Health
Department, Community Health Services, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and existing
programs.
X X X X X X X
6. Partner with public and private schools and faith-based organizations to provide more
opportunities for shared use of existing and future facilities.
X X X X X X X
7. Coordinate with Cornelius and Huntersville to create a tri-municipal northern
Mecklenburg joint-use agreement/partnership to benefit the residents of all three
communities.
X X X X X X X
8. Create marketing strategy to promote and educate about parks and recreation
opportunities, such as system mapping, a unified wayfinding system and branding,
including coordination with Mecklenburg County, Cornelius, and Huntersville.
X X X X X X X
9. Seek opportunities and support to foster public/private partnerships for land acquisition,
park/trail development, funding and sponsorship opportunities.
X X X X X X X
10. Develop benchmarking system to measure effectiveness of the master plan.
X X X X X X X
11. Survey the community bi-annually through the National Citizen Survey for satisfaction and
community needs; include metrics in the survey that allow measurement of community
health
X X X X X X X
12. Continue to expand the use of alternative funding through sponsorships, volunteers,
grants and donations.
X X X X X X X
13. Establish Town of Davidson parks as tobacco-free through ordinance.
X
14. Establish a plan to transition more direct oversight and responsibility for the ongoing
maintenance of the system to the parks and recreation department.
X X X X X X X
15. Set up neighborhood/community improvement grants available through the Town of
Davidson to help fund community gardens.
X X X X X X X
16. Establish composting and recycling programs in all Town of Davidson Parks and
Recreation facilities.
X
X
X
X
17. Further the proposed improvements for South Street Park.
X X
18. Continue to work through the Livability Board to advocate for, promote and support the
development and growth of the parks and recreation department to meet the needs of
the community.
X X X X X X X
X X
Recommendations
Park Facility Recommendations & Actions
Davidson residents value the small-town character of their municipality and would like to be able to spend more time recreating
closer to home. Davidson currently has a large amount of passive recreational facilities and nature preserve areas but few
traditional active recreational facilities. Therefore, much of the town’s interest lies in creating a balanced and connected system that
helps to maintain Davidson’s small-town feel.
The following are recommendations pertinent to the development and maintenance of park facilities to achieve that desired
balance. Included with each recommendation are its rationale and applicable key action steps to be taken for implementation.
Facility Recommendation 1
Increase active recreation amenities with close access for
Davidson residents.
Rationale
The survey indicates that 64% of the population is
traveling by car to have their recreational needs met at
distances that are bikeable or walkable (0 to 5 miles for
biking and 0 to 1/2 miles for walking). The purpose of this
recommendation is to provide more people with access to
recreation. Survey respondents also indicated they would
like to lead more active lifestyles and felt time and access
were two constraints in achieving more active lifestyles.
By linking and geographically distributing facilities, it is
intended to supply closer and more diverse opportunities
that a variety of users can enjoy simultaneously.
•
Action 1.4 Identify locations for new tennis courts and/or
pickle ball courts within Davidson.
•
Action 1.5 Identify and develop partnerships to provide
public access to tennis courts throughout the community.
•
Action 1.6 New and existing parks should incorporate multipurpose fields/active recreation facilities that are appropriate to the site (Beaty property; Bailey Springs; Bradford
Park; Allison Farm/Fisher Farm/Abersham; River Run).
Actions
o
Develop a master plan for a Community Park at Bailey
Springs to include multipurpose fields and diverse
active recreation facilities.
o
Develop a master plan for a Community Park at River
Run located on Shearer Road to include multipurpose
fields and diverse active recreation facilities.
o
Partner with AT&T to provide active recreation on the
lot next to their offices.
•
Action 1.1 Pursue a goal of public/private child-centered
play areas within 1/4 mile of all households.
o
o
Add to the planning ordinance to require playground
facilities within 1/4 mile of all households.
Partner with Lake Norman Christian School to improve
its existing multipurpose fields for shared use.
o
Partner with Davidson Day School for shared use of
its existing multipurpose fields.
o
Look for opportunities to build playgrounds in existing
neighborhoods that do not have adequate facilities.
o
Partner with Community School of Davidson High
School for shared use of its existing multipurpose field.
oEncourage the design of new playgrounds to include nature-based play.
•
Action 1.2 Include at least one active/improved recreation
amenity in new and existing parks.
o
Add to the planning ordinance to include construction
of active/improved recreation in all new parks.
o
Look for opportunities to build active recreational
facilities in existing neighborhood parks that do not
currently have them.
•
Action 1.3 Neighborhood Parks’ active/improved recreation
amenity should be scaled appropriately within the site and
reflect the neighborhood’s residents’ identified needs (e.g.
bocce ball, basketball, outdoor fitness stations, outdoor ping
pong, pickle ball, badminton, mini-soccer, walking trails, play
space, disc golf).
o Partner with Davidson College to expand downtown
gathering opportunities.
o
•
Look for opportunities to add multipurpose fields/
active recreation facilities to existing parks.
Action 1.7 Partner with schools to provide public access
to basketball courts and fields.
oEstablish standard forms and joint-use agreements
that clearly delineate facility maintenance and use for
all stakeholders involved (see Appendix J).
•
Action 1.8 Provide more water access and water-based
recreational opportunities (canoe, kayak rentals/access/
storage; rowing).
•
Action 1.9 Explore opportunities for additional lake
swimming.
•
Action 1.10 Work with Mecklenburg County Park and
Recreation in the planning of the North Mecklenburg
Recreation Center to underscore the importance and need
for this facility for Davidson residents and to make sure it
includes an aquatic facility.
•
Action 1.11 Identify a location for a new splash pad in
Davidson.
•
Action 1.12 Work closely with Mecklenburg County
to expand and develop active recreational facilities (i.e.
soccer, baseball, tennis, volleyball, etc.) close to Davidson
(Bradford Park; Westmoreland Athletic Complex).
Additionally, Fisher Farm Park was ranked second highest
as a current facility most beneficial to the community and
their families in the survey. For more information about the
Davidson Greenprint Plan refer to Appendix C.
Actions
•
Action 3.1 Identify opportunities for public ownership
of lakefront properties to provide watershed protection
and public lake access (Lake Davidson Nature Preserve;
Davidson Bay.)
•
Action 3.2 Provide additional water-based amenities like
kayak/canoe access and storage.
o
Work with schools to improve outdoor learning
opportunities for the community.
•
Action 3.3 Establish access to and from facilities on Lake
Davidson Island.
•
Action 3.4 Create open space requirements to provide
public access to the lake with facility improvements in
new developments.
•
Action 3.5 Use the wide offerings in Davidson’s Park
and Recreation system of nature preserves, lake access,
and nature-based programs as a tool to create a jointuse partnership for residents of Cornelius/Davidson/
Huntersville.
•
Action 3.6 Incorporate the use of native plantings to
support habitat restoration (i.e. pollinators, water quality,
biodiversity) in new public park facilities.
•
Action 3.7 Protect environmentally-sensitive areas
through the purchase of conservation easements (riparian
corridors, floodplains, forests, large sections of early
successional habitat).
•
Action 3.8 Create a master plan and vision for the three
park properties (Abersham, Allison Farm, and Fisher Farm)
to create the best opportunity for these to complement
each other. Provide a unique regional park based on
preservation and the natural environment and offer a
balanced amount of active recreational opportunities.
•
Action 3.9 Continue to develop natural surface trails for
walking, hiking and biking. Connect them to the larger
greenway system.
•
Action 3.10 Identify locations for archery.
•
Action 3.11 Work with Mecklenburg County Park and
Recreation in the planning of the West Branch Nature
Center.
Rationale
Establishing a working relationship between local schools
and the parks and recreation department will benefit the
community by allowing departments (school and parks
and recreation) to provide far more facilities than they
normally could afford to build or maintain.
Actions
•
Action 2.1 Coordinate with schools (public and private)
to allow public access to school playgrounds (and other
facilities) as part of joint-use agreements.
•
Action 2.2 Through the existing and proposed outdoor
learning environments at Davidson Elementary and South
Street Park support community-wide school outdoor
learning initiatives.
Continue to protect and leverage Davidson’s natural assets.
Rationale
Davidson has a large reserve of natural assets. This has
been recognized by the community as a valuable resource
worthy of protection. The Davidson Greenprint Plan and
Comprehensive Plan both have recommendations to
protect natural beauty, open space and the tree canopy.
Community feedback during the public meetings also
showed significant support for continuing Davidson’s
stewardship and leadership in protecting and enhancing
the community’s natural assets and habitats. Requests
ranged from the selection of native plants in the landscape
to providing environmental education opportunities.
Develop a master plan for Armour Street Park
at Davidson Bay to include water-based active
recreation.
Recommendations
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Carolina Thread
Trail, and Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance.
Build an additional community dog park with walking
trails at Abersham, Allison Farm, and Fisher Farm Parks.
Rationale
Based on trends, level of service standards and public
feedback, locations for an additional dog park(s) should be
identified. The dog park should incorporate opportunities
for their owners to exercise with them.
Continue to partner with Mecklenburg County on the
development of a community recreation center close to
Davidson.
Rationale
A multi-use recreation complex has been identified in
both the survey (ranked in the top five of additional
facilities), and at the public meetings as a preferred facility.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation currently has
plans for the North Mecklenburg Recreation Center, near
Bailey Road Park. Davidson should continue to coordinate
with Mecklenburg County on the development of that
facility. (See recommendation 1.10 and Action 3.11.)
•
Action 6.5 Design and construct the Kincaid Trail
greenway (multi-use path) extension.
•
Action 6.6 Design and construct Summer’s Walk
greenway (multi-use path) connection to River Run.
•
Action 6.7 Secure easements or acquire land, design and
construct a greenway (multi-use path) from downtown to
Fisher Farm/Abersham/Allison Park.
•
Action 6.8 Design and construct the Mooresville to
Charlotte Trail through downtown to connect to Roosevelt
Wilson Park.
• Action 6.9 Look for opportunities to formalize current
informal trail networks and add them to the town
inventory.
• Action 6.10 Work with The Pines to establish a greenway
easement chiefly on the Fishback property to connect
Concord Road and South Street.
• Action 6.11 Park and greenway system should connect
when possible.
Establish more community gardens throughout Davidson.
Create a linked system by providing more pedestrian and
bicycle connections between parks, open space and key
destinations.
Rationale
The survey indicates that 64% of the population is driving
to have their recreational needs met at distances that are
bikeable or walkable (0 to 5 miles for biking or 0 to 1/2
miles for walking). The purpose of this recommendation is
to get more people to access recreation facilities through
biking and walking.
Actions
•
•
Rationale
Community gardens were identified in the survey as having
a relatively high priority when ranked by how beneficial they
are to the community. Similar responses were observed
during the first community meeting. The Davidson
Comprehensive Plan recommends that community gardens
be included in neighborhoods. It also recommends urban
food production in pocket parks and on public property.
Action
•
Action 7.1 Encourage community gardens in all new
neighborhood parks and identify opportunities to establish
community gardens within 1/4 mile of all residents.
Action 6.1 The park and greenway system should be
linked by multi-use trails and accessible within 1/4 mile of
every household.
o
Add to the planning ordinance to require space
and infrastructure to support the development of
community gardens within 1/4 mile of all households.
o
o
Look for opportunities to provide space for
community gardens in existing neighborhoods that do
not have adequate facilities.
Add to the planning ordinance to require construction
of multi-use trails within 1/4 mile of all households.
Action 6.2 Connect downtown to the park system
through greenway (multi-use trail) connections.
•
Action 6.3 Continue to implement Davidson Walks & Rolls
Active Transportation Plan recommendations.
•
Action 6.4 Continue to coordinate with partners to
expedite the development of greenways and trails such as
oCreate contractual agreement between the town
and communities to establish a schedule and
responsibilities for maintenance of gardens located on
public park property.
Provide opportunities for diverse recreational
opportunities and community gathering spaces
throughout Davidson.
Ensure Community and Neighborhood Parks incorporate
active and passive opportunities.
Rationale
Rationale
In order to meet the needs of a community such
as Davidson, diverse recreational opportunities and
gathering spaces are necessary. While there were higher
preferences for certain specific activities, there was also a
wide range of preferences for a variety of other activities.
Actions
•
Action 10.1 Active recreation should be scaled to fit the
park type and neighborhood needs.
•
Action 10.2 Undeveloped natural space should account
for a minimum of 50% of the park.
o
Actions
•
•
•
Action 8.1 Incorporate community gathering spaces
(pavilions, picnic shelter, gazebos, stage, plaza, public art,
multipurpose fields/lawn areas) in all future parks scaled
appropriately for the park type and context.
Action 8.2 Identify funding opportunities to develop
a multi-use recreation center to reflect the needs of
Davidson residents. Examples of included facilities are: a
swimming pool, basketball courts, an indoor walking track,
a workout area, a meeting room or a kitchen.
Action 8.3 Develop a multi-use recreation center.
Provide outdoor space for performing arts and connect
that space to community gathering spaces.
Rationale
Rationale
The survey indicated that the community felt this was one
of the most poorly-maintained areas in the system, but
also one of the most important. During public meetings
and stakeholder interviews, the community indicated that
the farmers’ market should have better/improved facilities.
It was also rated as being one of the most beneficial
facilities for the community with improvements.
Add to the planning ordinance, requirement for 50%
of new neighborhood parks to be natural areas.
Study the publicly-owned land adjacent to town hall
including the Summit Tot Lot, current farmers’ market area,
adjacent surface parking lots and how it may be better
connected to nearby open space areas and better utilized
as a central public open space.
Balancing active and passive recreation is referenced
several times in both the 2001 Parks and Recreation
Master Plan and the Davidson 2025 Comprehensive
Plan.
The survey indicates the development of an additional
amphitheater or auditorium for performances or outdoor
educational classes to be of moderately high importance.
Ensure all Parks and Recreation facilities are maintained to
an equal and consistently high-quality standard.
Rationale
The survey reveals a wide range of quality in regards to the
maintenance of the parks and recreation facilities.
Action
•
Action 12.1 While the maintenance of facilities is currently
managed entirely through the public works department,
as the department grows, some of that responsibility may
need to shift to the parks and recreation department.
Recommendations
TABLE 14: Facility Recommendations & Actions
Environmental
Emotional
Spiritual
Social
Intellectual
Physical
Facility Recommendations & Actions
Economic
4. Build an additional community dog park with walking trails at Abersham, et al.
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X X X
X X
X X X X X X
X
X
5. Continue to partner with Mecklenburg County in the development of a community
recreation center close to Davidson.
X X
6. Create a linked system by providing more pedestrian and bicycle connections between
parks, open space and key destinations.
X X X
7. Establish more community gardens throughout Davidson.
X X X X X X X
8. Provide opportunities for diverse recreational opportunities and community gathering
spaces throughout Davidson.
X X X X X X X
1. Increase active recreation amenities with close access for Davidson residents.
2. Work with schools to improve outdoor learning opportunities for the community.
3. Continue to protect and leverage Davidson’s natural assets.
9. Study the publicly-owned land adjacent to town hall including the Summit Tot Lot, current
farmers’ market area, adjacent surface parking lots and how it may be better connected
to nearby open space areas and better utilized as a central public open space.
10. Ensure Community and Neighborhood Parks incorporate active and passive
opportunities.
11. Provide outdoor space for performing arts and connect that space to community
gathering spaces.
12. Ensure all Parks and Recreation facilities are maintained to an equal and consistently
high-quality standard.
X
X X X
X X X X
X X X X X X X
X X X X X
X X X
X X
Programming Recommendations & Actions
Davidson residents have a variety of interests and programming needs, but due to a lack of adequate programming many are
currently traveling a significant distance to meet them. By strengthening existing programming relationships and building new
ones, Davidson can provide more programs that advance all seven dimensions of health and are accessible for all residents.
The following are recommendations pertinent to Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation programming. Included with each
recommendation are its rationale and any applicable key action steps to be taken for implementation.
Programming Recommendation 1
Increase programming to provide educational
opportunities based on Davidson’s environmental assets.
Continue and expand programming opportunities for all
ages, and include the following community-identified
classes (order in which they were placed on the survey):
Rationale
•
Special events
•
Fitness and wellness (including but not limited to yoga,
Pilates, t’ai chi
•
Tennis-based programming: leagues, lessons,
tournaments
•
Water sports (rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding and
swimming)
•
Environmental education/interpretive space
•
Art, dance and performing arts classes
•
Yoga and t’ai chi classes
The survey indicated a need for additional programming
focused on environmental education. Davidson also
has a unique and expansive set of natural resources
(Abersham, et al.) with which they can provide these
programs.
Actions
•
Action 1.1 Establish educational programs focused on
environmental education and stewardship.
•
Action 1.2 Continue to partner with schools to plan and
develop environmental/nature based programming.
•
Action 1.3 Utilize environmental assets such as Abersham,
et al. by establishing outdoor environmental/nature based
programs.
Rationale
Develop health and exercise programs that appeal to all of
Davidson.
The survey indicated that the community felt that middle/
high school-aged teens, adults and seniors had the least
activities provided. The list of recommended programs
includes the top ones identified in the survey and at public
meetings. Many of these programs are appropriate for a
wide variety of age groups.
Rationale
The survey indicated fitness and wellness programs as the
second most requested programming addition. When asked
about the respondents’ personal health, 88% said staying
healthy is important to them, and 95% said they are using
parks and recreational programs to be physically active.
Actions
•
•
Action 2.1 Partner with the Mecklenburg County Health
Department and other local health organizations to
provide informational sessions on nutrition and additional
programming opportunities to be hosted in Davidson.
Action 2.2 Sponsor and promote community and
corporate health challenges.
Establish educational programs to teach gardening,
nutrition and healthy food preparation.
Rationale
Access to healthy food and its propagation and preparation
is an essential part of living healthy lives. It also is integral
to providing successful fitness and wellness programs
(indicated as the second most beneficial program in survey).
Actions
•
Action 4.1 Partner with vendors at the farmers’ market
and grocery stores to provide cooking classes using local
foods.
•
Action 4.2 Partner with local restaurants and grocery
stores to provide healthy cooking classes.
Recommendations
•
Action 4.3 Partner with schools and the Ada Jenkins
Center, and continue the Parent Teacher Organization
(PTO) group promoting healthy living.
•
Action 7.3 Coordinate with the police department to
provide education on bicycle commuting safety.
•
Action 7.4 Work with local advocacy groups and the
Livability Board to assist in organizing pedestrianand bicycle-related events, educational activities and
enforcement programs.
Increase programming that utilizes lake access and waterbased sports.
Rationale
A desire for improved public lake access was voiced
throughout the process. Lake access was discussed in
the stakeholder interviews multiple times and was one
of the most requested activities/facilities at the public
meetings. In addition, it ranked 4th for additional facilities
most beneficial to residents behind greenways/trails and
an improved farmers’ market.
Expand senior programs and community center activities
that support the seven dimensions of health to be held at
Ada Jenkins.
Rationale
Programming recommendation 6
Continue to leverage and grow programming partnerships.
The survey indicated that the community believed middle/
high school-aged teens, adults and seniors had the least
access to parks and recreational activities. Additionally
in the survey, Ada Jenkins was ranked as the third most
beneficial facility to the Davidson community. Demographic
trends also reveal that the senior segment of the population
is growing and will likely need more facilities in the future.
Rationale
The survey indicated that team youth sports, summer
camps and arts/cultural classes were ranked highest in
terms of current population use.
Once expansion of the Ada Jenkins Center is complete,
assess and determine appropriate programming.
Actions
•
•
Action 6.1 Survey existing service providers, including
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation to determine
the current usage and participation rate of Davidson
residents to identify existing gaps.
Action 6.2 Continue and expand partnerships with all
current service providers (i.e. Carolina Rapids Soccer) and
seek organizations with which to build new partnerships.
Rationale
Continue to provide and expand events in parks
throughout the town.
Continue to partner with organizations to provide
educational programs for bicyclists.
Rationale
Bicycle safety and education programs work in tandem with
building successful bicycle and pedestrian systems. These
programs reduce perceived barriers and educate how to
navigate a through the system, which in turn makes people
more likely to participate in cycling programs.
The survey indicated that the community most valued the
Village Green, the Ada Jenkins Center and the Summit Tot
Lot. Events held in these locations can reinforce downtown
as the heart of the community, while supplemental with
geographically-dispersed events to provide opportunities to
bring the community together. The goal is to reinforce these
facilities as locations for social cohesion, to meet the demand
for additional activities for the community and for economic
development through tourism. In the survey, special events,
concerts and festivals ranked highest as additional programs
the community thought most beneficial.
Actions
•
Action 10.1 Expand existing events programming to
include music and arts festivals, movies in the park and
other events throughout the community.
Actions
•
Action 7.1 Partner to provide educational programs for
road safety.
•
Action 10.2 Partner with the Visit Lake Norman and local
businesses to promote and market events
•
Action 7.2 Partner to provide educational programs for
bicycle maintenance.
•
Action 10.3 Increase health-based events.
Continue and expand life skills programs for the
community, including:
Incorporate healthy living metrics into programs through a
questionnaire/survey.
•
Public speaking classes
•
Computer classes
•
Job training
•
Gardening classes
•
End of life information classes
•
Legal documents preparation classes
•
Basic home maintenance classes
Rationale
Identified through stakeholder interviews and as part of
the Davidson Design for Life initiative, it is imperative to
evaluate how successfully the department is improving
health and if it needs adjustment to be improved.
Action
•
Action 14.1 Enact the recommendations from the Activity
Connection Plan located in Appendix K and Chapter 5:
Rationale
Create incentives to expand turnout for groups that
currently are not using the system.
The survey indicated additional life skills programs would
be beneficial to the Davidson community.
Rationale
Expand and develop summer camp programs for Town of
Davidson residents.
Rationale
Stakeholder interviews and both public meetings identified
the desire to expand summer camps. In addition, many people in the survey expressed time constraints as a reason for
not utilizing parks and recreation facilities. Summer camps
can be utilized to provide more recreation time for families.
Actions
•
Action 12.1 Develop drop-in camps at set locations in the
town for parents with flexible schedules.
•
Action 12.2 Expand full-day camp options for Town of
Davidson residents.
Boost mental health programs.
Rationale
Through stakeholder meetings, public meetings and
individual comments from the survey, a considerable
amount of feedback supported the need to continue to
expand mental health programs within Davidson.
Action
•
Action 13.1 Continue to develop partnerships with the
CHS Behavioral Health Center and similar organizations to
expand mental health programs like Davidson LifeLine and
support groups.
In order to increase health and wellness of the entire
community, there needs to be more turnout from
communities who don’t normally recreate. By creating
incentives for these specific groups, Davidson Parks and
Recreation can have a greater impact on the community’s
health and quality of life.
Actions
•
Action 15.1 Provide lower cost introductory classes to
lower barriers to registration.
•
Action 15.2 Create an exploration day to provide
transportation to and from programs and provide samples
of types of programs available.
•
Action 15.3 Increase marketing to groups not currently
using the system.
Ensure fair access to programming and facilities by aiding
in overcoming economic and/or racial disparities.
Rationale
In order to increase health and wellness of the entire
community, there needs to be more turnout from
communities who don’t normally recreate. By helping
marginalized communities to overcome existing and
perceived obstacles, Davidson Parks and Recreation can have
a greater impact on the community’s health and quality of life.
Recommendations
TABLE 15: Programming Recommendations & Actions
1. Increase programming to provide educational opportunities based on Davidson’s
environmental assets.
X
Environmental
Emotional
Spiritual
Intellectual
Economic
Social
Physical
X X X X
2. Develop health and exercise programs that appeal to all of Davidson.
X X
3. Continue and expand programming opportunities for all ages, and include the following
community-identified classes (order in which they were placed on the survey):
• Special events
• Fitness and wellness (including but not limited to yoga, Pilates, t’ai chi
• Tennis-based programming: leagues, lessons, tournaments
• Water sports (rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming)
• Environmental education/Interpretive space
• Art, dance and performing arts classes
• Yoga and t’ai chi classes
X X X X X X X
4. Establish educational programs to teach gardening, nutrition and healthy food
preparation.
X X X X
5. Increase programming that utilizes lake access and water-based sports.
7. Continue to partner with organizations to provide educational programs for bicyclists.
X X
X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X
X
8. Expand senior programs and community center activities that support the seven
dimensions of health to be held at Ada Jenkins.
X X X X X X X
9. Once expansion of the Ada Jenkins Center is complete, assess and determine
appropriate programming.
X X X X X X X
10. Continue to provide and expand events in parks throughout the town.
X X X X
11. Continue and expand life skills programs for the community, including:
• Public speaking classes
• Computer classes
• Job training
• Gardening classes
• End of life information classes
• Legal documents preparation classes
• Basic home maintenance classes
X X X X X X X
6. Continue to leverage and grow programming partnerships.
12. Expand and develop summer camp programs for Town of Davidson residents.
13. Boost mental health programs.
14. Incorporate healthy living metrics into programs through a questionnaire/survey.
15. Create incentives to expand turnout for groups that currently are not using the system.
X
X
X
X
X X X
X
X
X X X X
X X X X
X
X X
X
X X
X
X
X X
08
Implementation Action Plan
In order to facilitate implementation of the previously
mentioned recommendations, an implementation action plan has been created that
prioritizes recommendations, suggests what entity should be responsible for initiating
the action, and its financial impact and timing. The time frames for the action plan are
immediate (less than 1 Year) short-term (2-4 Years), medium-term (4-8 Years), long-term
(8+ Years) and ongoing.
This master plan is designed to serve as a decision-making tool for the town to help set priorities for
implementation for facilities and programs. The following implementation action plan summarizes the plan
recommendations and identifies timing and financial resources where appropriate. The implementation action
plan should be reviewed and revised annually. It should serve as a guide in the Department’s annual budget
development and work plan.
The master plan is intended to provide a vision for the next fifteen years to 2030. The implementation action plan is
based on a time frame for short-, mid- and long-term priorities.
TABLE 16: Policy Implementation Action Plan
Responsibility
Financial Implications
Timing*
1. Update Parks and Recreation Master
Plan a minimum of every 10 years
to stay relevant and meet grant
opportunity requirements.
Davidson Parks and Recreation
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
2. Adopt new level of service standards
that focus on the seven dimensions
of health.
Staff time
Immediate
2.1 Adopt the level of service standards Davidson Parks and Recreation
Staff time
Immediate
Staff time
Immediate
Staff time, funding
Immediate
shown in this master plan.
3. Adopt a new park classification
system as outlined in this master
plan.
Davidson Parks and Recreation,
4. Increase resources (funding) as
recommended in this master plan.
Davidson Planning Department
*Timing: Immediate= less than 1-year; short-term= 2 - 4 years; medium-term= 4-8 years, long-term= 8+ years
Responsibility
Financial Implications Timing
5. Establish healthy-living metrics by partnering
with Mecklenburg County Health Department,
Community Health Services, Charlotte
Mecklenburg Schools and existing programs.
Staff time
term
Schools, Community Health Services
Short-term
Staff time
Short-term
Partner with public and private schools and places Davidson Parks and Recreation
of worship to provide more opportunities for
Local schools (Davidson Day,
sharing existing and future facilities.
Lake Norman Christian, Davidson
Elementary, Community School
of Davidson Elementary and High
Schooll), local places of worship
Staff time
Immediate
and ongoing
6.1. Establish standard forms and joint-use
Schooll), local places of worship
Staff time
Immediate
Coordinate with Cornelius and Huntersville to
create a tri-municipal, northern Mecklenburg
joint-use agreement/partnership to benefit the
residents of all three communities.
Cornelius, Huntersville, Mecklenburg
County
Staff time, funding
Immediate
and ongoing
7.1. Create working relationship between
County
Staff time, funding
Immediate
and ongoing
Cornelius, Huntersville
Staff time, funding
Immediate
and ongoing
Staff time, funding
Immediate
and ongoing
Create a marketing strategy to promote and
educate residents about parks and recreation
opportunities, such as system mapping, a unified
wayfinding system and branding, including
coordination with Mecklenburg County, Cornelius,
and Huntersville.
Staff time, funding
Short-term
Mecklenburg County Health
future programs run by the Parks and Recreation
Department, Charlotte Mecklenburg
Department.
Schools, Community Health Services
Department, hospitals and schools to gain
access to community health data broken
down by municipal boundaries.
agreements that clearly lay out facility
maintenance and use for all stakeholders
involved.
Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville and
Mecklenburg County to share parks and
recreation facilities, and expand bike and
pedestrian connectivity.
7.2. Work with Cornelius and Huntersville to
establish a joint programming and fee
structure agreement that treats the residents
of each municipality equally.
7.3. Work together with these municipalities to
ensure there is no duplication of services.
8.
Department, Charlotte Mecklenburg
other healthy living metrics through existing and
5.2. Partner with Mecklenburg County Health
7.
to short-
Staff time
5.1. Increase outreach for diabetes screenings and
6.
Immediate
Department
Responsibility
8.1. Develop a branding system for the Town of
Davidson Parks and Recreation Department.
Staff time, funding
Short Term
8.2. Develop and institute a standardized wayfinding
system for parks, greenways and recreational
facilities.
County
Staff time, funding
Short Term
Seek opportunities and support to foster public/
private partnerships for land acquisition, park/
trail development, funding and sponsorship
opportunities.
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
10. Establish benchmarks to evaluate parks and
recreation system as it grows.
Davidson Department of Finance
Staff time
Ongoing
11. Survey the community bi-annually through the
Citizens Satisfaction Survey, for satisfaction and
community needs, include metrics in the survey
that allow measurement of community health.
Davidson Public Information Officer
Staff time
Ongoing
12. Continue to expand the use of alternative funding
through sponsorships, volunteers, grants and
donations.
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
12.2 Expand tracking of volunteer hours and the
value of volunteers used in lieu of necessary
staff time and attribute this as cost recovery.
Staff time
Ongoing
9.
12.1 Expand volunteer opportunities for park and
greenway projects.
12.3 Expand sponsorship opportunities.
Staff time
Ongoing
12.4 Consider seeking a corporate endowment to
fund select services.
Staff time
Ongoing
12.5 Continue to seek state, federal and private
grant opportunities.
Staff time
Ongoing
13. Establish Town of Davidson parks as tobacco-free
through ordinance.
Davidson town attorney
Staff time
Immediate
14. Establish a plan to transition more direct
oversight and responsibility for the ongoing
maintenance of the system to the parks and
recreation department.
Davidson Public Works
Staff time
Immediate
to shortterm
14.1. Develop a specific maintenance plan and
schedule for parks and recreation facilities
that gives the parks and recreation manager
the oversight of the parks and recreation
maintenance staff and their responsibilities.
Staff time
Immediate
to shortterm
14.2. Ensure there are sufficient labor hours
Staff time
Ongoing
dedicated to the maintenance of the parks
and recreation facilities to provide a highquality system throughout the town.
Responsibility
Staff time
Immediate
and ongoing
15. Set up neighborhood/community improvement
grants available through the Town of Davidson to
help fund community gardens.
Staff time, funding
Short-term
to mediumterm
16. Establish composting and recycling programs
in all Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation
facilities.
Funding
Short-term
17. Further the proposed improvements for South
Street Park Master Plan.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, The
Pines development
Staff time, funding
Short-term
to mediumterm
171.Secure easements from Charlotte Mecklenburg
Schools (CMS) and The Pines for a 25-year
commitment.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, The
Pines development
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
17.2.Upgrade the joint-use agreement with CMS to
reflect the master plan.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
14.3. Provide the parks and recreation department
access to staff during nights and weekends
to ensure high-quality and safe facilities are
maintained.
18. Continue to work through the Livability Board
to advocate for, promote and support the
Livability Board
development and growth of the parks and
recreation department to meet the needs of the
community.
18.1.Create a committee within the Livability Board
whose charge is to develop partnerships
Livability Board, Davidson College,
to enhance the offerings of the parks and
Ingersoll Rand, Carolinas HealthCare
recreation department. At least one parks and
System, Duke Energy, NC Fish and
recreation staff, along with key community
Wildlife Commission
leaders should sit on the committee. The
committe should target partnerships with:
Davidson College, Ingersoll Rand, Carolinas
HealthCare System, Duke Energy and the NC
Fish and Wildlife Commission.
18.2. Meet with Livability Board; provide progress
updates for plan implementation and gather
Livability Board
input regarding parks and recreation issues.
18.3. The Livability Board should continue meeting
on at least a monthly basis, and one of their
meetings annually should be reserved to
evaluate and keep up-to-date with goals of this
plan.
Livability Board
TABLE 17: Facility Implementation Action Plan
Responsibility
Timing
1.
Increase active recreation amenities with close
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
access for Davidson residents.
1.1. Pursue a goal of public/private child-centered play
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
areas within 1/4 mile of all households.
o
Add to the planning ordinance to require playground
facilities within 1/4 mile of all households.
Davidson Planning
Staff time
Immediate
o
Look for opportunities to build playgrounds in
existing neighborhoods that do not have adequate
facilities.
Staff time, funding
Medium-term
Planning Department
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
oEncourage the design of new playgrounds to
include nature-based play.
1.2. Include at least one active/improved recreation
amenity in new and existing parks.
o
Add to the planning ordinance to include construction
of active/improved recreation in all new parks.
Planning Department
Staff time
Immediate
o
Look for opportunities to build active recreational
facilities in existing neighborhood parks that do not
currently have them.
Staff time, funding
Immediate to
short-term
Staff time
Ongoing
Funding
Medium-
1.3. Neighborhood Parks’ active/improved recreation
amenity should be scaled appropriately within
the site and reflect the neighborhood’s residents’
identified needs (e.g. bocce ball, basketball,
outdoor fitness stations, basketball, outdoor ping
pong, pickle ball, badminton, mini-soccer, walking
trails, play space, disc golf).
1.4.Identify locations for new tennis courts and/or
pickle ball courts within Davidson.
1.5.Identify and develop partnerships to provide public
access to tennis courts throughout the community.
1.6.New and existing parks should incorporate
multipurpose fields/active recreation facilities that
Mecklenburg County (Bradford Park),
Lake Norman Tennis Association
term to long
- term
Staff time
Immediate
Staff time, funding
Medium-
Davidson Landing, River Run,
Davidson College, Chatwell
Mecklenburg County
term to
long-term
are appropriate to the site (Beaty property, Bailey
Springs, Bradford Park, Allison Farm/Fisher Farm/
Abersham, River Run).
o
Develop a master plan for a Community Park at
Bailey Springs to include multipurpose fields and
diverse active recreation facilities.
Staff time, funding
Medium-term
o
Develop a master plan for a Community Park at
River Run located on Shearer Road to include
multipurpose fields and diverse active recreation
facilities.
Staff time, funding
Long-term
o
Partner with AT&T to provide active recreation on
the lot next to their offices.
AT&T
Staff time, funding
Medium-term
to long-term
o
Partner with Lake Norman Christian Academy to
improve its existing multipurpose fields for shared
use.
Lake Norman Christian Academy
Staff time
Immediate to
short-term
Responsibility
Timing
o
Partner with Davidson Day School for shared use of
its existing multipurpose fields.
Davidson Day School
Staff time
Immediate to
short-term
o
Partner with Community School of Davidson High
School for shared use of its existing multipurpose field.
Community School of Davidson
Staff time
Immediate to
short-term
o
Partner with Davidson College to expand downtown
gathering opportunities.
Funding
Ongoing
o
Look for opportunities to add multipurpose
fields/ active recreation facilities to existing
parks.
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Staff time
Immediate
1.7. Partner with schools to provide public access to
basketball courts and fields.
to short-
term
Elementary, Community School of
Davidson High School)
oEstablish standard forms and joint-use agreements
that clearly delineate facility maintenance and use
for all stakeholders involved (see Appendix J).
1.8. Provide more water access and water-based
Davidson Parks and Recreation Local
schools (Davidson Day, Lake Norman
Christian, Davidson Elementary,
Community School of Davidson
Elementary and High School)
Staff time
Immediate
Staff Time, funding
Short-term
recreational opportunities (canoe, kayak rentals/
Davidson Bay, Mecklenburg County,
to medium-
access/storage; rowing).
permitting (Army Corp of Engineers,
term
Duke Energy), Davidson Land
Conservancy
1.9. Explore opportunities for additional lake swimming. Davidson Parks and Recreation
Staff time
Short-term
Staff time
Ongoing
Funding
Short-term
Mecklenburg County (Jetton Park),
Duke Energy (potential sites and
permitting), YMCA, and Davidson
College
1.10.Work with Mecklenburg County Park and
Recreation in the planning of the North
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg Recreation Center to underscore the
importance and need for this facility for Davidson
residents and to make sure it includes an aquatic
facility.
1.11. Identify a location for a new splash pad in
Davidson.
to mediumterm
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Work with schools to improve outdoor learning
Staff time
Ongoing
opportunities for the community.
1.12.Work closely with Mecklenburg County to expand
and develop active recreational facilities (i.e. soccer,
baseball, tennis, volleyball, etc.) close to Davidson
(Bradford Park, Westmoreland Athletic Complex).
2.
School)
2.1. Coordinate with schools (public and private) to
Responsibility
Timing
Staff time
Immediate
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Funding
Short-term
allow public access to school playgrounds (and
other facilities) as part of joint-use agreements.
School)
2.2. Through the existing and proposed outdoor learning Davidson Elementary School
environments at Davidson Elementary and South
Street Park support community-wide school
outdoor learning initiatives.
3.
Continue to protect and leverage Davidson’s natural
assets.
3.1. Identify opportunities for public ownership
of lakefront properties to provide watershed
Planning; Davidson College,
to medium-
protection and public lake access (Lake Davidson
Davidson Bay, Davidson Land
term
Nature Preserve, Davidson Bay).
3.2. Provide additional water-based amenities like kayak/
canoe access and storage.
Conservancy
Staff time, funding
to medium-
County Natural Resources, Duke
term
Energy, Fish and Wildlife
o
Develop a master plan for Armour Street Park
at Davidson Bay to include water-based active
recreation.
3.3. Establish access to and facilities on Lake Davidson
Island.
3.4.Create open space requirements to provide public
access to the lake with facility improvements in
Davidson Parks & Recreation
Staff time, funding
County Natural Resources, Duke
Energy, Fish and Wildlife
Planning Department
Short-term
Short-term
to mediumterm
Staff time
Immediate
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Funding
Immediate
new developments.
3.5. Use the wide offerings in Davidson’s park and
recreation system of nature preserves, lake access,
Davidson Land Conservancy
and nature-based programs as a tool to create a
joint-use partnership for residents of Cornelius/
Davidson/Huntersville.
3.6.Incorporate the use of native plantings to support
habitat restoration (i.e. pollinators, water quality,
Planning Department, Davidson
biodiversity) in new public park facilities.
Land Conservancy
and ongoing
Mecklenburg County Park and
Funding for master
the purchase of conservation easements (riparian
Recreation with Davidson Parks
plan, staff time for
corridors, floodplains, forests, large sections of
and Recreation
coordination
early successional habitat).
Davidson Land Conservancy
3.7. Protect environmentally sensitive areas through
3.8.Create a master plan and vision for the three park
Funding for
Short-term
Ongoing
development
properties (Abersham, Allison Farm, and Fisher
Farm) to create the best opportunity for these
to complement each other. Provide a unique
regional park based on preservation and the natural
environment and offer a balanced amount of active
recreational opportunities.
3.9.Continue to develop natural surface trails for
walking, hiking and biking. Connect them to the
Funding
Mediumterm
larger greenway system.
3.10. Identify locations for archery.
Responsibility
Timing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Staff time
Immediate
Funding
Short-term
Funding
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Funding
Immediate
Mecklenburg County
4.
3.11 Work with Mecklenburg County Park and
Recreation in the planning of the West Branch
Nature Center.
Build an additional community dog park with
walking trails at Abersham, Allison Farm, and Fisher
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County
Farm Parks.
5.
Continue to partner with Mecklenburg County on the
development of a community recreation center close
Mecklenburg County
to Davidson.
6.
Create a linked system by providing more pedestrian Davidson Parks and Recreation
and bicycle connections between parks, open space
Mecklenburg County, Davidson
and key destinations.
Planning Department
6.1. The park and greenway system should be linked
by multi-use trails and accessible within 1/4 mile of
Davidson Planning
every household.
o
Add to the planning ordinance to require
construction of multi-use trails within 1/4 mile of all
households.
6.2.Connect downtown to the park system through
greenway (multi-use trail) connections.
6.3.Continue to implement Davidson Walks & Rolls
Active Transportation Plan recommendations.
6.4.Continue to coordinate with partners to expedite
the development of greenways and trails such as
Davidson Parks & Recreation
Davidson Planning
Mecklenburg County
Davidson Planning
CTT
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Carolina
Thread Trail, Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance.
6.5. Design and construct the Kincaid Trail greenway
(multi-use path) extension.
Mecklenburg County, CTT
to shortterm
6.6. Design and construct Summer’s Walk greenway
(multi-use path) connection to River Run.
Funding
Immediate
to shortterm
6.7.Secure easements or acquire land, design and
construct a greenway (multi-use path) from
Mecklenburg County, Davidson
downtown to Fisher Farm/Abersham/Allison Park.
Land Conservancy
6.8. Design and construct the Mooresville to
Charlotte Trail through downtown to connect to
Roosevelt Wilson Park.
6.9 Look for opportunities to formalize current informal
tral networks and add them to the town inventory.
6.10Work with The Pines to add a greenway spot,
Funding
Immediate
to shortterm
Funding
Immediate
to shortterm
Funding
Immediate
Staff time, funding
Immediate
The Pines
chiefly on Fishback property regarding connectivity.
to shortterm
7.
Establish more community gardens throughout
Davidson.
Davidson Planning
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
7.1.Include community gardens in all new
neighborhood parks and identify opportunities to
Responsibility
Timing
Funding
Immediate
Davidson Planning
establish community gardens within 1/4 mile of all
residents.
8.
o
Add to the planning ordinance to require space
and infrastructure to support the development
of community gardens within 1/4 mile of all
households.
Davidson Planning
Staff time
Immediate
o
Look for opportunities to provide space for
community gardens in existing neighborhoods that
do not have adequate facilities.
Davidson Planning
Funding
Short-term
oCreate contractual agreement between the town
and communities to establish a schedule and
responsibilities for maintenance of gardens located
on public park property.
Davidson Planning
Staff time
Ongoing
Funding
Ongoing
Funding
Ongoing
Funding
Short-term
Provide opportunities for diverse recreational
opportunities and community gathering spaces
throughout Davidson.
8.1.Incorporate community gathering spaces (pavilions,
picnic shelter, gazebos, stage, plaza, public art,
multipurpose fields/lawn areas) in all future parks
scaled appropriately for the park type and context.
8.2.Identify funding opportunities to develop a
recreation center.
to mediumterm
9.
8.3. Develop a recreation center.
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Study the publicly-owned land adjacent to town
Staff time, funding
Immediate
hall including the Summit Tot Lot, current farmers’
all town departments, business
to shortterm
market area, adjacent surface parking lots and how it stakeholders
may be better connected to nearby open space areas
and better utilized as a central public open space.
10. Ensure Community and Neighborhood Parks
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time
Ongoing
Planning Department
Staff time
Immediate
Funding
Medium-
incorporate active and passive opportunities.
10.1. Active recreation should be scaled to fit the park
type and neighborhood needs.
10.2. Natural space should account for a minimum of
50% of the park.
o
Add to the planning ordinance, requirement for 50%
of new neighborhood parks to be natural areas.
11. Provide outdoor space for performing arts and
term
connect that space to community gathering spaces.
12. Ensure all parks and recreation facilities are
maintained to an equal and consistently high-quality
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
standard.
TABLE 18: Programming Implementation Action Plan
Responsibility
1. Increase programming to provide educational
opportunities based on Davidson’s
environmental assets.
Staff time, funding
Davidson Lands Conservancy, local
schools, Mecklenburg County Waste
Reduction and Recycling (Wipe
Out Waste), partner with farmers’
market, local businesses, Rotary,
community groups
Timing
Ongoing
1.1.Establish educational programs focused on
environmental education and stewardship.
Davidson Lands Conservancy,
Catawba Lands Conservancy
Funding
Short-term
1.2.Continue to partner with schools to plan
and develop environmental/nature based
programming.
local schools, Ada Jenkins, current
PTO group
Staff time
Ongoing
1.3. Utilize environmental assets such as
Abersham, et al. by establishing outdoor
environmental/nature based programs.
Funding
Short-term
2. Develop health and exercise programs that
appeal to all of Davidson.
Department, Community Health
System, local businesses,
neighborhood associations
2.1. Partner with the Mecklenburg County
Health Department and other local health
organizations to provide informational
sessions on nutrition and additional
programming opportunities to be hosted in
Davidson.
System
Staff time
Ongoing
2.2Sponsor and promote community and
corporate health challenges.
local businesses, neighborhood
associations
Staff time, funding
Immediate
local businesses, neighborhood
associations
Staff time, funding
Immediate
3. Continue and expand programming opportunities
for all ages, and include the following
community-identified classes (order in which
they were placed on the survey):
•
Special events
Davidson Economic Development
Staff time, funding
Immediate
and
ongoing
•
Fitness and wellness (including but not
limited to yoga, Pilates, t’ai-chi
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
•
Tennis-based programming- leagues,
lessons, tournaments
Davidson Parks & Recreatin
River Run, Davidson College jointuse agreement (particularly in the
summer), YMCA
Staff time, funding
Mediumterm
•
Water sports (rowing, kayaking,
paddleboarding and swimming)
Private adventure-tour providers like
My Aloha, Davidson College
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
•
Environmental education/interpretive space
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Responsibility
Timing
•
Art, dance and performing arts
classes
Davidson Community Players
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
•
Yoga and t’ai chi classes
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
grocery stores, Ada Jenkins
(nutrition classes), Carolina Health
Care System
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
4.1. Partner with vendors at the farmers’ market
and grocery stores to provide cooking
classes using local foods.
farmers’ market vendors and
grocery stores
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
4.2.Partner with local restaurants and grocery
stores to provide healthy cooking classes.
local restaurants and grocery stores
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
4.3.Partner with schools and the Ada Jenkins
Center, and continue the Parent Teacher
Organization (PTO) group promoting healthy
living.
local schools, Ada Jenkins, current
PTO group
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
5. Increase programming that utilizes lake
access and water-based sports.
Davidson Outdoors and other
businesses
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
6. Continue to leverage and grow programming
partnerships.
current programming partners
Staff time
Immediate
6.1.Survey existing service providers, including
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
to determine the current usage and
participation rate of Davidson residents to
identify existing gaps.
Staff time
Immediate
6.2Continue and expand partnerships with
all current service providers (i.e. Carolina
Rapids Soccer) and seek organizations with
which to build new partnerships.
Staff time
Immediate
Police Department
Davidson Parks and Recreation, Safe
Routes to School, local bicycle shops
Staff time
Ongoing
7.1. Partner to provide educational programs for
road safety.
Police Department
Staff time
Ongoing
7.2. Partner to provide educational programs for
bicycle maintenance.
Police Department
Staff time
Ongoing
7.3.Coordinate with the police department to
provide education on bicycle commuting.
Police Department
Davidson Parks and Recreation, safe
Staff time
Ongoing
7.4.Work with local advocacy groups and the
Livability Board to assist in organizing
pedestrian- and bicycle-related events,
educational activities and enforcement
programs.
Livability Board, local advocacy
groups
Staff time, funding
Immediate
4. Establish educational programs to teach
gardening, nutrition and healthy food
preparation.
7. Continue to partner with organizations to
provide educational programs for bicyclists.
Responsibility
Timing
8. Expand senior programs and community
center activities that support the seven
dimensions of health to be held at Ada
Jenkins.
Ada Jenkins, Community Health
Services, Mecklenburg County
Health Department
Staff time
Short-term
9. Once expansion of the Ada Jenkins Center is
complete, assess and determine appropriate
programming.
Ada Jenkins
Staff time
Short-term
10. Continue to provide and expand events in
parks throughout the town.
Davidson Chamber of Commerce
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
10.1. Expand existing events programming to
include music and arts festivals, movies in
the park and other events throughout the
community.
Staff time, funding
Short-term
10.2. Partner with the Visit Lake Norman and
local businesses to promote and market
events
Davidson Parks and Recreation, Visit
LKN
Staff time
Immediate
10.3. Increase health-based events.
System
Staff time
Immediate
Davidson Parks and Recreation;
existing and new programming
partners
Staff time, funding
Ongoing
Staff time, funding
Short-term
to mediumterm
12.1. Develop drop-in camps at set locations in
the town for parents with flexible schedules.
Ada Jenkins, local schools
Staff time, funding
Short-term
to mediumterm
12.2. Expand full-day camp options for Town of
Davidson residents.
Ada Jenkins, local schools
Staff time, funding
Short-term
to mediumterm
11. Continue and expand life skills programs for
the community, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Public speaking classes
Computer classes
Job training
Gardening classes
End of life information classes
Legal documents preparation classes
Basic home maintenance classes
12. Expand and develop summer camp programs
for Town of Davidson residents.
Responsibility
Timing
13. Boost mental health programs.
Local health providers
Staff time
Immediate
Local health providers
Staff time
Immediate
Current programming partners
Staff time
Ongoing
14.1 Enact the recommendations from the Activity Davidson Parks and Recreation
Connection Plan located in Appendix K
Current programming partners
Staff time
Ongoing
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
15.1. Provide lower cost introductory classes to
lower barriers to registration.
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
15.2. Create an exploration day to provide
transportation to and from programs and
provide samples of types of programs
available.
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
15.3. Increase marketing to groups not currently
using the system.
Staff time, funding
Immediate
to shortterm
13.1. Continue to develop partnerships with the
CHS Behavioral Health Center and similar
organizations to expand mental health
programs like Davidson LifeLine and other
support groups.
14. Incorporate healthy living metrics into
programs through a questionnaire/survey.
15. Create incentives to expand turnout for
groups that currently are not using the
system.
09
Funding Strategies
There are several methods through which parks and
recreation systems can be funded. The first step is to update the Capital Improvement Plan
to provide the guiding framework for the financing of the department. The following section
defines several funding tools that, when used in conjunction with town funds, will enable the
acquisition, planning, construction and programming of this critical community resource.
Capital Improvement Plan
A capital improvements program (CIP) is a framework for planning a community’s capital expenditures. It is a fourto six-year schedule of infrastructure and facilities to be built or upgraded. The CIP is composed of two parts – a
capital budget and a capital program. The budget is the upcoming year’s spending plan; the program is a plan for
expenditures five years beyond the budget. A complete, properly developed CIP should identify funding sources
and timelines for completion of projects upon which all citizens can rely. As supported by findings in the survey, a
well planned capital improvement plan has the following benefits:
•
Facilitates coordination between capital needs and
the operating budgets.
•
Focuses attention on community objectives and
fiscal capacity.
•
Enhances the community’s credit rating, control of
its tax rate, and avoids sudden changes in its debt
service requirements.
•
Keeps the public informed about future needs and
projects.
•
•
Identifies the most economical means of financing
capital projects.
Coordinates the activities of neighboring and
overlapping units of local government to reduce
duplication.
•
Increases opportunities for obtaining federal and
state aid.
•
•
Relates public facilities to other public and private
development and redevelopment policies and
plans.
Encourages careful project planning and design
to avoid costly mistakes and help a community
reach desired goals.
Grant Resources
A variety of special grants exist through federal, state and local governmental agencies which can be used to fund a parks and
recreation department. Utilizing grants, creates opportunities to fund projects that may not normally be feasible if only reliant
on other sources for funding. While very beneficial, many of these are time consuming and require dedicated staff time to do
research, applications, documentation and tracking.
The following table highlights a variety of grants available from local, state and federal sources that could help achieve some of the
aforementioned recommendations:
TABLE 18: Grant Resources
Level
Funding Tool
Source
Purpose
Local
Carolina Thread Trail
This grant funds greenway/trail implementation projects.
Local
Partnership for Parks
Partnership for Parks
General Fund
Partnership for Parks “General Fund” is an unrestricted fund that
is used primarily to supplement ongoing recreation programs and
facility improvements. Funds are distributed at the board’s discretion
for such programs as summer camp scholarships, the Reedy Creek
“Nature Play” playground construction or the sponsorhip of a Nature
Trail Construction Conference.
State
PARTF
State of North Carolina
PARTF (The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund) provides dollar-fordollar matching grants to local governments for parks and recreation
projects that serve the public interest.
State
Healthy Active Communities
Blue Cross Blue Shield of
North Carolina
The aim of Healthy Active Communities is to lead young and old
North Carolinians to healthier, more active lifestyles.
State
Eat Smart, Move More
Community Grant
Eat Smart, Move More NC
This program is designed to improve youth physical activity.
State
Fit Community Program
NC Health and Wellness
Trust Fund
This grant benefits programs and planning that support the
development of healthy, fit communities.
State
Land and Water Conservation
Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program is a
reimbursable, 50/50 matching grants program given to states for
conservation and outdoor recreation purposes, and through states
to local governments to address “close-to-home” outdoor recreation
needs.
State
Clean Water Management Trust
This grant supports projects that enhance or restore degraded
waters, protect unpolluted waters, and/or contribute toward a
network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental,
educational and recreational benefits.
State
Safe Routes to School
This grant is designed to create and improve safe walking and
bicycling facilities to and from school.
State
Nourishing North Carolina
Blue Cross Blue Shield of
North Carolina
The aim of Nourishing North Carolina is to provide funding to
communities to construct community gardens to aid in more access
to healthy food.
Federal
Our Town
National Endowment for
the Arts
This endowment is for creative placemaking projects that contribute
toward the livability of communities and help transform them into
lively, beautiful and sustainable places with the arts at their core.
Federal
Urban Waters Grant
EPA
Projects that contribute to improved water quality and community
revitalization qualitfy for this program.
Federal
Transportation Alternatives
Program (MAP-21)
Department of
Transportation
This grant can be used for a variety of things. The programs most
appropriate in this context are pedestrian and bicycle facilities, railto-rail program, acquisition of historic easements, landscaping and
scenic beautification.
Funding Strategies
Municipal Funding Resources
Local Equity
In addition to grants, there are a number of municipal funding
tools available to raise funds for parks and recreation facilities
and programs.
Through land donations or land swaps, the parks and recreation
department can utilize local equities to help fund facility development. Donations of land to parks and recreation departments
have become a very popular due to the many tax benefits.
The department can help to minimize land acquisition costs by
developing on donated parcels. In addition, they may also lower
acquisition costs by taking part in a land swap. This involves the
municipality trading existing town-owned property for it to be
developed commercially in exchange for a property more suitable for parks and recreation. The town and the developer enter
into this agreement as it is mutually beneficial for both parties.
Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds are another tool commonly used by
municipalities to fund parks and recreation programs and
facilities. A municipal bond is a bond issued by a city or other
local government. There are two basic types of municipal bonds:
•
General obligation bonds: Principal and interest are
secured by the full faith and credit of the issuer and
usually supported by either the issuer’s unlimited or
limited taxing power. In many cases, general obligation
bonds are voter-approved.
•
Revenue bonds: Principal and interest are secured by revenues derived from tolls, charges or rents from the facility
built with the proceeds of the bond issue. Public projects
financed by revenue bonds include toll roads, bridges,
airports, water and sewage treatment facilities, hospitals
and subsidized housing. Many of these bonds are issued
by special authorities created for that particular purpose.
Local Options Tax Revenue
Communities may pass a referenda for the increase in a sales
tax which would go to fund local projects. The sales tax is
not restricted or earmarked. Commissioners must adopt a
resolution that stipulates how they plan to use the additional
revenues and the General Assembly must allow this levy.
Note: The not a comprehensive list of all tools available to fund parks and recreation. This list should be used as a starting point when researching
funding mechanisms and available grants.
10
Appendix
Appendix A:
Town of Davidson Livability Board
The Livability Board typically meets monthly, on the 3rd Tuesday, in the board room at town hall. The group’s mission is to serve as
sounding board and provide advice and recommendations to staff on any and all questions concerning parks, recreation, healthy
living initiatives, trees and natural assets, greenways and trails, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and policies.
The Livability Board may be called upon for advice and recommendations to the Board of Commissioners in any or all of the
following areas of concern: to create and promote an enjoyable place to live, learn, work and play; to support safe and vibrant
spaces and neighborhoods; to promote cultural, socioeconomic and age diversity; to encourage committed civic involvement and
responsibility; to provide sustainable and healthy choices for transportation, food and energy use; to enable faithful stewardship of
natural and historic resources; to continue to provide effective and efficient public services; to maintain quality design and sound
planning principles; to create diverse business and job opportunities.
The Livability Board includes staff from the Parks and Recreation Department, but also combines expertise from Public Works and
Planning Department staff, depending on the issue.
Members
Jesse Bouk (Staff)
ThomasHazel
Steedman Lyles
Barbara Markham (Secretary)
Sterling Martin
Martin Metzker (Vice-Chair)
Jeff Rose
Stephanie Schauder
Stephanie Shryock
Kathryn Spatz (Staff)
Ann Todd (Chair)
Mike Van Hecke
Loretta Wertheimer
Leslie Willis (Staff)
Appendix B
Appendix b:
Town of Davidson Park and Recreation Seven Dimensions of Health Recommendations
7 Dimensions of Health & Wellness
Physical- the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that
allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or
physical stress. .. ability to recognize that our behaviors impact our
wellness.. adopting healthful habits while avoiding destructive habits
will lead to optimal Physical Wellness.
Social- the ability to relate to and connect with other people in
our world…establish and maintain positive relationships with family,
friends and co-workers
Economic (Occupational)-is the ability to get
fulfillment from our jobs or career fields while still maintaining
balance in our lives. Our desire to contribute in our careers to make a
positive impact on the organizations we work in and to society as a
whole.
Environmental- the ability to recognize our own
responsibility for the quality of the air, the water and the
land that surrounds us. The ability to make a positive impact
on the quality of our environment, be it our homes, our
communities or our planet.
Spiritual- the ability to establish peace and harmony
in our lives. The ability to develop congruency between
values and actions and to realize a common purpose that
binds creation together.
Emotional- the ability to understand ourselves and cope
with the challenges life can bring. The ability to acknowledge
and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness or stress; hope,
love, joy and happiness in a productive manner.
Intellectual- the ability to open our minds to new ideas
and experiences that can be applied to personal decisions,
group interaction and community betterment. The desire to
learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in
pursuit of lifelong learning.
Appendix B
environmental Health [ public feedback + example recommendations ]
community identified
environmental health facilities
community preference
location
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
•
greenway / trails
Continue to protect natural assets
•
community gardens
•
•
lake access
Secure easements and purchase
vacant environmentally sensitive
parcels/land for conservation
•
Identify future opportunities for public
lake access
•
Strive to dedicate minimum of 50%
of community and neighborhood
parks as protected natural areas
24%
of population
with access to
facilities the
community
associated with
environmental
health*
Dimension of health facility locations:
During Public Meeting 1, attendees
identified where they would prefer
to see facilities they identified with
environmental health.
1
Link the system with ped/bike
connections
•
Continue to expand greenway system
to be within 1/4 mile of all households
•
Prioritize building new greenway
connections near downtown and
purchasing necessary easements and
property
•
Continue educational programs for
bicyclist (i.e. road safety and bicycle
maintenance)
•
Prioritize a multi-use trail connections
to Fisher Farm/Abersham/Allison Park
2
2
4
5
6
7
9
9
Dimension of Health Access Map:
Types of facilities related to this
dimension of health correlates to
responses from Public Meeting 1.
Legend
Service radius*
11
23
24
25
20
0
5
10
15
20
25
Dimension of Health Public
Feedback Chart: Number of times
the image was associated with this
dimension of health at Public Meeting 1
by attendees.
30
Increase programming and facilities to
provide unique opportunities within
Davidson’s Parks that have natural
assets
•
Establish educational programs
focused on environmental education
and stewardship
•
Establish a location and programming
opportunities for archery, canoeing,
and kayaking
•
Create ped/bike connections to and
map Davidson’s natural surface trails
Town of Davidson maintained parks
and greenways
Town of Cornelius maintained parks
and greenways
Mecklenburg County maintained
parks and greenways
* Service radius for a community identified facility that relates to
environmental health. Radius size was determined by National
Recreation and Park Association recommended standard per facility
(i.e. 1/4 mile for greenway)
Appendix B
sPIRITUAL hEALTH [ public feedback + example recommendations ]
SPIRITUAL health facilities
location
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
•
nature trails
Increase programming opportunities to
•
performing arts
include/continue the following:
•
rowing/kayaking
•
yoga and t’ai chi classes
•
yoga + t’ai chi
•
tennis lessons
•
rowing/kayaking
•
environmental education
•
performing art classes
52%
of population
with access
to facilities
associated with
spiritual health *
connections
•
•
to Fisher Farm/Abersham
Provide more lake access and waterbased recreational opportunities
Title
•
1
2
Programming and facilities for canoe,
kayaking and paddleboarding
2
3
Establish partnership with local private
organizations to provide tennis facilities
for residents
4
4
Legend
Service radius*
and greenways
and greenways
parks and greenways
10
12
18
19
0
5
10
15
by attendees.
20
Provide opportunities for performing
arts
•
Incorporate performance/community
event spaces in all future parks
scaled appropriately for the park type
and context
Appendix B
iNTELLECTUAL hEALTH [ public feedback + example recommendations ]
iNTELLECTUAL health facilities
•
tennis
•
rowing/kayak
•
playgrounds
•
•
outdoor event
space
educational
programs
•
public art
•
location
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
Incorporate Public Art in public parks
and greenways
•
community
gardens
56%
of population
with access to
facilities the
community
associated with
intellectual
health*
Include public art opportunities in
new and existing parks to reflect the
adjacent neighborhood
Provide opportunities for diverse
community gathering spaces
throughout Davidson
Title
1
•
Incorporate community gathering
spaces in all future parks
(neighborhood, community & district)
scaled appropriately for the park type
and context.
•
Ensure play facilities are available
within 1/4 mile of all households
•
Beach for lake swimming
•
•
Establish partnership with local
private organizations to provide tennis
facilities for residents
1
1
2
4
7
7
8
13
Legend
Service radius*
and greenways
and greenways
parks and greenways
15
18
18
21
27
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
by attendees.
Establish more community gardens
throughout Davidson
•
Include community gardens in all
new neighborhood parks and identify
opportunities to establish community
gardens within 1/4 mile of all
residents
Continue to provide educational
programming opportunities for all ages
•
Establish educational programs to
teach gardening and healthy food
preparation
Appendix B
Physical hEALTH [ public feedback + example recommendations ]
Physical health facilities
•
soccer /
multipurpose
fields
•
baseball /
softball fields
•
tennis
74%
location
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
•
basketball
•
volleyball
connections
•
skatepark
•
•
greenway
•
playground
•
Link downtown to the park system
through greenways/multi-use trails
•
Continue educational programs for
bicyclists (i.e. road safety and bicycle
maintenance)
•
to Fisher Farm/Abersham/Allison Park
of population
with access
to facilities
associated with
physical health *
Increase active recreation amenities
to provide close access for Davidson
residents
Title
•
Ensure there are playground facilities
within 1/4 mile of all households
•
Include at least one “active”
recreation amenity in new parks and
existing parks
•
Neighborhood Parks’ active recreation
amenity should be scaled to fit
appropriately within the site and reflect
the neighborhood’s residents identified
needs (i.e. bocce ball, basketball,
outdoor ping pong, pickle ball,
badminton, mini-soccer, walking trails)
•
Develop a partnership with local private
organizations to provide tennis facilities
for residents
•
Identify locations within Davidson for
new public courts
•
Provide more water access and waterbased recreation opportunities
•
Any new park should incorporate a
multipurpose field
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
8
8
8
10
13
14
14
15
16
26
29
38
Legend
Service radius*
and greenways
and greenways
parks and greenways
40
43
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
by attendees.
50
Appendix B
Economic / occupational health
community identified economic
/ occupational health facilities
•
greenways
•
bowling
•
rowing/
kayaking
•
movies
•
restrooms
62%
of population
with access to
facilities the
community
associated
with economic
/ occupational
health*
location
[ public feedback +
example recommendations ]
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
connections
•
Continue to expand greenway and
park system to be within 1/4 mile of
all households
•
•
Boating facilities- rental and/or
storage
Provide restroom facilities in
community parks
throughout Davidson
Title
2
2
2
•
spaces in all future parks scaled
appropriately for the park type and
context
•
Identify a location for community
Movie’s in the Park event
•
Ensure every resident has access to
a park or greenway within 1/4 mile of
their household
2
2
3
4
5
5
6
Legend
Service radius*
7
11
11
15
18
0
5
10
15
by attendees.
20
Ensure neighborhood and community
parks incorporate active and passive
opportunities
•
Active recreation opportunities
should be scaled to fit the size and
neighborhood needs and recreation
trends. Small scale, and community
identified trends include: pickle ball,
bocce ball that support the adjacent
community’s needs while ensuring a
system that is diverse and meets the
needs of a diverse population
•
Incorporate public art opportunities
•
Natural space should account for a
minimum of 50% of the space
and greenways
and greenways
parks and greenways
Appendix B
Emotional hEALTH [ public feedback + example recommendations ]
Emotional health facilities
•
water based
recreation
-rowing/
kayaking
67%
location
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
•
tennis
Provide more lake access and water-
•
basketball
based recreational opportunities
of population
with access
to facilities
associated
with emotional
health*
Votes
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
Legend
Service radius*
and greenways
and greenways
parks and greenways
•
Boating facilities- rental and/or storage
Identify opportunities for public access
to courts
•
5
5
6
6
11
26
0
5
10
15
20
25
by attendees.
30
•
Develop a partnership with local
•
Identify locations to build public
tennis courts within the system
•
Partner with schools for public access
to basketball courts
•
Identify opportunities to build public
basketball courts
Appendix B
Social hEALTH [ public feedback + example recommendations ]
community identified Social
health facilities
•
tennis
•
dog parks
•
rowing/
kayaking
•
pickle ball
•
outdoor
75%
location
eXAMPLE
RECOMMENDATIONS
event space
•
•
Identify opportunities for public access
to courts
community
gathering
areas
recreation
center
of population
with access to
facilities the
community
associated with
social health*
•
Develop a partnership with local
•
Identify locations to build public
tennis courts or pickle ball courts
within the system
Build a community dog park
•
Provide a large dog park with walking
trails
•
kayaking and paddle-boarding
•
Boating facilities- rental and/or
storage
Title
2
2
2
2
2
throughout Davidson’s park system
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
•
spaces in all future parks scaled
appropriately for the park type and
context
•
These spaces should be multipurpose
and support performances and
gatherings of diverse sizes
•
Ensure every resident has access to
a park or greenway within 1/4 mile of
their household
5
5
5
6
7
8
9
11
11
11
16
24
Legend
Service radius*
and greenways
and greenways
26
0
5
10
15
20
25
by attendees.
30
Partner with Mecklenburg County in the
development of a community recreation
center close to Davidson
parks and greenways
Appendix C
Appendix c:
Plan Review
This plan review serves as an overview of plans adopted
by the Town of Davidson to which the Parks and Recreation
Master Plan will be built upon. It is a brief synopsis of each
plan that has relevance to the Park and Recreaton Department.
Many of the recommendations from the previous plans are still
relevant and will be incorporated into the recommendations of
the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as well. In addition, we
have included a matrix to organize the recommendations by
common themes.
•
Improvements to McEver Fields (2)
•
Improvements to Ada Jenkins fields (3)
•
Improvements to River Run Field (4)
•
Improvements to the Village Green (5)
•
Development of five miles of greenways (6)
Recommended projects that are ongoing are as follows:
•
The number in parenthesis at the end of the recommendation
correlates with the number in the matrix attached as Figure A-1.
Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation
Master Plan Update (2001)
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan update was a much-needed update for a fast-growing community. The cornerstone of
this plan was the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (AFPO).
This created a requirement to ensure Parks and Recreation facilities are in place to support new development. The town will only
allow new development if the minimum facilities are in place. To
date, this has been an effective policy. However, standards for
the provision of such required space have not been developed.
Some of the Level of Service needs that surfaced during the
Master Plan process were 1 district park, 1-2 community
parks, and 3-5 neighborhood parks along with a large amount
of individual facilities. Included in the list of needed facilities
were the following:
•
1 softball / baseball field
•
1 football field
•
2 soccer fields
•
2 volleyball courts
•
2 picnic shelters
•
4 play areas
•
2-3 miles trails
•
1 recreation centers w/ gym
•
10 miles of bike paths
•
1 swimming pool
Of the projects recommended in the plan, the following have
been completed:
•
Improvements to Beaver Dam (1)
Continued and expanded joint-use agreements with
schools (e.g., Davidson College or Charlotte Mecklenburg
Schools) and private organizations (e.g., privatelymaintained golf courses or tennis courts) (7)
Other recommended projects that have not been completed
are as follows:
•
Development of a Recreation Center (8)
•
Beaty Street Development (9)
•
Community Park site in the north of town (10)
•
Community Park site in the south of town (11)
Davidson Comprehensive Plan (2010)
The purpose of the Davidson Comprehensive Plan is to provide
a vision for the long-term future of the town. It is a guide for
decision-makers on a wide range of issues, in particular for
land-use policy, conditional development review, long-term
planning initiatives, and capital investment decisions. This plan
has been carefully crafted from historical knowledge, staff
experience, and extensive public input.
The plan is organized based on seven themes for livability that
categorize the goals and recommendations of the document.
These themes are the following:
•
Create diverse business and job opportunities
•
Support safe and vibrant public spaces and neighborhoods
•
Promote cultural, socioeconomic, and age diversity
•
Encourage committed civic involvement and responsibility
•
Provide sustainable and healthy choices for transportation,
food and energy use
•
Enable faithful stewardship of the natural and historic
resources
•
Continue to provide effective and efficient public services
•
Maintain quality design and sound planning principals
Appendix C
From each of these themes, the Town of Davidson created
goals to attain, and specific recommendations to accomplish
them. Of the 31 total goals in the plan, 13 are relevant to the
Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Those are the following:
•
Build off-road greenways, trails, and bike improvement
projects per the bicycle master plan (6)
•
Provide bicycle storage, changing facilities, and increased
bicycle parking (7)
1. Encourage economic growth that supports local assets
and policies
•
Install more bike racks and walkways downtown, in
commercial and civic centers (8)
2. Maintain the downtown as a high-quality pedestrian
environment and civic center
•
Sign bicycle and walking routes on low traffic
neighborhood streets (9)
3. Encourage new public art placement and gateway signage
•
4. Provide safe and secure neighborhoods, streets, parks,
and greenways
Improve signage on local greenways to identify distances
and nearby destinations (10)
•
Create a shared bike program similar to Davidson College
(11)
•
Plan for optimum bicycle and pedestrian access and safety
near the transit station (12)
•
Improve pedestrian facilities at current bus stops (13)
•
Promote building community and urban gardens on public
properties (14)
•
9. Provide support and space for faith-based organizations,
religious institutions, childcare services, and community
centers
Incorporate community gardens in neighborhood /
community park requirements (15)
•
Preserve in-town green spaces and corridors ideal for
recreational play and neighborhood gathering spaces (16)
10. Encourage more bicycle and pedestrian travel
•
11. Promote car pooling, vehicle share programs, and public
transit as viable modes of transportation
Ensure that every resident (within incorporated areas) is
within ¼ mile of public park and greenway access (17)
•
Create more nature preserves (18)
12. Promote the production of, access to, and consumption of
local foods
•
Balance active and passive parks and amenities (19)
•
Build multi-generational parks (20)
13. Preserve natural habitats, the lakeshore, and the tree
canopy
•
Build parks and community facilities that provide
opportunities for local youth (middle and high school
students) (21)
•
Provide more unstructured play or gathering spaces,
especially in underserved neighborhoods (22)
•
Maintain Fisher Farm as a natural area with low impact
park amenities (23)
•
Restore impaired streams, wetlands, or natural habitat
areas (24)
5. Provide diverse public park amenities
6. Encourage development and activities that attract a variety
of age groups
7. Build relationships with and among the various public and
private schools
8. Sustain and promote more resident volunteerism and
involvement
Among those goals were specific recommendations for
facilities, programs, or policies that support a Park and
Recreaton Department and system. The following are
recommendations for facilities:
•
Build new connections, traffic management systems,
improved intersections, and bicycle / pedestrian
improvements near the transit station (1)
•
Build the Carolina Thread Trail and Lake Norman Regional
Bicycle Plan improvements (2)
•
Maintain access and safety of local connections between
neighborhoods and local parks (25)
•
Add signage for the Lake Norman Regional Bicycle Plan
and the Carolina Thread Trail (3)
•
Schools should be integrated within neighborhoods and
accessible by foot, bike, and public transit (26)
•
Improve signage for pedestrians and cyclists for all ages (4)
•
•
Continue to promote bicycle, pedestrian, and bus travel to
local schools with necessary support and amenities, such
as bike racks and crossing guards (5)
Provide permanent covered structure for the Davidson
farmers’ market (27)
•
Construct more off-road greenways for habitat
preservation (28)
Appendix C
•
Provide safe and public access on local lakes for
swimming, canoeing, and fishing (29)
The following are recommendations for programs related to
parks and recreation:
•
Support local outdoor recreation and cycling events (30)
•
Create learning laboratories for local students and
residents at nature preserves (31)
•
Establish an Adopt a Park and/or Adopt a Greenway
program (32)
•
Establish a regular volunteer maintenance schedule for
local trails and neighborhood gathering spaces (33)
•
Provide more recreational programs and opportunities
that area directed at teens, young adults, and young
professionals (34)
•
Continue to support and promote youth team sports,
scout troops, and other youth activities (35)
•
Prioritize public traffic calming projects (49)
•
Conduct an inventory of informal trails in the town an ETJ
and incorporate into public network (50)
•
Create a bicycle and greenways network map (51)
•
Create a pedestrian access and mobility map (52)
•
Clearly define greenways as off-road multi-use paths in the
planning ordinance (53)
•
•
Consider revisions to guidelines to provide more seniorfriendly streetscapes and public spaces (55)
•
Establish regular cleaning and maintenance policies for
bicycle facilities, sidewalks, greenways, and streets (56)
•
Improve Fisher Farm’s visibility as a regional destination (57)
•
Update Parks and Recreation Master Plan (58)
•
Update definitions of various park-types to require
appropriate types of seating, trash receptacles, bike racks,
lighting, public art, and landscaping (59)
•
Increase lifelong educational programs (36)
•
Initiate mentoring programs and demonstrations for
alternative travel (37)
•
•
Support local cycling clubs, retailers, and cycling
advocates (38)
Establish more shared facility/ball field agreements with
private owners and schools (60)
•
•
Continue to promote bicycle, pedestrian, and bus travel to
local schools (39)
Permit limited commercial uses in major recreational
centers (61)
•
•
Help coordinate walking and running clubs (40)
Create volunteer sidewalk/trail/bike facility maintenance
policies (62)
•
Maintain safety for pedestrians and cyclists in high-traffic
areas, such as downtown (41)
•
Create clearinghouse of volunteer contacts, skill sets,
interests, availability, etc (63)
•
Continue to sponsor bike helmet fit clinics and bicycle
safety rodeos (42)
•
Increase police use of bikes, and add segways to town
vehicle inventory (64)
•
Promote bicycle pedicabs for local events (43)
•
•
Educate the public about the “rules of the road” for all
users (44)
•
Post educational materials about active living to the town
website (66)
•
Encourage urban food production and pocket gardens on
public property (45)
•
Adopt a local station area plan that includes easy access
for pedestrians and bicyclists (67)
•
Use Lake Davidson as a teaching opportunity about water
quality (46)
•
Promote healthy pruning techniques (68)
•
Consider using only native, drought-tolerant species in
town landscaping projects (69)
•
Require undisturbed upland buffers surrounding delineated
wetlands (70)
•
Minimize development impacts on existing vegetation (71)
•
Promote native tree planting and prohibit invasive species
(72)
The following are recommendations for governmental / policy
related to parks and recreation:
•
Promote Davidson as the premier cycling and outdoor
recreation destination (47)
•
Implement sustainable landscape management
techniques along greenways and rural roads (48)
Appendix C
•
Implement sustainable management practices on publicly
owned open space (73)
•
Protect the shorelines of Lake Davidson and Lake
Cornelius (74)
Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation
Master Plan (2008)
The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Master Plan
is a comprehensive plan that lays out a vision for Park and
Recreation facilities in Mecklenburg County, the City of
Charlotte, and the surrounding towns (including Davidson).
It clearly states the vision of the plan is, “to provide
neighborhood parks, community parks, and regional parks
across the County that provides a balance of park related
experiences for people of all ages.
The county will continue to acquire additional park and
open space to protect the regions biodiversity and
natural heritage through the promotion of open space,
preservation, conserving natural communities, fostering
awareness and stewardship through environmental
education and outdoor recreation.” Some of the specific
on-going recommendations related to Davidson Parks and
Recreation Master Plan listed in the plan are:
Lake Norman Regional Bike Plan (2012)
The Lake Norman Regional Bike Plan is a regional planning
effort to create a network of trails, bike lanes and improved
roads to circumnavigate Lake Norman by bicycle. The route
runs through Mecklenburg, Lincoln, Catawba, and Iredell
Counties, and includes significant portions of the Carolina
Thread Trail. This includes the following recommendations
relevant to Davidson:
Sidewalk improvements and signage additions to NC-115 (1)
•
Signage additions to Potts Street, Jetton Street, Gamble
Street, and Sloan Street (2)
•
Bicycle lane additions to Beaty Street (3)
Currently none of these recommendations have been
completed.
Carolina Thread Trail Adopted Map and
Alignment (2011)
Geographically disperse trail development throughout the
County and surrounding towns. (1)
The Carolina Thread Trail is a regional rail network through 15
counties, including Mecklenburg and Iredell Counties. The
Carolina Thread Trail alignment forms a spine throughout
Davidson connecting them throughout town and to other
nearby towns and destinations. The portion through Davidson,
named the Southeast Greenway, calls for trail alignments in
the following areas:
•
Develop program partnership agreements with the local
towns to maximize each other’s resources and meet the
community’s unmet need. (2)
•
Main Street through the middle of town connecting
Cornelius to Iredell County (1)
•
•
It is recommended that the County continue partnering
with neighboring town and cities to provide recreational
opportunities throughout the County. For optimal
service offerings, PROS recommends that all existing
and potential partners define strategies and policies for
delivering services. (3)
South Prong West Branch Rocky River from downtown to
the West Branch Nature Preserve (2)
•
From West Branch Nature Preserve north to Iredell County
along the Rocky river (3)
Planned projects for areas or sites within or near Davidson are
as follows
•
Proposed nature center at Summers Walk (4)
•
Proposed greenway north of Davidson (5)
•
Expansion of Bradford Regional Park (6)
•
Portions of the South Prong West Branch Rocky River
alignment have been constructed (0.6 miles), the rest remain
planned for the future.
Appendix C
Davidson Greenprint (2008)
Davidson Walks & Rolls (2013)
Conducted in 2008, the Davidson Greenprint report was
developed in response to recent significant loss of open space,
tree canopy, and other natural assets. The report catalogs
open space, tree cover and surface waters, then gives
recommendations based on the analysis. Recommendations
important to parks and recreation are the following:
The Davidson Walks & Rolls is an active transportation master
plan that focuses on pedestrian mobility, but also addresses
complementary forms of transportation like bicycle and transit.
The plan’s intent is to create a vision for an improved walking
and bicycling environment in Davidson. Much of the reasoning
behind improving these networks is to aid in bettering the
health and increasing activity for the residents of Davidson.
Other reasons include energy conservation and independence,
economic development, and quality of life.
•
Town property sets the example for sustainable open
space management: Town-owned properties will be
maintained to illustrate the balance public use and
natural resource protection. Examples of sustainable site
management practices include new tree planting in or
near habitats, use of native plant materials, mature tree
care, and limited impervious surfaces (1).
•
Require Open Space Preservation and Tree Planting Plans
as a part of every (development) master plan (2).
•
Create public education programs to encourage the
protection and preservation of the natural environment (3).
These recommendations are on-going.
This plan brings forward some of the recommendations of
previous plans, such as the Davidson Comprehensive Plan,
Carolina Thread Trail, and Lake Norman Regional Bike Plan. In
addition, with much of a bicycle and pedestrian network also
being part of the parks and recreation system (for example
greenways), there is and should be a great deal of overlap
between recommendations of the Walks & Rolls Plan and
recommendations of a parks and recreation master plan.
Much of this plan helps to create a vision for how to link parks,
open space, and greenways with residents (1). The following
map shows the recommended network for the Davidson
Walks & Rolls Plan.
Appendix C
Davidson Design for Life: Health Impact
Assessment of the Pedestrian and Active
Transportation Plan (2013)
Design, Transportation, Housing, Programs, and Facilities.
The recommendations that relate to the Parks and Recreaton
Department are as follows:
This assessment details the potential health impacts of
the implementation of the Davidson Walks & Rolls Plan.
This analysis examines three types of benefits: economic,
environmental, and health benefits. It does this through an
analysis of monetized benefits based on air quality, social
benefits, and individual benefits, and rates of physical activity
based on annual physical activity. Some of the current
monetized benefits in Davidson are the following:
•
Expanding programs for seniors (1)
•
Making greenways more accessible to seniors (2)
•
$14,000 annual savings based on improved air quality
from reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
•
Greenways built to town standards of section 11.0
•
$331,000 annual savings in social benefits based on
reduced traffic congestion, reduce vehicle crash costs,
and reduced road maintenance.
•
Neighborhood or mini parks. Minor subdivision are
exempt
•
•
$392,000 annual savings in individual benefits via vehicle
operation costs and healthcare cost savings from physical
activity.
$585.97 per year reduced healthcare costs per newly
active person.
These benefits increase proportionally with percentage of
the population that participates. For example if the rate of
people in Davidson who use the bicycle for transportation
increases from 0.9% to 2.0% (the rate in Chapel Hill, NC) the
overall monetized benefit would increase from $156,000 to
$370,000. Likewise, if the rate of people who utilized walking
as transportation increased 25%, the monetized benefit would
increase from $579,000 to $730,000.
The physical activity analysis shows a currently estimated
annual physical activity benefit of 208,349 hours of exercise.
Ideally, the result from this plan is more people who utilize
walking and bicycling for transportation, the more residents
will incorporate meaningful physical activity into their daily
schedule. As shown in the assessment, the benefits are
great from promoting this type of activity, economically and
physically.
Davidson Aging in Place Task Force Final
Report (2008)
According to the report, “Davidson’s progressive planning
has made it a magnet for seniors. Its walkable neighborhoods
allow mobility beyond the automobile.” The mission of the
Aging in Place Task Force (AIPTF) is to “enhance Davidson’s
resources as a Senior Friendly Community.” The report
developed recommendations within five categories: Street
Subdivision Ordinance / Requirements
The Town of Davidson, like many other communities, currently
requires developers of more than 13 housing units to provide
publicly-accessible open space and greenway connections.
Per 6.0 the requirements of new development are as follows:
•
Section 6.6 states park standards shall be as follows:
•
Every new residence will be within 1/4 mile of a
neighborhood park.
•
•
•
• Neighborhood parks shall be built by the developers
and may be offered to the town upon completion.
•
• Neighborhood parks shall be a minimum of half of a
contiguous acre in size.
•
• Neighborhood parks shall provide a variety of
recreational opportunities as listed in the guidelines below
and as described in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Neighborhood parks shall have public access.
Section 6.6 also states neighborhood park guidelines are as
follows:
•
When multiple neighborhood parks are required within the
same development each park will have a different feature
or use.
•
Public access to a public sidewalk, street, or alley.
•
Amenities, such as but not limited to, open play spaces,
fenced off-leash dog parks, playground structures, natural
areas, improved picnic sites, natural surface walking
trails, benches, landscaped central areas for organized or
unorganized gatherings, etc.
•
Automatic irrigation on improved turf areas and planting
areas if the park is to become publicly owned.
•
Drinking fountain.
•
Greenway access point when adjacent to an existing or
planned greenway.
Appendix C
According to section 11.5, the planning ordinance requires
development of a network of greenways that connect active
and passive parks, schools, cultural sites, neighborhoods, and
commuter destinations. Greenway easements are required in
low-impact, farmhouse cluster, conservation easement, and
rural subdivisions. All other development shall have either
a greenway or a connection to the greenway. The following
standards apply:
A. Greenways and connectors shall be planned following
the designated circulation system show on the
Comprehensive Plan Map, Greenway Master Plan, and the
Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
B. Greenway stubs must extend the neighboring property
line
C. Greenways and connectors should be designed to fit
the contours of the land and should minimize removal of
significant trees.
D. All greenways and connectors shall be constructed in
accordance with the design and construction standards
in this code and shall be maintained for public access
whether by easement or by public dedication.
E. All new developments not on an identified Greenway
Master Plan corridor must provide greenway access and
show access on their master plan.
F.
Greenways shall provide amenities, such as drinking
fountain(s), trash receptacles, bike rack(s), and pet
station(s), as defined in the Greenway Master Plan and the
Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
G. The Mecklenburg County Greenway Master Plan will be
enforced when not addressed by the Town of Davidson
Minor variations and exceptions to greenway cross-sections
may be permitted with approval of the Planning Director and
Parks and Recreation Director.
Appendix C
Davidson Subdivision Ordinance
1
1,2
1,2
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
6 ,9
1, 5, 6,
9, 10,
11
2, 3, 4,
7, 8, 9,
10, 11
1, 2, 3,
4, 6, 7,
8, 9,
10, 16,
18, 19,
20, 21,
23, 26,
28, 29,
50, 57,
60, 62
19, 20,
21
Town’s Comprehensive Plan
16, 18,
23, 24,
28, 31,
46, 48,
69, 70,
71, 72,
73, 74
1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9,
10, 12,
13 25,
26, 38,
39, 41,
44, 47,
49, 50
51, 52,
53 ,54,
56, 62,
65
5, 31,
36, 37,
41, 42,
44, 46,
66
Davidson Design for Life: Health Impact
Assessment of the Pedestrian and Active
Transportation Plan
1
Davidson Walks & Rolls: An Active Transportation
Plan
1
1
Mecklenburg County’s Park and Recreation
Master Plan
1
4
1, 2, 3
Lake Norman Regional Bike Plan
1
Davidson Aging in Place Task Force Final Report
2
Davidson Greenprint: Natural Assets Inventory
11, 30,
34, 35,
38, 40
1
1, 2
1, 2
Food Access
Regulatory
Recommendations
P&R Policies Affecting
Private Development
Private Development
Regulations
Active Recreational
Facility
Passive Recreational
Facility
Provide Recreational
Programs
Provide Educational
Programs
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Systems
Plan Reviewed
Preserve Open Space
Plan Recommendation Matrix
1, 2
7
15, 25,
48, 71
12, 14,
16, 17,
21, 26,
33, 39,
43, 45,
47, 48,
49, 50,
51, 52,
53, 54,
55, 56,
58, 59,
60, 61,
62, 63,
64, 65,
66, 67,
68, 69,
70, 71,
72, 73,
74
1
1
1, 2,
3, 6
1, 2, 3
14, 15,
27, 45,
61
1
3
4, 6
4, 5
1, 2, 3
1
1
2
Appendix D
Appendix D:
Facility Inventory
Appendix D
Appendix D
Appendix D
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix E:
Facility Assessment
For the Davidson Parks and Recreation facility evaluation, a tool developed by the Arnold School of Public Health at the University
of South Carolina called the Recreation Facility Evaluation Tool was used. It is a five page form that contains questions about
individual types of facilities (e.g. park, playgrounds, football fields, tennis courts, etc.) and their condition, level of maintenance and
safety. For each question they were assigned a point value as follows.
Points for yes/so responses
Points for good/fair/poor responses
Yes = 2
Good = 3
No = 1
Fair = 2
Poor = 1
An average was then computed for condition, maintenance, safety and overall for each facility. The following rating system was
then created based on those averages:
Park Score
Rating
Greater than 1.9
Excellent
1.8-1.9
Good
Less than 1.8
Fair
For more information about the development of the tool, please see:
Cavnar MM, Kirtland KA, Evans MH, Wilson DK, Williams JE, Mixon GM, Henderson KA. Evaluating the quality of recreation facilities: Development of an
Caldwell Green Tot Lot
Davidson Community High School
Davidson Elementary School
Fisher Farm
Forest Park Playground
Jetton Street Park
Lake Norman Christian Academy
McEver Fields
Lake Davidson Nature Preserve
Parham Park
River Run Athletic Park
Seeds Community Garden
The Preserve Dog Park
Bradford Park
1.4
2
1.5
1.3
1.3
1
1
1
1.2
2
1
1
1.9
2
1
1
1.5
2
2
Maintenance
Average
2
1.4
2.3
2.3
2
1.8
1.8
2.3
2.3
1.5
2.3
2.3
2
2
2.3
2.3
2.3
2
2.3
2
Safety
Average
2
1.7
2
2
2
2
2
1.8
1.7
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1.7
1.5
2.1
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.6
1.6
2.1
1.8
1.7
2
2.1
1.8
1.8
1.8
2.1
2
Total Average
Greenway
Beaver Dam Historic Site
1
Faulkner Square Park
Ada Jenkins Recreation Center
Condition
Average
South Lawn / North Lawn /
Abersham
West Branch Preserve - Rocky River
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ar
nebri
Sto
ge Dr
Rid
t
es
W
ford r
D
rk
Pa
ad
Br
Ln
ay
es
Rd
Ct
McCord Rd
M
Longstock
Willingdon Rd
So
le Ct
bapp
Cra
Rocky River
Woody
Carson
y Dr
ll Dr
McConne
Ash
by
Dr
Ashb
Park
Playground
The Preserve
Dog Park
1.8
North and South
1.8 Lawn Park
1.8
1.7 Forest
Faulkner
Square
Park
St
W
w
illo
r
Rd
ez
Bre
e Ln
Wy
d
dR
elan
ve
Gro
tm
Ce
Po dar
nd
Cr
Sycamore
Ct
Terrace
Poplar
Path
Al
w
Willo
W
es
or
rD
alke
tW
er
Rob
Bra
nch
Rock
y Riv
te
co
Hid Ct
m
in
Rd gton
Fre
Beaver
Dam Park
th
Hea r Wy
te
As
Dr
er Tri
ine
Verla
2.1Historic
2
Appolinaire
Dr
Wes
t
River Run
Soccer and
Softball Fields
Westmoreland Farm
in
art
M
dy Dr
Cassi
Gre
d
yR
b
Rd
n
DavidsoDr
Park
Birch
Tr
River
Ln
m
ah
Cre
ek
Falls
h
Dr
nc
Bra
Overleaf Ln
We
st
Ra
Ramah Oaks
White
Bould
er
Ro
ck
Lp
y
Boundar
Ct
Oaks
ank
Hollyb th
Pa
Cro Can
ss non
ing
W
y
Ref
le
Roc ctio
kC n
t
Ca
rn
erlooegie
k Bv
Pin
Point Rd
Ov
Rock
y Ri
ver
ah
Ram
Rive
Chu
h
rc
Rd
rd
r Fo
en Ct
Swanhav
k Pl
nic
Pe
he
rR
d
Dr
1.6
Fisher
Farm Park
1.7
Abersham
Park
ALLISON FARM
COMMUNITY
PARK
H
moc
Ham
k Ln
as
se
d
eR
Black Farm
s Rd
Laurel
Oak Ln
Northst
one Dr
Pin
Av
Lear Ct
Sto
as
m
ne Dr
on
Cockerham
Ln
ur
alib
Exc Wy
t
Stonemon
Rd
Brook
Ln
Glen
Creek
ne
Ju
Ct
ly
Hol
Nighthawk
Cr
as
W
DAVIDSON, NORTH CAROLINA
Rd
2.1
m
ha
Bradford Park
Saddle
Summ
Rive
it
r Rd
Parks and Recreation System - Recreation Facility Ratings
Cennetta Ct
Field
Rd
Eden
McEver
Baseball
Fields
Conductor Ct
Depot
Ham
Caldwell
Dr
Ln
De
lbur
ty
Bea
St
Roosevelt Wilson
Park
Summit
Tot Lot
s
intre
Pe Ln
olution
Ln
Lillydell
Aprilia
Tra
Old
k
St
al
Can
tters
Po
Rw
do
w
Ln broo
Mea
Calaveras Ct
Drew
Ct
Truitt
Ct
Vixen Ln
th
Ln
Sou ge
a
Vill
Vernon Dr
an
Arr t
C
Ca
Gla
G mb
ro rid
ss
fie
ve g
ld
Dr e
Gladwick Ct
Ln
e
in
st
le n
L
Ce
Courtney
Jae Ln
Glenecho Dr
t Dr
ke
vi
Av ew
La
1.8
2.1
Summerbrook Dr
Autumn
Breeze Ct
Sherrill
Fridley Ln
Truan
Ln
Sho
recres
r St
ou
Ada Jenkins
Athletic Field and
Community Center
Westside Tr
Meadow Crossing Ln
Biddick Ln
Lariat Ct
gean
Ct
St
St
Fo
Cardinal
Ct
Griffith
Vie
wla
S ke
Par t
rest k
St
Dr
Shelly Renee
Glenas
Hutten Ct
St
to
n
ving
She
Dr
y
Hickor
Knockando
Mo
Ro ssy
ck
Ct
Ae
Pecan
Glen Oak
Green Park
St
Adelie Ct
rg
rsbe
Fo
Town
nd
artla
He
n Pl
Ln
wood
Pl
gh
ou
br
Fe
ri
r
wc
en
Dr ter
Ne
St
St
Legion
Legion
Park
Kim
D
us St
McCall
Corneli
Ct
David
son
Street
Park
Jib
1.6 Jetton
Al
ta
es ba Av
Si
aw
Cat
1.8
Nature
Preserve at
Lake Davidson
Harbour
Park Dr
Con
ista
rte Dr
Ronceve
dale
Cover
Ct
Sherrill
Estates Rd
Ln
ay
rd
Bon Meade Ln
akb
ra
O
Ln
1.7
Gateway
Crossing Ct
Winkler St
nesw
Da
St
Milla
y St
ComCal
dw
m el
on l
sC
r
Glenhurst
on
Treetop
Peachway
Dr
us Bv
Parham
Park
ba Av
dem
Cataw
Ct
Calipso
Squire's
Wy
lsa
Ba
Coachmans
Wood Ln
Pine
Ca
al
Cor e Ct
Cov
Smithville
Park
Swiss
Stone Ln
Vivian
Ln
w
Willo Rd
Pond
Weath
ers
Mapledale
Ct
Po
Ridg plar
e Ct
Dr
re
mo
Syca e Ct
Ridg
te
in
po e
rth cutiv r
No xe rk D
E a
P
a
Sh
Ogden
Tu Cove Dr
rn
W bull
y
at
Bo Ct
use
Ho
est Cr
Scottcr
m Rd
odru
Go
Arm
Lavender
Bloom
Lp
Lilac
Lp
Mist
l Ln
Trai
Grey
ton
berry
Turn Ct
drum
Oxyden
Hill Ln
Ln
eval
Lech
BRACKETT
BLUFF NATURE
PRESERVE
Ln
Callaway
Hills Ln
Callawa
y
Hills Ln
Copeland Wy
Ct
Ro
llin
Ln
Green
Knoll Tc
gdale
WHITE
COMMUNITY
PARK
Arb Old
or
Floyd
Ct
Dr
rt
ou
lC
ya Ce
Ro Co ntre
urt
India
Dr
Oa
n
ks
Ln
ttie Ct
He w
llo
Ho
West Branch
ary D
M ryn
th
Ka
r
1.7
ers
Summ Bv
Walk
Ln
s Pl
Sila
Glenn
Lois
0
Tent Chu
rch Rd
Stanley Mcelra
th Rd
0.25
0.5
1
Miles
Disclaimer: This map was created with the best available data, however, it is provided "as is"
without warranty of any representation of accuracy, timeliness, reliability or completeness.
This map does not represent a legal survey of the land and is for graphical purposes only.
Use of this Data for any purpose should be with acknowlegement of the limitations of the Data,
including the fact that the Data is dynamic and is in a constant state of maintenance.
Dr
ace
Viola
Ln
Forest Justin
l Pl
Michae
s
Jame Wy
Ervin
Date: 3/10/2014 | LDI #: 1013198
Data Source: Mecklenburg County, NCONEMAP, Esri,
Dr rdin
ca
l
ista
rP
Cor
s Pl
do
Ch
an
ll Dr
perha
Grap
Brentfie
Kin
Dr
Com
Oak m
on
Ln
e
on
ie
Maxwelton
Glenfu
Dr
rv
Ln
W
ate
oint
nm
Du
ff P
Blu
Preston
Lake Dr
Mesa Range Dr
Kings
Point Dr
l Dr
Village
Harbor Dr
utica
Na
Boo
Bay th
Ct
Crosstree Ln
Harborside Dr
Silver Quay Dr
Vineyard
Point Ln
Chard
onna
y
Ct
ow
ne
st
nd
ge
d
Rd
nR
tto
Ct
lis Ct
Chab t
sC
ve
Gra
ret
Sa
Bri
d
Je
Monbrison
Ct
Cla
h
Jetton Rd
Old
Cr
rc
hu
Rio
Sierra Vista Dr
Roads
Interstate
Railroads
Future Overland Connector
Future Greenway
Existing Overland Connector
Existing Greenway
Ct
Cha
Gle tham
n
Dr
Bet
w Cr
vie
Lake
Cr
ry
nt n
L
Cou b
Clu
w
vie
ke
La
Mckenzie
Dr
Place
he
lC
ny n
L
C int
Po
olo
H M Junk
r
bo
Har Dr
View
y Poi
an Dr
Serenit
Juanita
Ln
David Kenney Farm
uir
sm
Dun
vi
Dr ew
Vis
ta
B
Rid ritley
ge
Dr
Dr
Glouster
Norman
Island Dr
e
Walter
Henderson
Park
Marblehead Ct
Southpo
rt Dr
Arb
or
Pl
ks
nt
Poi
Ct
RAMSEY CREEK
COMMUNITY
PARK
Kno
xR
Kelly idge
Rd
Park
Cr
Lo
Rid chre
ge in
Dr
tter
ta
Regat Dr
nd
Isla
ETJ
Davidson_Boundary
Queensdale
Enclave
Oaks Ct
g Oa
perin
Body of Water
Davidson College Property
Public Property
Town of Davidson Property
Mecklenburg County Parks
Town of Davidson Parks
Town of Davidson Proposed Parks
Harbour
Place
Dr
Parcels
Ln
ate
Ct
se Dr
Dr
ro
N
Har orth
bo
rP
l
St
iew
Park Rating - Fair
hore
uths
JETTON
REGIONAL
PARK
Ln
e Bv
c
Senla
rg
bo
Har
Cu
y
H
Whis
Outerm
Ketch Ct
Dr
d
So
Lakeben
C
73
Ct
e
rcica
Ant
or
N
igua
Rd
Bal
Ba
Deep
Cove Ct
s
lym
rin
tz
Nan
Delray
Dr
Mar New
ke
Walter Henderson Rd
Rd
Ln
Wat
so
Cr
lia
Ju
Park Rating - Good
on
ius
ak
Pol
gO
l
he
Blackpoo
Ct
Dr
le
ac
Pinn s Dr
os
Cr
nist
Dr on
Sloo
p
Ct
Tailwind Ln
Mystic
Cove Rd
Rivercha
Gre
enw
Heigh ay
ts Dr
air
Ct
M
Manadis
on
or
Dr
Bel
Norman Colony Rd
Quiet
Lake Dr
Ct
e
Am
Lee y
Dr
Reg
enc
View y
Al
ker Ln
ch
Rd
t Ln
lte
tL
n
Tusca
Nautiqu
O
Rio
Dr
Balboa
Prescott
Border Dr
ny Ln
nin Lak
Dr sula e Corneli
ly
Hol Ln
st
Cre
S
Gle ulliv
n an
W
y
re
G
Dr
n
Spinna
na
Dr
hire
bo
y
tW
icot
ks
ec
Br
Kim
nn
Ke
oin
lP
pe
ha
C
Chapel
Point Ln
Half Moon Ln
Edinburgh
Square Dr
Stra
Dr
Country
Club Dr
la Ct
Fiesta Pl
Country
Club Cr
Ct
four
Har
Eagleridge
Way Ln
Henderson Rd
thbu
Ct rn
St
Trintella Ln
st
Dr
Victoria Bay Dr
Dr
rtside
So
Norma
n
Sho
res Dr
y
Delre Al
ge
Rid
lock
Dr e
Dr
Kin
daliere
rm Rd
K
Oa noll
k
Ct
Win
Bee
Ln
Dr
Du
Bv
Spring
Lilly Ct
Nor One
man
ken Dr
ke
Dr
La
wn
Pumi
e
Brickl
Ln
Hill
ds
Dr
ch
Liverpool Py
W
es
Cro
S I-77 Hy
Norman Shores
Ha
m
Ridg ilton
e Al
Lake
Pine
s Dr
La
Edge ke
Dr
Creek
Trail
Ln
Harbo
Walk r
Dr
Dr
Chartown
Bay
rling
Entrada
Dr
ream
vie
w
Dr
Mc
do
Cree well
k Ct
Forest
Shadow Cr
ll Creek
McDowe
Lin
Devonshire Dr
cy
en Dr
Reg ke
La
To I-77
Ln
Ste
Shado
Bark w
Dr
ille Ln
Rd
oke
S I-77 Service Rd
N I-77 Hy
Dr
cross
t
Burton Ln
Smithv
Ln
Hill St
South
Po
ce
ba
Dr rk
La
Co
Jim
No
rthsta
Furr
Ra Sb r Dr
uth
we
Torrence Cr
al Ln
Inlet
m
ach
Flor
Bluff
O
ma
Foots
Pe
af
Cr
Le
W
as
Ct
Cadm
an
ak
n Pl
St
rd
Ct
lius
Pe
Brinkley St
Har
Mis bo
r
t
Rd
r
ol St
Carriage Ct
Corne
Me
Wa
ter
Edge s
Ct
Scho
Rd
erry
St
Be
a
tD
on
m St
Washa
r St
nte
Ce
Ha Jo
wks hn
Rd
ha
m
Pot
ts
Shawne
Ridge e
Rd
Church St
Mulb
lly
St
Ke
St
ridian
A
Ta lliso
ylo n
rC
t
St
yC
Wy
Dr
arrier
St
kv
Rd
ks
in Oa
S
Spring
Grove Ln
Ln
go
St
Dr
Poppy
Field
Ln
son
Par
St
tts
Po
Tw
Heritage
Green
Dr
ers Wy
Queens
Kanawha Dr
sb
Watoga
Po
Plac ole
eD
r
Hatche
Inn Keep
Ingersoll-rand Rd
M
ain
St
n
Ln
rest
Co
tin
Mar
Baker Dr
so
Nel
t
dS
ec
Pin
St
on
Park Rating - Excellent
Hiw
Din
ton
by
Der Ln
Gat
y
urt
ps
om
N
ay
dlan
W
oo
St
nw
Gree
St
Th
N
Jack
Walnut St
Ln
Brighton
N Main
M
Chandle
Landing r's
Dr
r Al
Keele
Furr
Greenfa
Titus
Morecambe Dr
North
Woo
r
Pl
r
Sam
D
est C
W ton
n
Ke
Sam Furr
To I-77
Ra Sb
dy
dholm
An
nt
PheasaCt
Walk
To Sam
an
Dr
Dr
I-77
Kenton
Caldwell
Creek
Dr
Dr
Stins
rs
tte
Su Ln
n
Ru
Grafham Cr
Landings
I-77 To
Sam Furr
Ra Nb
rm
0 No
10
t
Ln
ore
Taft
Ct
nm
Northcross
Center Ct
Du
Grim
Qu
s
os
thcr Ct
Nor ter
Cen
tt Rd
y
Abbe Al
Lane
on Av
l
ler
ere
Rd
am
gh
ck Rd
illin
cksto
Bla
r
imbe
Sawt Ct
rT
Fid
Dr
W
ge
rm
Inve
ull
ing
Penn
Castlehill
Dr
an
Rd
ah t
C
Ram ek
Cre
R
Brook
Line Ln
Rich
Railroad St
Ct
Avinger Ln
St
on
Cr
Ne
Hagers
Rd
ps
om
S Th
Old Statesville Rd
St
ning
Dr
North
Lynbrook Dr
Main
St
ard
Pocono Ln
Indi
hy
Ard
le
k Dr
Ma
Garris bel
on
St
itc
Sw
Dr
ton d
Tren e R
Plac
ton
y
Bv
The Commons
Ct
side
Amber st
Rd We
Windy
Ct
Oaks
Isla
e
ag
Vint Ct
Oak
hitm
Dr an
ba Av
Dr
W
Cataw
ne
rsto
ve r
C
e
g Dr
St
one Cr
ville
lin
Dr
ck
ell Tra y
lle
Tro g Wy
sin
Cros
Crossin
n
Clo
wood
Amber Dr
Glen
ell
ldw
Cr
Ca
sh
g Ru
Crossin
Dr
Gate
Dr
pton
lia
rth
Caldw
Ham
Mary Ardrey Cr
Ju
Cloverst
Page's
Ct
Pond
Rudyard
Ln
pton
Ham Ct
Woods
West
States
Ra
ay
Rd
Copans
Glen Ln
Ln
Lake
Lake
an
Norm
Norman
Dr
Cove
Cove Dr
Dr
No
n-C
St Barts Ln
Towne
St
oa
Ln
Dr
lb
Ba
eb
Cal
Jordan
w
Willo Ln
Leaf
ilw
e
ly Rd
Kimber
n St
Cuddy Ln
Dow
rey Cr
Ling
roo
Lynb
Pl
Hudson
Samuel
Spencer Py
South St
t
dy
La irn C
nc
Str
Dr
Laur
el
Gle
Ct
fain
Seahorn Pl
Island
Overlook Ct
d
s En
e
Beau
h
glis Dr
En isy
Da
Dr
ge
lin
y Cr
Rd
Spring
Blossom Ln
er
co
rd
am
e
ag r
Vill ter D
Cen
Magnolia
Estates Dr
ffn
Ru
on
Knoxwood Dr
Charles
en
Brookgre
Pl
Garden
Renick Dr
Caldw
Station ell
Rd
dre
Py
Dr
ve
Co
ail
Spr Baile
ings y
ry Ar
h
One Bv
an
Trace
Pa
so
Cra
Ma
rt
No
k Tr
Windsor
Crest Ct
Rd
Norm
Coachman's
vid
Dr
Dr
Cree
Ln
Ln
to
Suun
Ln
Da
nleigh
ow
n
Cr
Tri
b
rt
rt
Ca Cr
Derby Ct
er
Nor
thpo
atten
er
Riv
Emporia St
Ba
y
Ln
g
pin n
ee r R
W ate
W
a Pl
Acasi
Whilehaven
Ct
cati
ck
sm
Gra Pl
ere
Du
Ro
Smith
Tryon St
nd
h
Manh
k St
St
Av
Po
nc
an Dr
e Al
Kunklem
Imag
et
ng
Bra
Oa
Rd
dg
M
iddl
Lo
Ct
Ced
Shamley Ct ar Po
St
rdt
Bethelwood Ln
ye
r
eD
Ct
te
Bartlet Dr
Creek
rnha
nd
r
Gulfsta
Old
St
Oak
Ba
ain
SM
Grand
Slam Dr
croft
Maple Ln
Lake
Cr
ng
Pro
n
idso
Dav un Ln
R
nd
Sa
Chance
St
Ralph
nce
Torre el Rd
Chap
Knox
Charden Rd
Ct
ouse
Nerval
dh
Woo
udel
a Dr
ll Ln y
we ton W
Shad rling
Bu
Holiday Ln
Cla
Alto Tierr
hn
Jo Dr
es
Pin
t
N Ferry St
Wooden
Tee Dr
Rd
rC
erry
Twinb
Ln
Av
Woodlands
Trail Dr
el
he
Zion
rrnette
Bv
Ln
ap
Ch
Wilc
Ct
ing
rre
nce
Ct
es
ss
lare
Ross
dl
Cro
To
ry
Ber r
C
ge
Rutled
Wy
Bluff
ra
Tama Dr
k
Oa
Windshore
Av
Rid
er
Club
or
rb Ln
Ha ve
Co
Of
Point
Ln
View
Riv
Rd
uth
Dr
Co
a Dr
r
Gainesway
rose
untry
Decor
Val
Cr
d
eR
Ct
Prim
mble
e
on t
est C
od ws
e
M
Evening
n Ga
Joh
Sewell Al
Faust Rd
Panola Al
s
pres
Cy en Dr
rd
Ga
Park Ln
ce
ria
Terra xand
Ale Dr
n
Golde Cr
Bear
Ln
Laure
st Dr
So
Cr
Mea aggy
dows
Ct
No
iry
Da Dr
Barn
M
Rd
Wy
Dr
Grocery
Ln
Eastway
d
Hagen Knoll Dr
Cannonade
Scanlan
sid
ll R
rchi
Symbolist Al
ky
Roc f Lp
Bluf
n Ln
we
North
Lake
e Av
Pinecrest St
Chu
utary
Rive
Ln
st
rthea
Naramore
St
Trib
Elm
Row Ct
t
Swee Ct
olia
Magn
North
Rd
Kimberly
Rd
Farm
cky
rwind
w Dr
er
Riv
ch Ro
Dr
Rive
way
Round
Down
Fis
Ridge Rd
Tl
rtan d
Ta m R
Far
n
iso
orr Rd
Hill
ky
Bran
Wildcat
Meado
Rd
Ct
Davis
tler
Thistle
Dr
Rive
Kis
Winged
Iris
cky
West
Ly
Den nx
Ct
ium
oc
ge
brid
Silent Falls Cv
Calad
Hy
ER
Dem
n
de Ct
Gol w
do
rne
r Ln
er Co
nburg
ch Ro
nt
Piermo
St
Kis
Meckle
Bran
n
Hay
W es
y
West
ave
Deerh
Ct
ford
Brad Ln
Walk
Lo Sara
uis h
e
Dr
Rocky River
n Bv
Helen Benso
Poplar
Legend
Appendix E
Mea
McAu
ley Rd
Sheare
r Rd
r
Tallent Ln
Sam Furr
To I-77
Ra Nb
Ra Sb
Appendix F
Appendix F:
Town of Davidson Park and Recreation Master Plan Stakeholder Interviews
Date: February 4, 2014
Goal of this plan is to make recommendations for the
park and recreation system that
•
Increases physical exercise
•
Promotes safety to reduce injuries
•
Increases access to healthy food
•
Improves air + water quality
•
Minimizes the effect of climate change
•
Decreases mental health stresses
•
Strengthens the social fabric of a community
•
Provides fair access to resources
Purpose of interviews: To help determine the priority
parks and recreation needs in the community that
can create a positive impact on the town’s overall
community health. The stakeholder interviews are one
of several public outreach methods’s being used by the
consultant to gain information about the needs of the
community.
Connie Wessner, charter school headmaster and past
Board member
Georgia Krueger, executive director, Ada Jenkins
1:00 – 2:00
Jeanne Miller, Police Chief
Ryan Monteith, Fire Deputy Chief
Ben McCrary, Planning department head
Kim Fleming, Economic Development department
head
Stephanie Schauder, Davidson College student studied
in northern Europe re biking communities
2:00 – 3:00
Mickey Pettus, president of largest homeowners
association and health professional
Jairo I. Cadena, Jr., president of homeowners
association, farthest away from town center
David Rainey, The Pines (continuing care community for
seniors, our office neighbor)
Tracy Maddison Brandon, administrator at Gethsemane
Baptist Church, advocate for mental health
9:30-10:30
Kevin Shea, North Highland (Youth Sports)
Mark Sullivan, The Cycle Path (Mountain Biking)
Kathy Tyson, Dog Parks
Courtney Spear, Davidson’s farmers’ market
10:30 – 11:30
Brian Helfrich, business owner (hosting series of
races each year) and avid runner
Roy Alexander, Davidson Lands Conservancy
Appendix F
programming can be. They coexist and complement one
another very well. Our P/R department is too small to be
all things to all people.
Needs Identifications
What are the strengths/weaknesses of the Davidson Park
and Recreaton Department that we need to build on in
this plan?
•
•
•
○○
Variety of programs that tailor to toddlers to senior
citizens: Cooking classes, archery, recreational sports,
We have been heavily weighted toward preserving
open space in recent years.
○○
They are diverse in finding places to teach the classes:
headquarters, faith-based organizations, etc.
Counter: We have been heavily weighted toward
programming historically.
○○
Have been working to orient the programs to the
facilities. Catherine is re-focusing the programming
mix to look at types of parks and capitalize on them.
○○
Very complementary and comprehensive in what
Davidson offers. Good at looking across generations,
looks at how we serve our youth, our senior
population, our hardcore outdoor enthusiasts, families
who don’t know how to take their kids into the
woods.
The way programs are communicated and tailored
to the groups. Monthly information and you see it
communicated in many different venues; envelopes the
entire community.
•
It more than a park being a space; it’s a park without
boundaries.
•
Would like to see statistics on who is taking the classes.
Feel like we are not racially diverse enough. What
percentage of African-American community is taking
the classes? Would they like more culturally-sensitive
programs? See that are farmers’ market. We haven’t been
able to draw a racially-diverse client base.
•
There aren’t that many older adult physical activity spaces.
We have lots of athletic fields for youth but don’t feel we
have places for older adults (e.g. have swimming pool at
the Y but not a community pool); not on same level on
soccer fields.
•
Financial barriers with small town. MI Connection keeps
higher priorities from being realized (e.g. have to subsidize
the cable company). Very controversial.
•
Parking as weakness; sometimes at Fisher Farm there is
parking demand that exceeds capacity. Can be hard to find
parking at farmers’ market.
•
Community can feel very “white.” There’s no centralized
community or rec center for all the programming.
•
Greenway system, at present time, is disconnected.
•
Fisher Farm is town-owned: Plenty of opportunities for
open space, more dog parks, etc. 500 acres – lots of
opportunities. Some active recreation in Allison for tennis
courts; shuffleboard; life-sized games (e.g. chess).
•
Want to see a natural burial garden in some portion of the
Fisher Farm community; becomes public property; people
can commune or enjoy the woods. North Augusta has
one. Effort in Asheville create one. Town cemetery is close
to being full. It could be a revenue source. Address the
spiritual realm.
•
Strengths in range of assets and facilities. Have unique
array of resources that almost help shape what the
•
Some places become very focused on one group or user
type and that can be a detriment. We have not done that.
We can’t orient our programs around one demographic
or “what is sexy” (e.g. the big park, the big specialty
thing). Can’t think of a place less conducive to Davidson
is something like a splash park. If we have them, they
are small and part of something larger (understanding the
community).
•
The willingness to give in to pressures that P&R be all
things to all people is hard to withstand. There is such
pressure to answer every need, having it all be local, have
it all within walking distance, is hard to withstand.
•
We are requiring developers to build parks, trails and
dedicate land. Are behind CSD high school (townhome
development) as an example. Can create concerns among
existing residents because of parking and overflow onto
public streets.
•
Physical network of greenways is a strength. Our open
space is a strength.
•
Roosevelt Wilson is not a strength, it needs more
amenities, looks run down (would like to see more natural
playscape there, improved shelter). It’s a gateway into
town and doesn’t reflect what the town embodies.
•
○○
A strength of it is that you almost have to walk right
into it to get to Harris Teeter.
○○
It’s a great location.
○○
It backs up to one of our poorest neighborhoods,
yet there are people walking and running and using
playscape; have picnics and fish.
Greenways as a great way to get around. They go places
that cars can’t go. “When I drive in a car I have to really
Appendix F
there and rent the space. I don’t know where you can do
that in Davidson. Hotel facilities are limited. People just
don’t know where to go for those functions. For the size
of Davidson, you might just need that one go-to space.
think about how to get there (because I bike so much).”
•
St. Albans neighborhood was designed specifically with
small pocket parks that you can walk there from your
home. You don’t have to travel to get to a greenway or to
open spaces.
○○
•
•
•
Greenway is a great start to what can be more
connectivity between residences and destinations.
Nature preserve (by Davidson Day) as strength. Awesome
trail system that leads out to the water. Public canoe racks
so people can access the water.
-Places where we have lake access is a strength; we could
also do better. We have not always had lake access.
○○
•
No one goes to parks and rec camps; in the past
many people would go to them. They are at weird
times and are not the programming that kids want.
Friends are not going.
Citizens willingness to use parks and greenways as
strength. Where there are people, where there are eyes
and ears, where people are willing to be, creates a feeling
of safety and comfort.
•
Programs represent a wide variety. Their attempts to meet
the needs and interests of citizens are visible. A good
variety related to the dimensions of health.
•
I don’t feel that the African-American community is
taking advantage of the programs. Not really sure why.
Sometimes the attitude is that they are for someone else
(e.g. if it’s held at the College). There is a disconnect.
Tweaking of programs and better PR are needed to make
the connection.
○○
More localized facilities and programs.
○○
People participate in events at Ada Jenkins Center
because it’s right there.
○○
Faith-based organizations can also help with
communicating what’s going on in the community.
But we don’t always know what’s going on. We don’t
always get the information.
•
Methods and means of advertising and messaging may be
better tailored to the different community cohorts.
•
don’t know of too many facilities that are available. For
example, Cornelius Town Hall, you can have meetings
(example: Forest City Meeting Space on Main Street)
•
No places to rollerblade. Some places specifically restrict
it. Is that because it’s geared more toward bicycling or
walking.
•
Need for an amphitheater or similar function, but would be
great up in “the Circles” area.
•
Town was talking about touchscreen information kiosks
downtown. Wanted to see them up by “the Circles” but
downtown was higher priority because of traffic.
•
Mentality is that the further you go out, the fewer people
are likely to take advantage of it.
Leads to “tranquil” space.
People don’t know about the programs. It seems like
enrollment used to be lower than it was. Are we offering
wrong programs? Do people not know about them?
○○
•
In other areas of town you have to really travel a long
way to get to greenways or open space.
○○
How would you describe the values of the residents in
Davidson as it applies to parks and recreation?
•
Very progressive, very open to protecting natural areas
and providing greenways. Open space for play or spiritual
contemplation, emotional settling throughout the
neighborhoods.
•
We’re a long way from achieving the overall values and
goals. We need to find ways to connect the “green blobs”
now to take advantage of this.
•
Some areas can have an “elitist” mentality. Separation
between some communities and others (e.g. River Run).
We’re not all “townies.” Summer’s Walk neighborhood
association is trying to get a greenway extension. These
connections can help overcome these disconnected
mentalities. Some parts of the community still oppose this
connectivity.
•
“People value being able to stay in this community. That
sense of community leaps off the page. My bubble keeps
getting smaller and smaller and I’m completely OK with
that. I have no need to go to exit 23; it’s so far away. It’s
wonderful. I walked around town Saturday, went to the
Y (it’s within my bubble), at CVS, at Summit talking to
people, at Sanctuary talking to people. It’s that sense of
belonging. People get that in Davidson.” – Georgia
•
Some people want to stay here because what we have
here speaks to them and they want to stay here. Other
people want to stay here because of convenience but
want the array of services tailored to them. However,
some want stuff they see in Huntersville and Cornelius to
come to them in Davidson.
•
”Sense of community is our biggest asset but also our
Appendix F
•
biggest tension.” - Connie
•
People who are transient reflect different values. They
haven’t found a way to link in and see no reason to.
Connecting across the tracks to improve integration of the
community.
•
Dream for farmers’ market is to have a more permanent
and sheltered facility. Market is open year-round on
Saturday’s April through October; November through
March every other Saturday. Been in operation for seven
years (entering eighth years). Place to build communities,
see your neighbors, dogs, kids. “It’s a great spot to be
right behind Summit Coffee. There’s a tot lot so kids can
play there.” People do complain about strollers and dogs
because it gets crowded. There were discussions years
ago about building a parking deck in the Jackson Lot and
proposed that market would be held in the top of the lot
(sounded like a disaster). We have talked about having a
gazebo as a place to be a gateway to the market.
•
Two community gardens (by the tracks and at St Albans);
need to be more and make them convenient to all
neighborhoods.
•
Mountain Bike course at Fisher Farm.
•
Program to put kids on bike at Ada to get to Fisher Farm
via the greenway.
•
Connecting Fisher Farm via greenway is most important
investment we could make for connecting the community.
•
A rental sailboat or lessons out of public area behind CSD.
•
People see a delineation in the type of parks and what
they should serve.
•
We have a “continuum of care” among the people in the
community.
•
It amazes me how much the greenway is used.
•
We can get better with greenway connectivity, smaller
pocket parks in existing neighborhoods. Making it safe to
get from park to park without going on busy roads.
•
We need to do better about planning for new parks in new
development requiring both passive and active recreation
space. Currently require a certain % to be open space or
preserved as a park. Developer takes flood plain, sticks it
in the back of the development and calls it open space.
•
•
Bailey Springs dead-end greenway has safety concerns,
especially when they plant corn because of height and
visibility (when they do soybeans, it’s OK). It can be very
isolated.
Concerns over safety and isolation at Fisher Farms and
Abersham. Don’t have good police radio coverage out
there. (waiting for a new radio tower; CharMeck has
applied for grant to get a tower out near there). They are
wonderful assets: birding, walking, mountain biking.
○○
○○
•
I like that it is more rugged and there are trails. It
makes you feel like you’re in the woods. Don’t want
more developed space out there. More natural areas,
picnicking areas, public restrooms.
There have been discussions about call boxes at the
parks. We don’t staff the desk at the police station 24
hours. Hard to see us having the resources to provide
24/7 coverage. Tradeoffs between cost and vandalism.
Have police on bikes. During heavy usage times, during
summer, goal was to ride the entire greenway system on
an almost daily basis. Sometimes at night by car or bike.
Please comment on the availability, access and quality of
Davidson’s facilities, programs and events.
•
Greenway connectivity would improve this; reduce parking
demand.
•
Just re-established EBT program at the farmers’ market.
We reach out and connect to Ada Jenkins Center quite a
bit. Not as utilized as we’d like for it to be.
•
Ada Jenkins Center has free medical clinic. Use to have
picnics at that area.
•
Would love to have more community picnics on the green.
Would like to see the green expanded to property across
Lorimer that belongs to the college. Land conservancy has
an event on the green every September that needs for
space. Liability remains a concern with college.
•
Need a bigger place to host events as they have outgrown
the green. Concerts and festivals on the green also lead to
parking issues.
•
Lots of kids need community service hours, which helps
the Farmers’ Market. They help set-up and take down the
market.
What are the parks and recreation facility needs for the
town as it applies to both indoor and outdoor facilities?
•
Need to pass a bond to complete the greenway system.
•
An indoor pool.
•
A community recreation center.
•
Commercial kitchen, a place where organizations could do
fundraisers or have classes or seminars
Appendix F
Have you used other recreation agencies including public,
private or not-for-profit in the area? How do they compare
to the town’s facilities?
•
YMCA is in Cornelius.
•
Common Grace House is opening near the Y; people
helping people. Mutual support to open later this year.
Related to helping suicide. Related to “spiritual health.”
•
Old Parks and Rec building is being taken over by school
expansion.
Link to Community Health
How do you think Davidson Parks and Recreaton
Department improves or can improve the quality of life
in the Davidson area? How do they see how these things
can positively affect members in your group’s health and
well-being?
•
At the dog park we have a book shelf under the shelter
and book exchange; that ties to intellectual health.
•
Lots of notes above.
•
Seeing non-traditional churches forming, using schools
and Y for meeting. Growing segment of community wants
a non-traditional service.
•
Community School and Davidson Day are generous with
their arts programs. They have performance space.
•
Armor Street Theater. For big productions they have to use
Davidson College.
•
Moving the parks/rec building to the greenway are was
really smart. It’s till really small.
Partnerships and collaboration will help improve overall
health.
•
Suicide rate is one of the town’s saddest statistics.
Davidson LifeLine. Town and Ada are going to do a
program on “mental health first aid.” Ada is requiring it of
our staff; town staff is going to do it. Take that to a larger
scale.
•
•
A community center would lead to greater mix of people
and allow for various activities and programs.
•
“Swimming Hole” is a private swimming pool with a twoyear waiting list. It’s a big complaint for families that move
to area and it’s the only pool unless you join River Run or
the Y. Schools have to scramble to find places/facilities to
use when they have their own programs (e.g. swimming
and tennis courts)
•
•
County Parks/Rec system provides some facilities on
the boundary of the community (mainly sports fields at
Bradford Park). County’s policy is that in typical parks
that 50% of it remains natural; the remainder can be
developed for use. That should be a policy in Davidson
with future parks.
•
College allows community use of outdoor spaces; not
indoor spaces
○○
Cross-country trails, stadium.
○○
Kids use spaces as sledding.
○○
Sometimes people take dogs off-leash and don’t
clean up.
○○
Public art.
•
River Run and St. Albans have great internal community
events to utilize open space. town has done it but focused
on the Green. How do we replicate that in other parts of
the community. Economic Development is trying this with
concerts in different areas (River Run) instead of solely
focusing on the green.
•
River Run has public streets, public sidewalks, but private
parks and other private facilities.
•
○○
After I do it with the Ada team, how can I do it with
the three churches that are nearby. How can I partner
to do that with others?
○○
Park & Rec is a key part of that in helping to broaden
the effort.
○○
Programs like QPR, Davidson LifeLine,
○○
Even the fact that we do have open spaces help with
mental health.
Best things P&R can do is to be a broker / point for town
to identify programs that are supportive and pull them into
the overall programs of the community to find ways to
build it rather than trying to deliver it themselves.
○○
Allows P&R to then make sure that parks and facilities
are working to support the array of programming.
○○
Leverage facilities to make programs work.
People look at neighborhood parks and functions
differently than they look at other parks or open space
areas (Connie took people in neighborhood on walk of
park facilities). Some people see the college as public
space; others don’t. People see them as a continuum
of parks facilities and differences in what is funded
(e.g. reduced scope of programs provided at park: art
program in neighborhood park, mother’s morning out
in neighborhood park); different than what they saw as
desired on Town Green. It was clear they saw a delineation
of uses. What if the neighborhood put more resources
into the neighborhood park (maintenance, tree trimming)
Appendix F
that is attractive to all populations and demographics
is going to be a challenge because of location divide in
the community. If it’s at Ada Jenkins Center, the white
population won’t attend it. If it’s out at the Fisher Farm
property , the African-American and Latino communities
won’t feel welcome (and disconnected from a
transportation standpoint).
in exchange for more control over the programming.
•
We have a continuous line of parks that are very visible as
you move through town. The network of interconnected
parks contributes to health of the overall community.
•
Getting to Fisher Farm on a greenway is huge. It
completes the continuum linking the major neighborhoods
to a major facility.
•
Sense of community is strong and downtown is a huge
part of that with Davidson Green and the Tot Lot behind
Summit. Tons of kids play on it. They have a place to play
when parents are at Farmers’ Market. Everybody has a
central gathering place.
•
Some neighborhoods feel disconnected. We didn’t have
them many years ago, so it’s important to keep those
central gathering places.
•
Area’s like Summers Walk are disconnected from
town and lack a public space where they can gather.
Opportunities to hop on a bike with the kids and ride down
the street to a satellite “town green”-like space. Diversify
the offerings to provide more opportunities. It can be
scalable.
•
•
•
There’s so much green space on campus, I wouldn’t leave
the campus just to go to the park. Some students desire
to get off campus and go to other places, but they have to
have a specific function. Many students don’t have cars.
It’s always nice to have things within walking or biking
distance.
•
Look at potential bikeshare program (similar to 5B; as
success story to model); “recyclery” program.
•
Disc golf areas are heavily used.
•
Community Garden by the tracks- It’s not clear who
runs that. Who do you call to get involved? How can we
promote it? Can we promote it?
•
Opportunities for more urban farming. Church is going to
have guest speaker come to town to teach people how
to do that. Using space on the church’s property for a
farmers’ market.
Community Partnerships
Programs that benefit mental wellness are not as well
utilized. Most people don’t think they need it or connect
it to mental health (e.g. pottery class). People would
probably be more receptive to it if it were advertised to
meet those dimensions of health more so than just seeing
it as just a “pottery class.”
•
Need to talk to churches in African-American community.
•
Partnerships with college would be nice. They charge a lot
of money for groups to rent the theater space and other
spaces.
•
Experience with college has been great. Their Center for
Civic Engagement has been very supportive and works
great with the non-profits; find out their needs; identify
ways to help them. Farmers’ Market is working directly
with 5 different students right now.
•
Relationship with students/non-profits/town is getting
stronger.
•
Feeling of “community divide” is a choice. Young AfricanAmericans are coming back to this community. There’s
Programs add to the social need.
•
Not sure how much of it speaks to the spiritual realm.
•
LifeLine training (been in place for almost a year, May
2013) is key.
What areas/ efforts/ resources need priority?
•
Counterpoint: We have a network of smaller facilities
and partnerships that serve that function. The amount
of money we would spend would be better invested
in the greenway connecting Fisher Farm when we
think of overall potential community impact. Thinking
about the traditional big facility is an old approach
and we have better ways to address it. Y has many
of those facilities. Don’t think it would bring people
together the way many people think it would. It would
likely become or be viewed as a “quasi-private”
facility.
People come onto campus to use cross-country trails and
other facilities. Campus is great about letting community
members to come on-campus for “non-facility” areas:
cross-country trails, labyrinth, track at the stadium.
•
•
○○
I’d rather see the racial divide addressed more than any
facility or other community need. The Latino population is
growing.
Finding a central location for the Community Center
How could Davidson Park and Recreation and your
organization partner or build upon existing partnerships
in the future to improve facilities, resources, events or
programming in Davidson?
Appendix F
less of a stigma about making the leap to come back to
Davidson.
•
Build on partnerships rather than chasing some “ideal”
facility.
○○
Ada Jenkins is going to start doing bike rides out of
the center.
•
○○
Keep trying to create a kids bike club out of Ada.
Davidson LifeLine Board, feedback through that group are
key, especially for linking the dimensions of health to their
mission and goals.
○○
Need for education on proper riding.
•
Faith-based entities are good partners. The town could
benefit from all that they do. How can we bring the
programs to the church? That would get awareness out
and they would feel like they are part of the community
and should be part of the programs.
Are there other opportunities for partnering or other
funding sources in Davidson for the development or
delivery of recreation facilities or programs?
•
Ada Jenkins Center: Three-prong provider. 21 different
programs and services. Partnership with many different
organizations and individuals (e.g. Town, Ingersoll-Rand
is investment partner, people are our client partners). We
are not a handout. We are about improving quality of life.
People come to us in educational, job, food, personal,
medical/dental crisis. We have to meet people in that crisis
and help them work toward a different future.
Are there any other stakeholders or potential partners we
should be talking to?
○○
Do you have any other questions or comments?
○○
•
Public health service provider (Davidson, Huntersville,
Troutman, etc)
Doing renovation of bathrooms; will make gym
accessible to the town. Land around the center (5
acres) has outdoor basketball court, field used for
sports practice, playground. We’ve done more and
more with playground over the year. All of those these
are partnership with town, CSD school,
CSD (Community School of Davidson) just built arts
wing with 150-seat black box theater with goal to make
it a community facility. Still in early stages but are going
to partner once we get our feet under us in terms of
running it. Built a practice field opposite the school and
want to make that a community facility. Town’s basketball
programs run in our gyms.
•
CSD: We offer ourselves in partnership to public but public
then immediately thinks they own our facilities (e.g. got
complaints that people from theater were parking in public
streets; wanting people to only park at theater and not on
public streets). If partnership is to work there has to be
education and understand the gives and takes. People are
making demands of fields (e.g. don’t want soccer there
because of traffic).
•
CSD has MOU with town. CSD uses baseball/softball field
and occasional soccer field; town uses basketball facilities
and classrooms for summer camp.
•
Having rental fishing equipment at the pond for older kids.
•
YMCA
•
Bicycle skills training; bike recycle.
•
YMCA in Cornelius
•
Trips for Kids – would like for them to be back in Davidson
area again. Doing most of their work to the south in the
heart of the metro area.
•
You want people to feel “investment” (instead of
ownership) but that doesn’t mean you can dictate what
happens there. (CSD experience with public use of
facilities)
•
Highest priority:
○○
Active space: e.g. soccer fields, basketball courts,
tennis courts (hear that a lot from parents). Be careful
with it. Example from other community where
playscape was next to basketball courts. Parents
didn’t like little children being around the “language”
spoken on a place like a basketball court or a skate
park.
•
“Puberty on the Green.” Every Friday afternoon on the
green. “It’s bucolic.”
•
Defining formal open space vs. informal in a development
policy. How do we preserve spaces like the “green” as we
grow. How do we identify that? Area by I-77 could benefit
from a “green” in that neighborhood.
Appendix F
Stakeholder Interviews: Interviewee List
Name
Interest/Association
Group 1 (Local Organizations)
Athletic Associations
Key Faith-based organizations
Camp Providers
YMCA
farmers’ markets
Community Gardens
Group 2 (Service Providers)
Fire
Police
Public Works
Schools
County School Board
Healthcare / Hospital
Group 3 (Active Recreation)
Park & Recreation Staff
Bike Organizations
Bike Shop Rep
Biker(s)- Mtn, Road
Runner
Dog /Dog Park Advocates
Trail groups
Group 4 (Programming)
Park and Recreation Staff
Community-wide programming staff
Senior Center rep
Group 5 (Private Development)
Realtor / Broker
Local Developer
Group 6 (Economic Development)
Chamber of Commerce
Merchants Association or Downtown
Business District
Local Business Owners
Planning staff
Group 7 (Neighborhood Leaders)
HOA presidents
Civic group leaders
Phone Number Email Address
Appendix G
Appendix G:
Community Meeting #1 Summary
DATE:2/18/2014
PROJECT NAME:
Davidson Park and Recreation Master Plan
PROJECT #:1013198
MEETING LOCATION:
Davidson Town Hall
PURPOSE:
Davidson Park and Recreation Master Plan Public Meeting 1
SUBMITTED BY:
Daniel Bursuck
MEETING NOTES
Greater than 80 people attended the first Davidson Park and
Recreation Master Plan Public Meeting on February 18th, 2014.
The meeting’s format and organization was divided into five
exhibits / exercises.
1. Live Work & Play: As attendees entered the room they
were asked to point out, on a map, where they live, work,
and play.
2. Goals Exercise: This was an exhibit describing the
goals of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the
project schedule, and some existing conditions statistics.
Attendees were asked to comment on the draft project
goals and if they felt something was missing.
3. Seven Dimensions of Health Exercise: Here attendees
were asked to place dots on seven boards depicting the
seven dimensions of health. These dots were placed on
any images or activities that may have resonated with
them. There was no limit to the amount of dots that could
be placed. There were also cards with additional activities
and a computer and printer to print off activities that may
not have been represented on these boards. These could
then be placed on the boards as well.
4. Light Board Exercise: Once finished with the seven
dimensions of health exercise, attendees began the light
table exercise, where they choose a location on a map
where they would like to see those activities chosen in the
previous activity.
5. Ideas Board Exercise: Finally, was a comment board
at the end. Here people were asked to comment on
anything they wanted to say in addition to the feedback
they had already given through the exercises.
Summary of Live, Work & Play
The first exercise attendees did as they entered the room
was the work, live, & play exercise in which residents placed
colored dots on a map of Davidson where they work (red dot),
live (green dot) and play (blue dot). The results of the exercise
showed that people who came to the public meeting represent
much of the City spatially. Other observations where the
following:
•
A vast majority of respondents live within 1.5 miles of
downtown and to the northwest and southeast.
•
While most people worked either in downtown or at
Davidson College, there was still a significant amount of
people who were commuting south to Charlotte.
•
The highest concentration of “play” dots were located at
McEver Fields, Downtown, and Fisher Farm Park.
Summary of Seven Dimensions of Health
Exercise
Intellectual Board
•
The most popular images on the board were 6 (complex
playground), 13 (street art), 17 (community gardens), and
18 (outdoor movies).
•
The categories added to the board were: rowing, Ada
Jenkins LearnWorks, public art, Park & Recreation senior
scholars, hermit crab playing park, performing arts,
tennis, public archery range, botanical garden, bocce,
adult education. The categories that received the largest
amount of votes (6+) were rowing, adult education, hermit
crab playing park and tennis.
The following is a summary of the feedback from these
exercises.
Appendix G
trail, greenway, botanical garden, natural stream, historic
preservation, Farmers’ Market, public archery range,
and incubator farms. The categories that received the
largest amount of votes (10+) were rowing, nature trail,
greenway, and public archery range.
Physical Board
•
The most popular images on the board were 23 (bike
park), 24 (playground), 27 (pedestrian bridge) and 31
(skatepark)
•
There were a significant amount of images and cards
added to the board. These included: sand pit, outdoor
track, therapeutic recreation, greenway, spray ground,
senior centric activities, mountain biking, restroom,
skatepark, formal picnic, tennis, soccer, trampoline,
basketball, softball, swimming beach, baseball, nature
trail, dog park, walking, disc golf course, outdoor pool,
indoor pool, horse trails & facilities, boat & kayak access,
full-day camps pre-k thru high school, rowing / crew
access, kayaking, hiking paths, recreation center, lacrosse
and public archery range. The categories that received
the largest amount of votes (15+) were baseball, tennis,
basketball, rowing and outdoor pool.
Spiritual Board
•
The most popular images on the board were 85 (outdoor
amphitheater), 86 (trail in woods) and 87 (yoga).
•
The categories added to the board were: 4th July
fireworks, t’ai chi, hiking path, rowing, rain garden,
green cemetery, camping at fishing farm and tennis. All
categories received between 1 and 4 votes except rowing,
which received 19 votes.
Emotional Board
•
seating), 103 (kids in water), 104 (running events) and 108
(family bike riding).
•
The categories added to the board were: formal fountain,
tennis, basketball, kayak, dog park, greenway, therapeutic
recreation, rowing, historic preservation, baseball, 4th July
fireworks. The categories that received the largest amount
of votes (10+) were rowing and tennis.
•
Occupational Board
•
event space), 76 (outdoor movies) and 80 (fishing)
•
The categories added to the board were: rowing, tennis,
bowling, restrooms, adaptive water sports, full day
summer camps, starbucks and sky high trampoline. The
categories that received the largest amount of votes (10+)
were rowing, bowling and restrooms.
•
Social Board
•
The most popular images on the board were 47 (water
play), 50 (outdoor seating) and 51 (dog park)
•
The categories added to the board were: multi-use center,
leash-free Fisher Farm, rowing, spray ground, restrooms,
recreation center, 4th July fireworks, special events,
bocce, tennis, dog park, public art, mountain biking, formal
fountain, full day summer camps, pickle ball, senior center,
food truck, lifelong learning, outdoor pool, basketball,
baseball and skatepark. The categories that received the
largest amount of votes (10+) were pickle ball, rowing and
tennis.
Environmental Board
•
The most popular images on the board were 62
(community garden), 63 (natural trail) and 64 (greenway
bridge)
•
The categories added to the board were: rowing,
community gardens, Davidson livability, dog park, nature
Summary of Light Table Exercise
The Light Table Exercise allowed people to locate a place in
Davidson where they would like to see the activities they
chose in the wellness board exercise. The results can be seen
on the Park Facility Suggestions from Public Meeting map
attached to this document. As apparent from the map, much
of the suggestions were for additions at Fisher Farm Park, at
the Village Green, and Lake Davidson Nature Preserve.
5 Takeaways from Davidson Community
Meeting
•
As expressed in the Light Table exercise, many people
would like to see an expansion of facilities at Fisher Farm
Park and the Lake Davidson Nature Preserve.
•
The Physical Wellness Board had the most responses
overall with the majority of votes placed for active
recreational activities such as baseball, tennis and
basketball and facilities such as a skate park, pedestrian
bridge, and a bike park.
•
Tennis and rowing were two activities that consistently
received the most dots across the boards.
Appendix G
•
•
Overall, there were a significant number of dots for active
recreation and for passive recreation spread out among
the boards.
Between the boards and the comments, there was a
significant amount of support for greenways, trails and
overall connectivity.
They need safe areas for free play.
•
There is a large contingent of older, mid and low income
long term residents that need “Health” activities geared
toward them, and easily accessible in the southern (i.e.
Jetton St) districts.
•
I noticed upon arrival, which was early & before it got
crowded, that there were already many green tennis
stickers in multiple categories. I wonder if the tennis fans’
responses are beyond their actual community numbers.
How do you account for the passion or ballot stuffing?
•
The current group is visually “typical Davidson” i.e. the
less economically fortunate aren’t here. I hope their
interests area also identified & supported.
•
Love living and playing in Davidson! (Retired). Worried
about over development and the toll it will take on green
(mature) / treed space. Trees are very important to the
health of the community. Especially circles @ 30, because
we are so close to 77… concerns are air quality, sound
control and habitats of our furry feathered and scaled
creatures. While Davidson does a great job greening
per landscape standards etc. It takes many years to
mature. So while regreening is good, it does not negate
the fact that as many mature trees as possible should be
preserved.
Comments from instruction sheets
Additional activities / facilities:
•
farmers’ market
•
Greenways
•
College Courses
•
Learn Works
•
Lake Access
•
Community Gardens
•
T’ai Chi
Comments:
•
Hi, we need full day summer camps (Pre-K thru High
School). As a working parent, I must turn to Huntersville
Parks and Recreation and Cornelius Parks & recreation
to fill our family’s need for affordable full day camps.
Huntersville has a great teen camp that stresses physical
activity, being out in nature and team building. This would
create summer jobs for older teens, college students and
teachers. It would build a sense of community for our
kids. Campers could get involved in a service project. I
also would love to see the return of July 4th fireworks
celebration. It was such an amazing event that brought
our town together. I realize the event probably got too big
and too expensive, but there must be a way to manage
this event so it makes sense for our town.
•
I started rowing after I had a bad head injury and have
loved the sport more than any other sport I have played
before. Many of my team played before. Many of my
teammates turned to rowing after injuries / illnesses too
and I would like for others in the community to know
how adaptive the sport is. Having a rowing center at the
park would bring the community together and give many
people the opportunity to compete in ways that other
sports may not. Thank you!
•
I would like to see more recreation areas for free play
for our children. Basketball courts (indoor and outdoor),
like parks, more ball fields, tennis courts, etc. As many
activities that children are involved in are too structures.
Comments from
“What are your Ideas?” board
•
Please, please save the trees. Save Green Space!
Development is great, but not at the cost of removing
trees. (3)
•
Dirt Trails
•
Agree with the idea that we need more recreation, but
fear that we may try to achieve that with big sports
complex, which wouldn’t be Davidson. Instead, place
basketball courts, tennis courts, etc. throughout
community in “pocket park” manner (think swimming
hole). Prevents big complex with lots of asphalt, and gives
more people opportunity to walk to their “neighborhood”
park in keeping with pedestrian ethic. Leave the big
sports complexes for other communities and don’t
sacrifice Fisher Farm and Abersham for a big sports
complex.
•
Limit the use of asphalt & be mindful of trees & birds.
•
Encourage Cornelius & Huntersville to preserve green
space & trees
•
Find Balance. Green space & recreation space too!
Appendix G
•
Crew!!
•
Community Garden in Bailey Springs
•
Offer a place space with play equipment in the main part
of town for youth to play and families to join. The play
space should include safe areas but allow for climbing
& interacting. This will add to downtown spending &
attendance
•
Also please consider connecting greenways & adding an
updated map.
•
More ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts –
opportunity for free play for our children.
•
I would love a place where my teammates and I could row
in our community and expand our program. After starting
rowing because of a head injury, I have realized how much
of an adaptive sport it is and I would love to see others
find the joy that I have had in rowing in the past two years.
(3)
•
Public pool & tennis
•
Nature fields, ponds & streams
•
Encourage and highlight Davidson’s LAKE life – waterfront
docks, summer camps and a place for our young rowers
and crew teams to train. We also have master rowers –
30-70+
•
Tennis (6-courts) – The sport for “life” public courts for
USTA Leagues, Piedmont Interclub, high school teams &
middle schools, NC adults state championship
•
LNTA – 1000’s of local players
•
Add tennis court (clay type)
•
Network of Trails – Interconnected trail system
connecting neighborhoods, businesses, parks * the
lake. Opportunities for recreation, health, commuting &
decreased automotive reliance / use. (1)
•
Full day camps: Pre-K through High School. Huntersville
Parks & Rec offers amazing teenage adventure camp
(ziplining, hiking). Davidson can also incorporate service
projects into camps. I have to go to other towns to
access affordable camps. Working parents… all parents
need a constructive, safe, fun resource for their kids in the
summer and it would be a great revenue source. Thanks!
•
Public access to Lake Davidson for kayaking & stand up
paddle boarding. Rowing!
•
Keep Fisher Farm as it is.
•
North Charlotte Rowing offers programs for all ages 12+. Great for adaptive programs.
•
Add disc golf to greenway (2)
•
Tennis courts (lined too for pickle ball – 2 for 1) could be
placed in land at Bartlett Creek near greenway in Bailey
Springs (1)
•
“Learn-to-Row” center with S.U.P. stand up paddle board
rentals and kayaking
•
Food trucks allowed once per week for lunch
•
Improve River Run Fields
•
Connect Davidson Pointe to town via walk or bike –
Highway 115 is unsafe. (2)
•
Community swimming beach!
•
Add soccer to Fisher Farm (1)
•
Connect areas of town via greenways
•
Pickleball courts – fastest growing sport in the country
•
Mountain bike trails in Allison Farms
•
Surf Park / Skate Park
•
Increase / facilitate public lake access
•
Add racks at Parhem Park for rowing shells
•
Less is sometimes more
Keep rural open space
•
.
Starbucks
•
Appendix G
Feedback from Boards
Intellectual Board
Number / Activity
Physical Board
# of Dots
Number / Activity
# of Dots
1
3
20
3
2
0
21
1
3
0
22
0
4
2
23
7
5
0
24
4
6
15
25
3
7
5
26
1
8
0
27
7
9
5
28
5
10
2
29
5
11
4
30
4
12
0
31
8
13
7
32
5
14
1
33
3
15
1
34
4
16
2
35
2
17
15
36
3
18
8
37
1
19
3
Outdoor Track
6
Rowing
15
Field Hockey
7
Ada Jenkins LearnWorks
1
Baseball
40
Public Art
9
Nature Trail
6
Park & Rec Senior Scholars
2
Outdoor Exercise Equip
2
Hermit crab playing park
13
Softball
2
Performing Arts
1
Lake Swimming Beach
3
Tennis
7
Basketball
38
Public Archery Range
1
Sand Pit
3
Botanical Garden
4
Trampoline
1
Bocce
2
Bocce
3
Adult education
8
Soccer
13
Rail-Trail
5
Spray Ground
4
Therapeutic Recreation
1
Greenway
8
Mountain Biking
12
Formal Picnic
3
Restroom
8
Skate Park
5
Appendix G
Physical Board (Cont.)
Number / Activity
Social Board
# of Dots
Number / Activity
# of Dots
Kayak
7
38
1
Tennis
40
39
0
Rowing
19
40
2
Full day camps
5
41
3
Outdoor Pool
15
42
2
Disc Golf
13
43
4
Playground
5
44
4
Indoor Pool
8
45
0
Recreation Center
4
46
4
Lacrosse
5
47
7
Dog Park
1
48
2
Horse Trails & Facilities
4
49
4
1
50
11
51
15
52
2
Occupational Board
53
1
# of Dots
54
2
69
5
55
0
70
2
56
0
71
2
57
2
72
2
Multi-use Center
7
73
0
Leash Free Fisher Farm
1
74
0
Rowing
16
75
2
Spray Ground
5
76
18
Restroom
2
77
0
Recreation Center
2
78
2
4th July Fireworks
2
79
2
Special Events
2
80
5
Bocce
5
81
3
Tennis
26
82
0
Dog Park
8
Rowing
15
Public Art
1
Tennis
3
Mountain biking
5
Bowling
11
Formal Fountain
3
Restrooms
11
Full Day Summer Camps
3
Adaptive Water Sports
6
Pickle Ball
11
Full Day Summer Camps
2
Senior Center
2
Starbucks
2
Food Truck
6
Sky High Trampoline
2
Life Long Learning
2
Outdoor Pool
3
Basketball
5
Baseball
5
Skate Park
1
Number / Activity
Appendix G
Environmental Board
Number / Activity
Spiritual Board (Cont.)
# of Dots
Number / Activity
# of Dots
58
3
T’ai Chi
4
59
4
Hiking Path
3
60
5
Rowing
19
61
1
Rain Garden
4
62
7
Green Cemetery
1
63
8
Camping at Fisher Farm
4
64
12
Tennis
3
65
0
66
0
67
2
68
1
Rowing
24
96
0
Community Gardens
1
97
0
Davidson Livability
4
98
4
Dog Park
2
99
2
Nature Trail
14
100
0
Greenway
11
101
2
Botanical Garden
4
102
3
Natural Stream
9
103
6
Historic Preservation
2
104
4
farmers’ market
6
105
3
11
106
2
Incubator Farms
2
107
1
108
5
109
2
Spiritual Board
Emotional Board
Number / Activity
# of Dots
110
0
# of Dots
111
3
83
4
112
1
84
4
Formal Fountain
1
85
5
Tennis
11
86
10
Basketball
6
87
8
Kayak Lake
4
88
0
Dog Park
5
89
0
Greenway
4
90
2
Therapeutic Recreation
1
91
1
Rowing
22
92
0
Historic Preservation
5
93
0
Baseball
7
94
1
4th of July Fireworks
2
95
2
4th of July Fireworks
2
Number / Activity
Appendix G
Intellectual
Occupational
Title
Title
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
3
4
4
7
5
7
5
8
6
13
7
15
11
18
11
18
15
21
18
27
0
5
10
15
20
25
0
30
Physical
5
10
15
20
Social
Title
Title
1
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
8
5
8
5
8
6
10
7
13
8
14
9
11
14
11
15
11
16
16
26
24
29
26
38
0
40
43
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
5
10
15
20
25
30
Appendix G
Spiritual
Environmental
Title
Votes
1
1
2
2
2
4
2
5
3
6
4
7
4
9
9
10
11
12
23
18
24
19
0
5
10
15
25
20
20
0
Emotional
5
10
15
20
25
Votes
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
11
26
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
30
0.9
Soccer/Multi-Use
Baseball/Softball
Fields
Tennis
Basketball
Volleyball
Small Skatepark
(7000 sqft)
Full-size
Skatepark
(17,000+sqft)
Paved Trail (per
mile)
Nature Trail (per
mile)
Playgrounds
Pool
Outdoor Event
Venue (per acre)
facility type
13.0
2.33
1.0
3.9
1.04
0.42
0.0
0.06
4.0
0.0
0.0
0.16
0.16
0.12
0.0
1.0
0.0
6.0
2.0
0.97
0.91
0.13
0.61
0.95
4.8
1.8
1.4
26.5
11.9
0.7
1.8
11.0
10.4
1.5
7.0
10.9
current
Demand for
Davidson #
96.9
4.8
(2.2)
1.4
22.5
8.0
0.7
1.8
11.0
9.4
1.5
1.0
8.9
current Gap
16.3
(22.7)
(743.7)
34.0
36.9
current Gap
(acres)
Park and Recreation Master Plan
to meet level of service standards for a community of
Davidson’s size, they would require 183.74 acres (16
acres / 1000 residents) of parkland. Davidson currently
maintains 886.83 acres of existing parkland or 77.8
acres / 1000 residents (including preserves).
#Existing and future demand based on Small Community Parks and Recreation Standards
Leisure
Other Rec
Facilities
Outdoor
Recreation
Courts
Sports Fields
facility
category
Existing Level of Service by Number of Facility
current supply
in Davidson
31.9
8.0
number of
facilities
needed
per 10,000
Residents #
17.1
840.6
85.0
15.0
9.2
0.2
30.0
34.2
13.3
50.2
current Demand
Based on 2010
Population #
44.0
total acres
current supply
Recommended per
(Davidson
10,000 Residents Maintained Parks)
(acres) #
#Existing and future demand based on Small Community Parks and Recreation Standards
Sports Fields (soccer,
multi/use, baseball/
softball)
Courts (tennis,
basketball, volleyball)
Outdoor Recreation
(skate park, dirt trails,
fishingaccess,etc)
Leisure (playgrounds,
picnic areas, general
park areas)
Other Recreational
Facilities (swimming
pool, hockey, outdoor
events)
facility category
Existing Level of Service by Acres
PaRks anD RecReation GeneRal stanDaRDs
Passive Recreation Acres
98%
2%
Passive Recreation Acres
Active Recreation Acres
Active vs Passive Parkland
Active Recreation Acres
13.5
873.3
*households calculated by creating 1/4 buffer on existing facilities, then selecting census blocks that have centroid
within the buffer. this method may over or under-count minimally.
mile of a public park or greenway*
•51.4% of residential units are located within 1/4
•Approximately 462 out of 4532 residential units
(10%) are located within 1/4 mile of a public
greenway*
access to PaRks anD GReenways
*Active acreage calculated by adding acreage of all active fields (sports fields + courts). Passive recreation acreage
calculated by taking total acreage of parks and subtracting acreage of active fields (sports fields + courts).
0
200
400
600
800
1000
Acres of Active vs Passive Parkland
active vs Passive PaRklanD*
DaviDson PaRklanD [ stanDaRDs + key facts ]
1,884
$0
Winston-Salem
$50
$38
$53
$49
Cornelius
Huntersville
$100
$81
$68
Greenboro
Carrboro
$88
$84
Davidson
$93
$150
$126
$150
$200
$200
$250
$300
$280
Park and Rec spending Per capita
Atlanta, GA
Charlotte/Mecklenburg
Denver, CO
Raleigh
Minneapolis, MN
San Francisco, CA
Washington, D.C.
$350
$400
$375
Davidson - 1884 sf / person
PaRk anD RecReation sPenDinG PeR caPita
Davidson
PaRklanD PeR PeRson within city liMits
Appendix H
Appendix H:
Community Meeting #2 Summary
Appendix H
Recommendation Votes
Facilities Recommendation
1st priority
(green)
3rd priority
(blue)
1
Increase active recreation amenities to provide close access for Davidson residents
Ensure there are playground facilities within 1/4 mile of all households
2nd priority
(yellow))
3
Include at least one “active” reaction amenity in new and existing parks
Neighborhood Parks’ active recreation amenity should be scaled appropriately within the site
and reflect the neighborhood’s residents’ identified needs (i.e. bocce ball, basketball, outdoor
fitness stations, basketball, outdoor ping pong, pickle ball, badminton, mini-soccer, walking
trails)
1
Identify and develop partnerships to provide public access to tennis courts throughout the
community
2
2
1
Identify locations for new tennis courts and/or pickle ball courts within Davidson
New parks should incorporate multipurpose fields
2
3
1
Partner with schools to provide public access to basketball courts and fields
Provide more water access and water-based recreational opportunities (canoe, kayak rentals/
access/storage; lake swimming)
1
4
Identify location for new aquatic facilities (splash pad, pool)
Work closely with Mecklenburg County to expand and develop active recreational facilities
(i.e. soccer, baseball, tennis, volleyball, etc.) close to Davidson
2
3
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
1
Continue to protect natural assets
Identify opportunities for public ownership of lakefront properties to provide watershed
protection and public lake access
Strive for 50% of community and neighborhood parks to be maintained as natural areas.
Protect environmentally sensitive areas through purchase or conservation easements (riparian
corridors, floodplains, forests, large sections of early successional habitat)
Develop facilities to provide unique opportunities within Davidson’s Parks that have
natural assets
Continue to develop natural surface trails for walking, hiking and biking and connect them to
the larger greenway system.
Identify locations for archery
Provide additional kayak/canoe access and storage opportunities
3
Build an additional community dog park with walking trails
Continue to partner with Mecklenburg County in the development of a community
recreation center close to Davidson
1
1
Create a linked system through providing more pedestrian and bicycle connections
between parks, open space and key destinations
Continue to expand the greenway (multi-use trail) system to provide access within a 1/4 mile
of all households
10
Prioritize greenway (multi-use trail) connections to Fisher Farm/Abersham/Allison Park
3
2
1
Connect downtown to the park system through greenway (multi-use trail) connections
2
3
3
2
1
2
Continue to coordinate with Mecklenburg County and their greenway plans
throughout the County, especially the connection to Fisher Farm / Abersham and
the South Prong Rocky River Greenway connection from South Street Park to North
Main Street in Cornelius
2
Continue to provide educational programs to promote bicycle safety
Continue to implement Davidson Walks & Rolls Active Transportation Plan
recommendations
4
Appendix H
Facilities Recommendation
1st priority
(green)
2nd priority
(yellow))
Continue to coordinate with Carolina Thread Trail to ensure existing and planned
greenway system fits into the greater regional system
3rd priority
(blue)
2
Establish more community gardens through Davidson
1
Include community gardens in all new neighborhood parks and identify
opportunities to establish community gardens within 1/4 mile of all residents
1
Focus on Community and Neighborhood Parks and their pedestrian and
bicycle linkages
Park and greenway system should be linked by multi-use trails and accessible
within 1/4 mile of every household.
Provide opportunities for diverse recreational opportunities and community
gathering spaces throughout Davidson
1
1
2
Incorporate community gathering spaces (pavilions, picnic shelter, gazebos, stage,
plaza) in all future parks scaled appropriately for the park type and context.
Identify a central location (or improvements to existing locations) for a centrally
located Community Park that can host large scale community-wide events like the
farmers’ market and outdoor movie nights.
1
Add diversity to the system through providing unique (within the system) small
scale active recreation amenities within each neighborhood park.
2
2
1
2
Incorporate public art opportunities in each park that reflects the character of the
immediate community
1
Ensure Community and Neighborhood Parks incorporate active and passive
opportunities
Active recreation should be scaled to fit the park type and neighborhood needs
1
Natural space should account for a minimum of 50% of the park
1
Provide outdoor space for performing arts (community gathering spaces
above)
1
Programming Recommendation
1st priority
(green)
2nd priority
(yellow))
3rd priority
(blue)
Increase programming to provide educational opportunities based on Davidson’s
environmental assets
Establish educational programs focused on environmental education and stewardship.
2
Partner with schools to plan and develop outdoor classrooms
1
Utilize environmental assets such as Fisher Farm Park and Abersham by establishing outdoor
adventure programs
2
Continue to provide educational programming opportunities for all ages and include
the following community identified classes:
performing art classes
tennis lessons
rowing/kayaking
5
yoga and t’ai chi classes
2
2
environmental education
Establish educational programs to teach gardening and healthy food preparation
Partner with vendors at farmers’ market to provide cooking classes with local foods
1
1
1
Appendix H
1st priority
(green)
2nd priority
(yellow))
3rd priority
(blue)
3
1
2
1
1
2
Partner with local restaurants to provide health cooking classes.
Increase programming that utilizes lake access and water based sports
Continue to leverage and grow programming partnerships
Survey existing service providers, including Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation to
determine current usage and participation rate of Davidson residents
Continue and expand partnerships with all current service providers (i.e. Carolina Rapids
Soccer) and look for organizations for which to build new partnerships
Continue educational programs for bicyclists including the following:
Road safety
Bicycle maintenance
Develop health and exercise programs that appeal to all of Davidson
2
Partner with Mecklenburg County Health Department to provide informational sessions on
nutrition and additional programming opportunities to be hosted in Davidson
Continue and expand events for community to attract tourists, build social capitol and
meet the demand for additional activities.
Program regular movie in the park days to activate community parks throughout
town
Look to expand existing events programming to include music and arts festivals in
community parks
Continue and expand life skills programs for the community, including:
Social skills
Computer classes
Job training
Gardening
Basic home maintenance
Expand and develop summer camp programs for Town of Davidson residents
Recommendation Additions
Facility Recommendation
Dimension of Health
Partner w/ private entities to provide more Lake access
Physical, Social,
Economic,
Environmental
Rowing Center
Physical, Social,
Economic,
Environmenta
More access to the water - support local teams (rowing) that need water
Physical, Social
More youth sports facilities - baseball, basketball soccer
Physical
Additional playgrounds / family activity centers
Physical
Programs at Roosevelt Wilson - Active recreation amenity (supervised for children)
Ada Jenkins - more senior programs and Community Center Activities
Dimension of Health
Hold class on healthy community design
Social, Intellectual,
Emotional
Senior health and nutrition at Ada Jenkins
Appendix H
Policy Recommendation
Dimension of Health
The Towns of Davidson & Cornelius would both benefit by connectivity between each. Families riding to town to
restaurants, shopping, the YMCA & special events. Keep people off of main roads and more people will be active.
Clearly post parks as being tobacco free
Market & advertise parks / greenways including maps & facilities available at each
Commit to connecting “cross the tracks” to allow flow and access to facilities equally & equitably
Uniformity in park signage
farmers’ market should be in the Old Mill building across RR tracks from the old depot
Additional Comments
Comments
•
Provide a place for our kids who row to continue in their sport!
•
Are severely lacking in athletic facilities for youth. Davidson cannot provide the field space for baseball / basketball / soccer /
tennis we see every other community in the area. Davidson has 200 acres preserved for walking at Fisher Farm yet cannot
provide the 10 acres required for additional athletic fields / facilities
•
Additional facilities with the family in mind. McEver park does not serve families with young children. South Street is a
dangerous road and thus families with young children cannot watch baseball because there is no playground or area for
smaller children to run.
•
Greenways!
•
Some type of tree garden off of the Kincaid Trail near South Street
•
Comprehensive map of ALL trails… include informal trails & other non-greenway. Utilize DLC (Davidson Land Conservancy) to
help allow publicizing those trails. *See Berkeley, CA
•
Proposal for Green Cemeteries - see sheet
Appendix I
Davidson Parks
and Recreation Master Plan
Appendix
I:
Survey
Survey
Results
1. What is the overall quality of the current Town of Davidson Parks and Recreation
System?
Poor
3.9% (14)
Fair
Neutral
Good
10.8%
18.0%
57.7%
(39)
(65)
(209)
1 of 24
Excellent
9.7% (35)
Rating
Rating
Average
Count
3.59
362
answered question
362
skipped question
25
Appendix I
2. Of the following facilities currently available in Davidson, please indicate which ones (up
to 5) are the most important to you and your family, and most beneficial to the community
(location directions in relation to downtown).
Important to you and your
family
Faulkner Square Park (New
Most beneficial to Davidson
Rating
Count
81.9% (68)
31.3% (26)
83
61.7% (58)
64.9% (61)
94
60.8% (73)
70.0% (84)
120
64.4% (47)
67.1% (49)
73
27.4% (48)
89.7% (157)
175
69.8% (44)
44.4% (28)
63
77.1% (185)
65.8% (158)
240
72.5% (37)
49.0% (25)
51
67.5% (108)
61.3% (98)
160
42.3% (58)
83.9% (115)
137
79.4% (154)
72.2% (140)
194
Parham Park (West)
29.2% (7)
83.3% (20)
24
64.1% (59)
55.4% (51)
92
65.2% (101)
78.1% (121)
155
82.2% (259)
80.3% (253)
315
63.0% (51)
64.2% (52)
81
Neighborhood in Old Davidson)
The Preserve Dog Park (New
Caldwell Green Tot Lot (New
Forest Park Playground (New
(Northwest)
Other (please specify)
answered question
2 of 24
27
366
skipped question
Appendix
I
21
3. Do you feel safe in Davidson's parks during the day?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Yes
98.9%
361
No
1.1%
4
answered question
365
skipped question
22
3 of 24
Appendix I
4. Please indicate how well you think the Town of Davidson is maintaining its current
recreation facilities (location directions in relation to downtown).
Poorly
Faulkner Square Park (New
Needs
improvement
Adequately
2.4% (4)
14.5% (24)
40.6% (67)
2.4% (4)
10.7% (18)
47.0% (79)
3.9% (8)
23.5% (48)
39.2% (80)
3.0% (4)
20.0% (27)
44.4% (60)
15.6% (27)
42.2% (73)
2.1% (3)
14.0% (20)
51.7% (74)
0.9% (2)
7.7% (17)
32.9% (73)
1.6% (2)
7.0% (9)
56.3% (72)
0.6% (1)
7.2% (12)
35.5% (59)
1.7% (3)
6.7% (12)
29.4% (53)
0.5% (1)
3.1% (6)
29.8% (57)
Parham Park (West)
1.9% (2)
8.5% (9)
49.1% (52)
2.9% (5)
11.5% (20)
28.2% (49)
3.5% (7)
15.5% (31)
31.5% (63)
0.7% (2)
7.3% (21)
23.3% (67)
The Preserve Dog Park (New
Caldwell Green Tot Lot (New
Forest Park Playground (New
(Northwest)
6.4%
(11)
4 of 24
Well
Very
Rating
Rating
well
Average
Count
28.5%
13.9%
(47)
(23)
29.8%
10.1%
(50)
(17)
24.5%
8.8%
(50)
(18)
25.9%
(35)
6.7% (9)
28.9%
6.9%
(50)
(12)
23.1%
9.1%
(33)
(13)
44.1%
14.4%
(98)
(32)
23.4%
11.7%
(30)
(15)
38.6%
18.1%
(64)
(30)
38.9%
23.3%
(70)
(42)
41.9%
24.6%
(80)
(47)
25.5%
15.1%
(27)
(16)
42.5%
14.9%
(74)
(26)
36.5%
13.0%
(73)
(26)
41.1%
27.5%
(118)
(79)
3.37
165
3.35
168
3.11
204
3.13
135
3.14
173
3.23
143
3.64
222
3.37
128
3.66
166
3.76
180
3.87
191
3.43
106
3.55
174
3.40
200
3.87
287
Appendix I
4.1% (6)
4.8% (7)
29.9% (44)
38.1%
23.1%
(56)
(34)
3.71
147
answered question
336
skipped question
51
5. Identify which programs, within or outside of Davidson, you (and/or a member of your
household) have participated in during the past year.
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Individual youth sports
18.6%
66
Team youth sports
33.0%
117
Individual adult sports
19.2%
68
Team adult sports
13.0%
46
Summer camps
27.6%
98
Arts/Cultural classes
22.8%
81
Wellness/Healthy living classes
18.0%
64
Home/Hobby classes
8.5%
30
Youth birthday parties
13.5%
48
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
5.1%
18
After-school clubs
7.9%
28
Senior Scholars
7.6%
27
0.6%
2
2.8%
10
28.7%
102
9.3%
33
Senior social hour, Wednesday
mornings
Grandparent program with Davidson
College
None of the above
5 of 24
Appendix I
answered question
355
skipped question
32
6. How many times in the past year have you (or members of your household) used the
Davidson Parks and Recreation facilities or programs?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
0
5.7%
21
1-5
27.8%
103
6-10
11.9%
44
11-20
14.0%
52
21 or more
40.7%
151
answered question
371
skipped question
16
7. When do you (and/or members of your household) typically participate in recreational
programming?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Weekday - Early Morning
17.7%
60
Weekday - During the Day
37.5%
127
Weekday - Nights
35.1%
119
Weekend - Early Morning
30.4%
103
Weekend - During the Day
69.3%
235
Weekend - Nights
15.9%
54
answered question
339
skipped question
48
6 of 24
Appendix I
8. How far are you currently traveling, on average, by automobile and/or walking and biking
to meet your recreational needs?
More
0-1
1-5
6-10
11-20
21-30
than
Not
Rating
Mile
Miles
Miles
Miles
Miles
30
Applicable
Count
Miles
Automobile
Walking/Biking
8.6%
54.6%
20.1%
9.3%
2.2%
1.5%
(28)
(177)
(65)
(30)
(7)
(5)
40.4%
42.1%
5.4%
2.0%
0.3%
1.0%
(120)
(125)
(16)
(6)
(1)
(3)
3.7% (12)
324
8.8% (26)
297
Where to and how often (daily, weekly, monthly):
182
answered question
365
skipped question
22
9. If you travel outside of Davidson for recreation, what are your destinations?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Charlotte
39.6%
120
Concord
12.2%
37
Cornelius
66.0%
200
Huntersville
54.1%
164
Kannapolis
3.3%
10
Mooresville
34.3%
104
12.5%
38
10.6%
32
Somewhere else in Mecklenburg
County
Somewhere else in Iredell County
Anywhere else and/or for what activities/programs?
87
answered question
303
skipped question
84
7 of 24
Appendix I
10. Do you feel there are adequate activities and recreational facilities for the following age
groups?
Rating
Yes
No
Don't Know
Preschool
38.7% (129)
12.0% (40)
49.2% (164)
333
Elementary School
41.4% (138)
15.3% (51)
43.2% (144)
333
Middle / High School
21.2% (71)
31.3% (105)
47.5% (159)
335
Adults
47.3% (157)
31.0% (103)
21.7% (72)
332
Seniors
34.2% (113)
22.7% (75)
43.0% (142)
330
9 of 24
Count
answered question
353
skipped question
34
Appendix I
11. Of the following events in Davidson, please indicate how important they are to you:
Definitely
not
important
Not very
Somewhat
Extremely
Rating
Rating
important
important
Average
Count
17.4%
41.5%
28.6%
(62)
(148)
(102)
8.3%
28.8%
57.1%
(30)
(104)
(206)
6.5%
36.2%
51.8%
(24)
(133)
(190)
10.2%
29.7%
41.4%
13.9%
(36)
(105)
(146)
(49)
17.2%
32.1%
(60)
(112)
10.0%
24.2%
31.3%
29.6%
(35)
(85)
(110)
(104)
23.4%
40.7%
26.8%
(83)
(144)
(95)
36.2%
29.0%
20.6%
(125)
(100)
(71)
28.7% (96)
6.3% (21)
important
Art on the Green
4.2% (15)
8.4% (30)
Christmas in Davidson
2.8% (10)
3.0% (11)
Concerts on the Green
1.6% (6)
3.8% (14)
Gallery Crawl
4.8% (17)
Halloween March
8.9% (31)
North Mecklenburg Christmas
Parade
4.8% (17)
Town Day
3.1% (11)
5.9% (21)
Veterans Day
4.9% (17)
9.3% (32)
Arbor Day
6.9% (23)
Neutral
15.9%
42.2%
(53)
(141)
26.1% (91)
15.8%
(55)
3.82
357
4.34
361
4.33
367
3.49
353
3.23
349
3.71
351
3.82
354
3.51
345
3.12
334
19
answered question
368
skipped question
19
10 of 24
Appendix I
12. Additional comments on current programs, facilities, and events:
Response
Count
94
answered question
94
skipped question
293
13. Please indicate you, or your family's reasons for using programs or facilities provided
by Davidson's Parks and Recreation department (select all that apply):
Response
Response
Percent
Count
To exercise
82.8%
293
To socialize
60.5%
214
To relieve stress
43.2%
153
58.8%
208
To spend time with my family
55.4%
196
Because it is fun
68.9%
244
Because it is educational
23.4%
83
To improve my overall health
58.2%
206
To explore and/or connect with
nature
11 of 24
11
answered question
354
skipped question
33
Appendix I
14. Please use the following to describe yourself (select all that apply):
Staying healthy is important to
me
I am happy with my daily life and
daily routine
I am pleased with my current state
of overall health and wellness
Response
Response
Percent
Count
88.6%
320
54.8%
198
42.9%
155
46.8%
169
23.0%
83
28.5%
103
40.4%
146
50.1%
181
I would like to improve my health
and strive for a more active
lifestyle
I wish I had more time and
resources to make healthier
choices in what I eat and be more
active
I wish I had more time and
resources to be more active
I currently have a plan for
maintaining or improving my health
and wellness
I am physically fit
8
answered question
361
skipped question
26
12 of 24
Appendix I
15. I currently use Davidson's Parks and Recreational Programs (including fitness,
nutrition, and wellness education programs) to (select all that apply):
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Manage my weight
38.7%
86
Manage my diabetes
2.3%
5
5.9%
13
Recover from / live with cancer
1.4%
3
Reduce stress
51.4%
114
Be physically active
95.0%
211
Learn how to eat healthier
4.5%
10
Treat my hypertension / heart
disease
13 of 24
24
answered question
222
skipped question
165
Appendix I
16. Members of my family currently use Davidson's Parks and Recreational Programs
(including fitness and wellness education programs) to (select all that apply):
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Manage their weight
25.4%
51
Manage their diabetes
0.5%
1
0.5%
1
Recover from / live with cancer
1.0%
2
Reduce stress
37.3%
75
Be physically active
98.0%
197
Learn how to eat healthier
6.0%
12
Treat their hypertension / heart
disease
21
answered question
201
skipped question
186
14 of 24
Appendix I
17. Please use the following to describe you, and your family's access to healthy
activities/facilities:
I have easy access to park(s) or
Response
Response
Percent
Count
88.9%
303
I have easy access to greenways
76.0%
259
I have easy access to fresh food
82.4%
281
64.8%
221
63.3%
216
open space
I have easy access to educational
programs
I have easy access to social
groups and activities
12
answered question
341
skipped question
46
18. Do you feel you (and your family) have access to adequate opportunities to lead
healthy/active lives?
Response
Percent
Count
Yes
88.0%
315
No
5.6%
20
I don't know
6.4%
23
answered question
358
skipped question
29
15 of 24
Response
Appendix I
19. I would lead a healthier lifestyle if:
Response
Count
116
answered question
116
skipped question
271
20. I wish Davidson Parks and Recreation provided more opportunities for me (and my
family) to:
Response
Count
147
answered question
147
skipped question
240
16 of 24
Appendix I
21. If additional facilities were to be provided, which ones do you believe would be most
beneficial for you and the Davidson community (select all that apply)?
Rating
Most beneficial to you
65.4% (102)
74.4% (116)
156
39.1% (54)
88.4% (122)
138
87.6% (262)
76.6% (229)
299
55.8% (96)
83.7% (144)
172
Community gardens
40.7% (57)
87.9% (123)
140
Dog park
50.4% (57)
75.2% (85)
113
Equestrian trails
21.6% (8)
86.5% (32)
37
Farmer's Market
78.4% (200)
83.9% (214)
255
47.2% (67)
86.6% (123)
142
Lake front access / facilities
73.2% (164)
81.3% (182)
224
Larger town-wide central park
60.4% (84)
88.5% (123)
139
61.8% (102)
89.7% (148)
165
67.1% (96)
77.6% (111)
143
70.9% (100)
77.3% (109)
141
47.7% (62)
91.5% (119)
130
Rowing facilities
69.4% (68)
77.6% (76)
98
Senior programs and facilities
46.2% (48)
78.8% (82)
104
Skate park / facility
32.3% (21)
90.8% (59)
65
51.9% (54)
84.6% (88)
104
Small neighborhood parks
Upgraded athletic fields
Greenways / trails
Count
Amphitheater or auditorium for
performances or outdoor
educational sessions / classes
Improved streetscapes and
entrances to town
Multi-use recreational complex
(indoor / outdoor active recreation
facility)
Nature center / nature park
Nature preserve
New or upgraded recreation /
community center
Splash pads (interactive aquatic
recreation feature)
17 of 24
Appendix I
Swimming pool
57.9% (88)
86.8% (132)
152
Tennis courts
58.6% (78)
88.0% (117)
133
47
answered question
353
skipped question
34
Response
Response
Percent
Count
22. What type of park is most needed in Davidson?
Small neighborhood parks
8.2%
27
17.8%
59
6.6%
22
26.3%
87
Walking trails
18.4%
61
Biking trails
14.8%
49
Multi-purpose indoor recreation
7.9%
26
Large multi-use parks that serve
the whole community
Park consisting primarily of sports
fields
Parks with river, creek, or water
frontage / access
37
answered question
331
skipped question
56
18 of 24
Appendix I
23. If additional programs were to be added, which ones do you believe would be most
beneficial to you and the Davidson community (select all that apply)?
Rating
Most beneficial to you
56.3% (49)
74.7% (65)
87
68.4% (117)
67.3% (115)
171
Day hikes & backpack trips
81.0% (98)
51.2% (62)
121
Outdoor adventure programs
68.2% (88)
63.6% (82)
129
Fitness classes
75.7% (87)
59.1% (68)
115
Golf lessons
69.2% (36)
50.0% (26)
52
50.9% (55)
76.9% (83)
108
51.3% (20)
56.4% (22)
39
74.3% (136)
78.1% (143)
183
Nature-based education programs
54.3% (63)
78.4% (91)
116
Pre-school programs
31.5% (23)
90.4% (66)
73
Programs for people with disabilities
14.3% (11)
93.5% (72)
77
Swim lessons
46.2% (43)
77.4% (72)
93
Water fitness programs
54.7% (41)
70.7% (53)
75
74.1% (117)
69.0% (109)
158
80.6% (83)
49.5% (51)
103
Art, dance, performing arts classes
Fitness and wellness programs
Life skills programs (social skills,
cooking, computer classes, etc.)
Martial arts
Special events, concerts &
festivals
Water sports (kayak, rowing, etc.)
Yoga/Pilates
19 of 24
Count
15
answered question
305
skipped question
82
Appendix I
24. Which age group do you think is most in need of additional programming in Davidson?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Preschoolers
8.5%
26
Preteens
8.5%
26
Teenagers
31.4%
96
Adults
27.1%
83
Seniors
11.4%
35
None
13.1%
40
answered question
306
skipped question
81
25. Any additional comments on future programs and facilities?
Response
Count
68
answered question
68
skipped question
319
20 of 24
Appendix I
26. What is your age?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
0 to 14
0.0%
0
15 to 24
3.1%
11
25 to 34
7.3%
26
35 to 44
20.6%
73
45 to 54
31.0%
110
55 to 64
20.3%
72
65 to 74
14.9%
53
75 or older
2.8%
10
answered question
355
skipped question
32
Response
Response
Percent
Count
27. What is your gender?
Female
56.5%
200
Male
43.5%
154
answered question
354
skipped question
33
21 of 24
Appendix I
28. What is your type of household?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Single, no children
9.3%
33
Single with young children at home
0.8%
3
Single with teenagers at home
2.3%
8
Single with adult children at home
1.1%
4
1.7%
6
Couple, no children
10.7%
38
Couple with young children at home
22.5%
80
Couple with teenagers at home
20.3%
72
Couple with adult children at home
2.0%
7
27.0%
96
2.3%
8
answered question
355
skipped question
32
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Single, children no longer at home
(empty nester)
Couple, children no longer at
home (empty nesters)
College student
29. Do you rent or own the place where you live?
Own
91.0%
324
Rent
9.0%
32
answered question
356
skipped question
31
22 of 24
Appendix I
30. How long have you lived in Davidson?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
0-5 years
35.4%
125
6-10 years
25.2%
89
11-20 years
24.9%
88
More than 20
10.8%
38
0.3%
1
3.4%
12
answered question
353
skipped question
34
Response
Response
Percent
Count
Do not live in Davidson, but I own
property in town
Visitor / do not live in Davidson
31. What is your Race / Ethnicity?
White (not Hispanic)
94.2%
324
African American
1.2%
4
Hispanic / Latino
0.9%
3
Asian
0.6%
2
Native American
0.0%
0
Two or more races
0.6%
2
No response
2.6%
9
23 of 24
1
answered question
344
skipped question
43
Appendix I
32. What is your approximate average household income?
Response
Response
Percent
Count
$0-$29,999
2.5%
8
$30,000-$59,999
7.5%
24
$60,000-$89,999
12.1%
39
$90,000-$119,999
16.1%
52
$120,000-$149,999
11.5%
37
$125,000-$149,999
7.1%
23
$150,000 and up
35.7%
115
Do not know
7.5%
24
answered question
322
skipped question
65
Response
Response
Percent
Count
33. Where in town (geographically) do you live (see above map)?
Area A
24.5%
85
Area B
19.9%
69
Area C
28.8%
100
Area D
17.0%
59
Area E
4.6%
16
5.2%
18
answered question
347
skipped question
40
24 of 24
Appendix J
Appendix J:
Example Joint-Use Agreements
Overview
While joint-use agreements are an important tool for all communities to provide adequate Parks and Recreation facilities for their
residents, they are especially important for smaller communities with limited budgets. They benefit the community by allowing
departments to provide far more facilities than they normally could afford to build or maintain. Currently North Carolina General
Statute 115C-12 (35) and General Statute 115C-524 enable these to occur. These statutes are listed at the end of Appendix .
While the organization of time and management with a joint-use agreement can be a challenge, there are certain steps that can
help with the process. The primary caveat when implementing joint-use agreements is that terms need to be specifically laid out
and communicated between all potential user groups of the facilities. According to Promoting Physical Activity through Joint-Use
Agreements, the Department should engage all stakeholders in the process to ensure the needs of everyone are addressed.
“Developing a joint-use agreement requires consideration of several different points.
•
Definition of terms – Define all items important to the agreement. This includes naming partner agencies, the facility open
for use and the hours of operation.
•
Guidelines for Operation – Create guidelines that say who can use the facility, when they can use it, how much it costs, and
when payment is due. Also, decide who will schedule the facilities and who will lock the facilities if open past normal hours.
All collaborating partners should develop and agree upon these guidelines. Guidelines should be documented in a written
contract mutually agreed upon and signed by all parties.
•
Partner Roles and Responsibility – Clearly define roles and responsibilities for all partners. Decide who is responsible for
general clean-up or maintenance, long term maintenance updates, cost for operation, and any additional responsibilities
related to the agreement.
•
Liability – North Carolina schools are well protected by sovereign immunity, a type of immunity that protects the school from
a civil suit. Partners should agree on liability and establish procedures to resolving conflict. This will provide more protection
for everyone involved in the agreement.
As an example, two successful joint-use agreements have been placed in this appendix. They are from Wake County Public
Schools and Byron Township Recreation Department.
Other resources include:
Promoting Physical Activity Through Joint-Use Agreements: A Guide for North Carolina Schools and Communities to
Develop and use Joint-Use Agreements - http://www.nchealthyschools.org/docs/home/use-agreements.pdf
North Carolina: Strengthening Joint-Use Agreements for Schools and Communities http://www.astho.org/North-Carolina-Joint-Use-Agreements-Case-Study/ Example Joint Use Agreements:
Appendix J
Byron Township Recreation Department and Byron Township Little League
Example Joint-Use Agreements:
BYRON TOWNSHIP RECREATION DEPARTMENT
and
Byron Township Little League
Facilities Agreement
This agreement will begin on January 1, 2011 between Byron Township, 8085 Byron Center
Avenue, Byron Center, MI 49315, and Byron Township Little League, PO Box 320, Byron Center,
MI 49315.
Byron Township is the owner of Whistlestop Park, Bicentennial Park and Cutler Park. Byron
Township Little League (BTLL) has permission to use above listed parks as written in this
agreement.
This agreement shall be a term of one year from the date listed above. This agreement shall
thereafter be automatically renewed annually for successive one year periods, unless either Byron
Township or BTLL has notified the other in writing at least ninety days prior to the end of the initial
term or any renewal hereof that the agreement shall terminate at the end of the then current term. If
such notice is properly and timely given, this agreement will terminate at the end of the then current
term, and no further automatic renewal shall occur thereafter.
Byron Township Little League
BTLL shall provide the following to Byron Township 3 weeks prior to the start of the season.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Proof of insurance and indemnification.
Financial report of all expenditures and revenues from previous year, including balance
sheet.
Proposed budget for upcoming year.
List of current officers and board members with addresses, phone numbers, and emails.
Byron Township must be notified of any changes immediately.
A block schedule will be given to Byron Township Recreation Department.
Provide documentation that criminal history background checks were performed on all
BTLL coaches and assistant coaches before being assigned to coach a team.
Provide an inventory of all equipment owned by BTLL such as buildings, sheds,
concession stand equipment and pitching machines.
BTLL shall have permission to use youth baseball and softball fields located at Whistlestop Park,
Bicentennial Park and Cutler Park from April 1-June 30 (Monday-Saturday) and the month of July
(Monday-Thursday). Byron Center Christian School and Legacy Christian School will be allowed
use of Bicentennial Park and Cutler Park fields for their regular season games. Byron Township
will supply BTLL with the Christian school schedules as soon as they are available. If Byron
Township decides to limit the use of any baseball and /or softball fields that BTLL used the
previous year, Byron Township will inform BTLL by the 10th of January for the upcoming season.
BTLL will provide Byron Township with their proposed dates, times, and field usage by January 31
for the upcoming season to allow for the coordination of the BTLL and Byron Township’s use of
the Township fields.
BTLL will have the first right to rent the fields on Fridays and Saturdays during the month of July.
BTLL will receive a 25% discount on the field rental rate.
Appendix J
BTLL shall have exclusive use of the concessions stands at Bicentennial Park, Cutler Park and
Whistlestop Park to raise funds for their program.
BTLL understands and agrees that at times weather and/or field conditions may result in Byron
Township denying the use of certain fields on dates for which approval has been granted. BTLL
understands and agrees that the Township has the authority to deny the use of said facilities.
BTLL will be responsible for the following tasks between April 1-July 31.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Line and drag fields on weekends.
Maintain trash around the youth fields (put in barrels).
Maintain scoreboard controllers during season at BTLL own cost.
Request field improvements in writing to the Township Board.
Maintain concession stands and keep them clean and sanitary.
Maintain sheds and storage buildings.
Byron Township Parks and Recreation Department
Byron Township will be responsible for the following tasks between April 1-July 31.
1. Maintain all dugouts, fences, bleachers and gates to make sure they are in a safe and secure
condition.
2. Maintain all turf areas on the fields to include weekly mowing, weed control and fertilizing.
3. Provide sand, soil, and seed to be used in leveling or backfilling low areas when necessary.
4. Line and drag fields during the weekdays.
5. Maintain trash during the weekdays.
6. Maintain structural integrity of concession stands and restroom buildings.
7. Maintain field irrigation system.
8. Maintain restroom facilities, including routine cleaning and stocking of paper products.
Insurance and Indemnification
BTLL shall at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain in effect general public liability
insurance covering Byron Township at the Facilities against claims for personal injury, death or
damage to property. Byron Township shall be named as additional insured on such policy and shall
be entitled to thirty (30) days notice of cancellation or changes of any kind.
BTLL shall indemnify and save harmless Byron Township and its officers, agents and employees
from and against any and all suits, actions, or claims of any character, type, or description, including
all expenses of litigation, court costs and attorney’s fees, brought or made for or on account of any
injuries or damages received or sustained by any person or persons or property, arising out of, or
occasioned by, the act or failure to act of BTLL or its agents, volunteers, or employees in the use of
the Facilities arising out of obligations of BTLL as set forth in this Agreement.
Byron Township shall indemnify and save harmless BTLL and its officers, agents and employees
from and against any and all suits, actions, or claims of any character, type, or description, including
all expenses of litigation, court costs and attorney’s fees, brought or made for or on account of any
injuries or damages received or sustained by any person or persons or property, arising out of, or
Appendix J
occasioned by, the act or failure to act of Byron Township or its agents, volunteers, or employees in
the use of the Facilities arising out of obligations of Byron Township as set forth in this Agreement.
Termination of Agreement
This agreement may be terminated at any time for cause, provided Byron Township complies with
the following termination procedure: If any obligations under this agreement are not met by BTLL,
Byron Township shall provide written notice to BTLL which describes the obligation that is not
being met. BTLL shall have 15 days from the receipt of the written notice to meet their obligation
as described in the notice. If there is a disagreement between the Byron Township Recreation
Department and the BTLL with regard to whether BTLL has met or is meeting their obligations
under this agreement, BTLL shall have the right to appeal the Byron Township Recreation
Department’s decision to the Byron Township Board.
BYRON TOWNSHIP LITTLE LEAGUE
President
Date
BYRON TOWNSHIP
Carrie Klingelsmith, Byron Township Recreation Director
Date
Audrey Nevins, Byron Township Supervisor
Date
Appendix J
Example Joint-Use Agreements:
Wake County Board of Education and Town of Cary
NORTH CAROLINA
WAKE COUNTY

JOINT USE AGREEMENT:
MILLS PARK SCHOOLS


           






           

             







               



              

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             

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


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            

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             


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             


Appendix J
           
               


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

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           

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
             

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

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
          

          
             

            
             
            

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 
            





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 
 
       
               


              
            



Appendix J
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 

                
    

             

          


 


            

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

              


 
 
 
 

 




           
           
             

                
Appendix J
              
              
           


            
            
              
           

              


                


             


 
              
            


 
  
             

            

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 


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 


 
1.             
           

2.              


3. Non-school hours are defined as daily after normal school hours, weekends, holidays,
staff vacation days, during the schools’ calendar breaks when no students are
scheduled to attend classes and days when the school campus is closed by Board due to
inclement weather. 
Appendix J
4. Board shall have priority of use of Joint Use Areas at all times, subject to the Town’s
rights under this Agreement.

 Scheduling and Use. 
1. Town may schedule the use of the Joint Use Areas:
 During all non-school hours as defined in Paragraph 9.A.3. above , and 
 During normal school hours beginning 45 minutes after the student release
bell when the Joint Use Areas are not needed for school-organized
educational, athletic or recreational activities. 
 During normal school hours on teacher workdays when the Joint Use Areas
are not needed for school-organized administrative, educational, athletic or
recreational activities. 
 Town may schedule the use and establish fees for any third party use of the
Joint Use Areas during those times when the Joint Use Areas are not needed
by the school. . 
2.                
           

a. 
b.          

c. 

            
            

d. 

3.            

a.            

b.           
       

c.          

4.    Joint Use Areas         

a. 
1.

2.


b. 
          
           

Appendix J
c.
            



            

C. Supervision and Security of Joint Use Areas.
1. 
             

2. 


3. 








 
1. Board and Town agree that, except as expressly stated in this Agreement, there shall be
no additional fees and/or charges associated with the Town or Board use of the Joint
Use Areas unless mutually agreed upon.
2. Board and Town agree that Town may establish and retain fees for the use of the Joint
Use Areas for programs the Town initiates, directs, schedules, coordinates, or funds,
including events scheduled by the Town pursuant to paragraph 10.B.1(d) for third
party use.

 
               
              
              



 
               
           
             
             


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
Appendix J
 

            
              
           


                
            

         


                 


1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

             
           
         

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                
             


  
            


            
             




                



I. 



Appendix J
1.             

2. 

3.             


 

 

 MPMS - Softball Field, Multipurpose Field, the related lighting and irrigation
systems, and other related improvements. .
 MPMS O      and other
improvements.
   , the related lighting and other related
improvements
 MPMS Track lighting system only.

 
           

 Playground Equipment located in association with MPES and included in the
Joint Use Areas. 
  and improvements related to the track only
  and other related improvements.
 Storm Water Management Areas (Bio-Retention Ponds) and other related
improvements located upon Board property, or as otherwise agreed upon by
the parties.
             


 


 MPMS Visitor and Staff Parking Areas and Drive Access. 
           
MPMS Visitor and Staff Parking Areas and Drive Access 
             
          



          


 Storm Water Management Areas (Bio-Retention Ponds) and other related
improvements located upon Town property as agreed upon by the parties.
Appendix J
           

           


          


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 
            
             
              


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             
Town shall have priority to schedule use of MPMS Gymnasium after
normal school hours and in non-school hours provided: 
 
 
 Town         has properly
executed and           

 Town agrees to pay the appropriate WCPSS Community Schools user fee as
prescribed by the Board of Education.
 Town agrees to comply with the WCPSS Community Schools requirements and
conditions related to site use.
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 
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 








             

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             

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 


Appendix J
              
             
               
            



 

A.                 
               


            



B.                
                
             

              



C.                







D. 
           
           
        


 

A. 
                


B.           
               


Appendix J
                 
             
            


                


               



             
              

1.               

2.             

3.                
            

4. 
         

              

           

5. 



C. 
            
              


             



              

            


           
Appendix J
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    

D. 


             


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E. 


              


               
               





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F. 
              
               

      
           

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G. 


             

              


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H.               


             
           

           
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Appendix J
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I. 

           
        

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 

             

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 






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 

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
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 
                
             


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 
              
            




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 

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 
               
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 
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Appendix J
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

              


 
 
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              
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           

                


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
Appendix J
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
             
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Appendix J
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Appendix K
Appendix K:
Activity Connection Plan
An Activity Connection Plan or ACP, is a planning model where
the outputs of the evaluation process focus on improving
conditions for walking and bicycling by recommending
short-term infrastructure improvements. The goals for ACP
recommendations are focused on improvements that safely
and efficiently allow citizens to access locations where
they are most likely to participate in recreation or sport. For
Davidson, the ACP model was employed to hone in on sitespecific recommendations around or near parks and recreation
facilities identified as priority sites based on the public survey
for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. It is also a method to
link the Active Transportation Plan to the Parks and Recreation
Master Plan.
Many active transportation trips are for recreation purposes
and citizens, more and more, are looking to make other
trips via active modes. While communities are working to
implementing long-term improvements in active transportation
plans and parks/recreation plans, there are other needs
that can be implemented to improve conditions today while
long-term strategies are pursue. The ACP is a means to get
communities started on improvements proven to be effective
in increasing physical activity and helps link users to desirable
community assets. Additionally, the model identifies site
improvements that further attract users or provide a better
return on investment from town funding.
The ACP model involves the following steps:
1. 1. Identify community activity sites (Parks, schools, trails,
gyms);
2. 2. Identify participant generator areas (neighborhoods,
office, civic);
3. 3. Identify the primary and secondary streets connecting
sites with users;
4. 4. Meet with stakeholders and review plans for existing
projects or ideas; and
5. 5. Recommend physical and programmatic projects or
policies to improve conditions of streets and sites.
To illustrate the types of improvements most likely suggested
in an ACP, the following graphics are shown which include
on site improvements and typical street infrastructure
improvements:
Appendix K
Integrating Findings of the Davidson Active Transportation Plan
The Davidson Active Transportation Plan (2013) was
conducted to foster an environment that promotes and
supports both walking and bicycling as a viable form
of transportation. The plan is extensive in its approach
beginning with a determination of plan purpose, prospective
benefits and the goals and performance measures used
as guiding principles throughout its creation. Many of the
purposes and foundational goals have strong overlap with
those of the Activity Connection Plan concept. Linking
the two plans to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
allows both to work toward improving community health
conditions. Some of those elements included in the plan are
cited below.
The improvements identified in the Active Transportation Plan
are focused on improvements that are larger scale, mid to
long term in construction time tables and comparatively more
costly. Typical projects such as corridor-wide improvements
require a substantial investment of resources that could burden
the current capacity of Davidson’s staff and resources to
implement or maintain. The ACP examined these improvements
and attempted to identify short-term, less burdensome
improvements that promote the same utilization but allow
for Davidson to work them into existing budgets while more
substantial improvements can be pursued as funding and
population growth allow. The project recommendations in the
ACP are therefore aimed at augmenting those already identified
and called out in the Active Transportation plan, and not intended
to replace them in any fashion.
Active Transportation Plan Purpose:
•
“Establishing a safe and reliable pedestrian and bicycle network in Davidson will positively impact the health of local
residents…studies show that the design of our communities and the built environment, including neighborhoods,
towns, transportation systems, parks, trails and other public recreational facilities, affects a person’s ability to reach
the recommended daily 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity.”
•
“The CDC has determined that creating and improving places to be active could result in a 25% increase in the
number of people who exercise at least three times a week.”
Link to ACP
The foundation of the ACP model is based on taking advantage of the most popular reason for walking and bicycling,
recreation and exercise. By improving the connections to places most sought by active transportation users, new and
additional trips are possible through connecting and enhancing both the routes people take and sites they access.
Plan Goal:
•
Pedestrians and bicyclists of all types can safely and comfortably walk or ride on all streets to work, school, for fun,
shopping, and exercise…Health equity, community-wide physical activity, and travel choices for all ages and abilities
are increasing.
Link to ACP
The ACP emphasizes how these trips can occur to and from destinations by getting the details rights so that more trips
are encouraged to be take via active modes, and that these details matter in attracting and maintaining a growing number
of citizens who demand it.
Appendix K
Ada Jenkins Center
A prized Davidson community asset, the Ada Jenkins Center
is the home to numerous programs and opportunities focused
on improving the lives of area residents in the areas of general
education, economic improvement and healthier living and a
host of other community empowering initiatives. The site is
located in the south-central area of Davidson and is surrounded
by established neighborhoods.
Ada Jenkins Center Improvement Considerations:
•
The curb ramps at Jetton Street and Gamble Street do
not meet ADA requirements and therefore should be
replaced as soon as practical.
•
There are two small landscaped bulb outs in front of the
center on Gamble Street. Consider placing decorative
lighting in the grass areas to further raise awareness
as to the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists.
•
Consider adding additional bicycle parking throughout
the campus, covered in some places, especially near the
basketball court.
•
The Center is a hub of activity for people of all ages and
awareness as to the presence of such activity should
be of the highest order. To further raise awareness of
bicycling activity and to place riders in the proper location
near on-street parking, consider painting sharrows on
Gamble Street, between Jetton Street and Mock Road.
•
The current sidewalk taking direct access to the Center,
terminates at the intersection of Gamble Street and Sloan
Road. The sidewalk continues in front of the Davidson
Housing Coalition, but there exists a gap that is now
exacerbated by the landscaping placed after recent utility
work. Pedestrians either have to walk in the street or on
private property to get back on sidewalk. Recommend to
therefore extend the sidewalk from Gamble Street to
Sloan Street across the intersection.
•
There are no walking facilities on Mock Street connecting
the neighborhood to the Ada Jenkins Center. Additionally,
Mock Street also connects with Roosevelt Wilson Park
which would help further justify extending the sidewalk
or asphalt pathway on Mock Street to Westside Terrace,
specifically on the east side of the street.
•
Potts Street is a local parallel route to Highway 115 and
contains less traffic volume while linking two parts of the
Connection across Mock Street will help connect
neighborhoods and give predictability to motorists.
Bicyclist captured by Google on Potts Street
community North of the YMCA and South of the YMCA).
Consider placing Sharrows and Wayfinding Signage on
Potts Street from Main Street (Hwy) to Walnut Street.
•
With the space and the number of children who visit the
center, consider constructing a bike rodeo facility for
continual education.
Appendix K
Plan Goal:
•
Launch three new programs…that aim to increase walking and bicycling among a) children, b) commuter/utilitarian
pedestrians and cyclists, and c) recreational/fitness pedestrians and cyclists.
•
Promote pedestrian amenities such as benches, lighting, drinking fountains, wayfinding maps and promote transit
shelter amenities in key locations throughout the town…
•
Enhance the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of Davidson residents, promoting community engagement
and preserving racial and socioeconomic diversity within its population through informed decision making
Link to ACP
The ACP examines primary and secondary routes to access recreational sites and identifies improvements--projects and
programs, that are accessible for users of all ages and abilities.
Linking the ACP to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
Much like the Active Transportation Plan, the parks plan
is focused on achieving a long-term vision for parks and
recreation facilities in Davidson through a series of broadrecommendations, some site-specific improvements and goals
for level and quality of service standards to improve access
and overall community health.
The ACP’s short-term emphasis is intended to create
early momentum for the parks plan by allowing the
Town of Davidson to showcase how it is moving toward
implementation of the plan with low-cost, high-impact
improvements as more large-scale and elaborate
recommendations contained within the plan are pursued.
The ACP recommendations help realize primary goals of the
Parks and Recreation Master Plan to improve community
health, most notably:
•
•
Increasing active recreation amenities to provide close
access for Davidson residents.
•
Create a linked system through providing more pedestrian
and bicyclist connections between parks, open space and
key destinations.
•
Focus on Community and Neighborhood Parks and their
pedestrian and bicyclist linkages.
•
Continue educational programs for bicyclists.
The survey conducted as part of the parks plan yielded five
parks and recreation sites where town residents felt there
should be a priority emphasis on enhancing the sites for
continued and increased use. These priority parks or facilities
were:
•
The Village Green;
•
Fisher Farm Park;
•
Roosevelt Wilson Park;
•
Randall Kincaid Trail; and
•
The Ada Jenkins Center.
Develop facilities to provide unique opportunities within
Davidson’s Parks that have natural assets.
Appendix K
Village Green
Located in the heart of Davidson, the Village Green is a small
community park space which hosts numerous events throughout the year. The Green is owned by Davidson College. When
an event is not occurring, the green space provides a place for
passive recreational activity for people of all ages. The site will
continue to grow in popularity with the growing social trends
of outdoor movies and concerts, farmers’ markets, exercise
classes like yoga and Zumba, and other emerging activities.
Village on the Greens Improvement Considerations:
•
The distance between marked crosswalks spanning
Main Street is approximately 500’ which is a bit far
given the considerable pedestrian friendly activities and
environment near the Village on the Greens. This distance
and land use likely requires an additional mid-block
crossing connecting the library entrance to west side
of Main Street.
•
Given the heritage value and cultural importance of the
site and the desire to accommodate and promote greater
bicycling rates, consider adding artistic bicycle racks.
•
The parking lot located off Lorimer has sidewalk segments
that do not deliver users into the park site without putting
them either into the parking lot and drive aisle spaces or
discontinuing a predictable hard surface. To correct this,
extend northern entrance sidewalk and connect with
library brick entrance, at 5’ wide. Also, extend sidewalk
on the southern exit area, towards the library and
connect it with sidewalk located directly in front of the
three employee parking stalls.
•
Consider adding additional drinking fountains to the
site to further promote active transportation.
•
Given that Lorimer Road helps residents from the
southeast quadrant of Davidson access the site and is
a lower volume street, consider a signed bike route
or shared lane markings from Pine Road to Concord
Road.
•
Cathey and South Street currently do not have curb ramps
that are compliant with ADA in that they are missing the
required flat landing area. Recommend rebuilding ramps
to comply with ADA.
Photos: Extending the sidewalk along the Lorimer parking lot is already
occurring as it is the natural movement of park and library users
Appendix K
Fisher Farm Complex
A newer park space, Fisher Farm is a large natural park and
contains several hundred acres of natural space, a small farm and
several miles of unpaved roads. Attached by a trail to nearby Abersham natural area, the possibilities for activities are endless given
the space and existing infrastructure. Key to future improvements
is the recognition that both areas are under land trust requirements and any improvements are to fit within the framework of
the trust intent and structure, thus activities are limited.
Fisher Farms Improvement Considerations:
•
The park site is a wonderful place for mountain bikers
as there are 4 miles of trails. An additional feature that
could be constructed over time is a mountain bike
course for beginners and children, similar to a BMX
pump track but with obstacles, specific conditions found
on trails like boulders and logs, and other elements useful
for training purposes.
•
Given the 200+ acres of natural space, a rare opportunity
to provide limited dry campgrounds near an urban
area exists. The campgrounds would have minimal
impacts, do not require pad sites, water or electricity, and
could provide limited income sources for park operations.
•
If used in conjunction with the roads in the Abersham
development area, the park is a natural setting for a
road bike course complete with low volume roads,
topography undulations, curves, and shade trees. The
course could even be home to criterium-like rides in the
future given the space to host such an event.
•
Duathlons are races consisting of both running and road
(Abersham) or mountain biking. The park complex offers
an unusual setting for a race that can rather easily
be held given the streets and trails within. The biking
portion of such a race could be either a road course or a
mountain bike course depending on demand.
•
As part of the Active Transportation Plan, the City desires
to continually educate bicyclists to improve overall riding
and personal safety. A possibility for future park use
(Abersham) could include hosting regularly scheduled
League of American Bicyclists: Road Skills 101 or other
similar courses. The course consists of a full days’ worth
of education, drills, and road rides to teach new riders
how to ride in given environments of through hazardous
conditions.
•
Given the desire to maintain its natural feel, creating
a botanical garden along a series of walking trails
could occur. By planting such a garden, the park would
showcase native plants that do not need additional
irrigation or any treatment outside what nature requires.
The walking trail element would continue to foster
physical activity and give users another interesting
element.
Walking paths through botanical garden settings, like
those pictured from California, highlight native plants
and give an additional outlet for physical activity.
Appendix K
A park space central to a large number of Davidson residents,
walkable and bikable to most others, and complete with
trails, a large pond and adequate space for nearly all passive
activities, describes Roosevelt Wilson Park. The park serves as
a gateway for visitors to Davidson and is an asset for users and
visitors of all ages.
Roosevelt Wilson Park Improvement Considerations
•
The parking lot accessing the park from the south, located
near the intersection of Sloan Street and Houston Street
contains a disconnected sidewalk. The configuration of the
lots also forces walkers to compete with motorists trying
to park or pull out of the lot and can be unsafe. Consider
restriping parking on north to angled parking so that
sidewalk can be striped linking with park entrance. A
crosswalk should be added to access the multi-use trail
from the end of the sidewalk.
•
To better connect into the existing neighborhood and draw
users to the park from the south, extend sidewalks on
Houston from Sloan Street to Mock Road.
•
Due to the hidden nature of the park’s southern
connection, consider adding wayfinding signage along
Westside Trail Road, Mock Road or others linking users
from the southern neighborhoods.
•
Construct new curb ramps at intersection of Westside
Terrace and Lakeside Avenue.
•
Reconstruct northwest curb ramp at Westside Terrace
and Lakeside Avenue (North intersection), with extension
to slow turning speeds.
•
Remove eastern most on-street parking stall on Griffith
at park entrance to allow bicyclists to turn into park
without conflict from parked cars. Note this requires
adding sidewalk space for ADA accessibility along second
stall with removal.
•
Consider buffering bike lanes along Griffith bridge with
minimal striped shoulder area to add traffic calming and
protection for bicyclists until sidepath is built.
•
Connect Mock Road cul-de-sac with park pathway.
•
Another access corridor for residents to the eat, construct
curb ramps and consider crosswalk at the intersection
of Depot Street and Sloan Street.
•
Add additional bike parking throughout the site in all
four quadrants.
•
Discontinued sidewalk at parking lot, and contrasting design
on opposing side.
Removing the final parking stall should help improve visibility
and entrance to the park for bicyclists coming off Griffith.
Appendix K
Randall Kincaid Trail
One segment of Davidson’s ever growing greenway network is
the Randall Kincaid Trail. The western trailhead is located near
Davidson Elementary School and McEver Baseball Fields while
the eastern trailhead terminates near The Pines at Davidson,
housing complex.
Randall Kincaid Trail Improvement Considerations
•
The current pathway access point connects with South
Street. There is a sidewalk spanning the front of the
school site which is discontinued short of the trail by
approximately 50’. Connect pathway with sidewalk at
the western terminus area.
•
To accentuate this trail an others, consider adding bike
fix-it stations and bike parking at both ends.
•
With the proximity to the school and neighborhoods,
another enhancement that could prove popular among
residents is the installation of outdoor exercise
equipment. Newer versions of outdoor equipment are
far superior to previous versions due to their variety and
materials.
•
Further enhancements to the trail should include
overhead lights at the South Street intersection,
periodic benches for resting and water fountains.
Pictured is the existing gap between the sidewalk along the
school property and the Randall Kincaid Trailhead.
Appendix L
Appendix L:
Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms
Definitions
Active Recreation – A physical activity that a person
voluntarily undertakes in their leisure time for the purpose of
mental and/or physical satisfaction. Active recreation facilities
operated by Davidson Parks and Recreation include recreation
centers, aquatic facilities, ball diamonds, volleyball courts,
basketball courts, tennis courts, and rectangular fields. While
some of these facilities can be used for different activities,
many are single- or narrow-purpose.
Assessment – The process of comparing and evaluating an
entity against established standards, and documenting the
differences.
Asset – Real or personal property which organizations desire
to track and manage as a distinct identifiable entity. It may be
a physical structure or grouping of structures, land features, or
other tangible property that has a specific service or function.
The term “asset” can also be applied to movable items, such
as vehicles and equipment.
Asset management – A systematic process of maintaining,
upgrading, and operating physical assets in a cost-effective
manner.
Benchmark – A well-defined, widely accepted standard of
performance used to measure progress toward a specific state
or level of competency.
Benchmarking – The continuous process of measuring a
product, service, or process against the best practices of
recognized leaders in the field in order to achieve superior
performance.
Ball field – An athletic field used for baseball or softball.
Dog parks – Areas where dogs can play without leashes.
Existing acres – See “current acres”
Facility – See “asset”
Feasibility study – An evaluation and analysis of the potential
of a proposed project or venture that objectively explores costs
versus benefits. Costs and benefits can be financial, social,
environmental, or political.
Level of Service (LOS) – An expression of the minimum
recreation and park infrastructure capacity required to satisfy
the needs of residents of the community. Unless otherwise
specified, LOS is expressed as per 1,000 population.
Life Cycle – All stages of providing a facility or service
including conception, planning, design, implementation,
evaluation, monitoring, retirement, and/or disposal.
Multipurpose field – Areas that are typically rectangular and
consist of either sand-based engineered soils or artificial turf
used as playing surfaces for athletics.
Needs Assessment – A systematic process for determining
and addressing gaps between current conditions and desired
conditions.
Condition assessment – The inspection and documentation
of the condition of the features of an asset as measured
against the applicable maintenance or condition standards. It
provides the basis for long range maintenance planning, as
well as annual work plans and budgets.
Passive Recreation – Recreational activities that do not
require prepared facilities like sports fields or pavilions.
Passive recreational activities place minimal stress on a site’s
resources; as a result, they can provide ecosystem service
benefits and are highly compatible with natural resource
protection. Passive or community recreation facilities include
playgrounds, picnic shelters, community gardens, and some
open rectangular fields for use that is unstructured and
informal. These facilities play a significant role in giving parks
their character, and as a result of their broader use, a wider
segment of the general public tends to access them.
Current acres – As used in this plan, the number of acres that
are developed and open for use at present.
Recreation facility – Major sport or leisure complexes that
host many formal and informal athletic events.
Community benefit – A good that is shared for all (or most)
members of a society or social group.
Appendix L
Setting – The categorization type for park and recreation
facilities that describes the intended use and function. A
setting also provides contextual information for managers
about operational decisions.
Stakeholder – A group or individual who can affect, or is
affected by, the achievement of the organization’s mission.
Examples include managers, employees, policy makers,
suppliers, vendors, citizens, and community groups.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
ACP – Activity Connection Plan
ETJ – Extra Territorial Jurisdiction
BMI – Body Mass Index
GIS – Geographic Information Systems
BRFSS – Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
HIA – Health Impact Assessment
CDC – Center for Disease Control
LOS – Level of Service
CHA – Community Health Assessment
MAP-21 – Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act
CHS – Carolinas Healthcare System
NRPA – National Parks and Recreation Association
CIP – Capital Improvement Plan
PARTF – Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
CMS – Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
PTO – Parent Teacher Organization
EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
SCHS – State Center for Health Statistics
Appendix M
Appendix M:
Typical Costs
Some typical costs of facilities are as follows*:
Park Facility
Cost
Lawn
$200,000 - 600,000 / acre
Garden
$500,000 - 800,000 / acre
Plaza
$2 million - 5 million / acre
Food Vendor / Kiosk
$10,000 - 200,000
Cafe
$500,000 - 2 million
Playground
$150,000 - 500,000
Splash Pad
$300,00 - 800,000
Pond
$500,00 - 1.5 million
Performance Stage
$200,000 - 1 million
Fountain
$500,000 - 2 million
Small Amphitheater
$500,000 - 3 million
Picnic Pavillion
$100,000 - 175,000 / pavillion
Greenway / Multi-use Trail
$750,000 - 1 million
Neighborhood Park
$200,000 - 300,000 / acre
Community Park
$200,000 - 300,000 / acre
Soccer Fields
$200,000 - 300,000 / acre
Multipurpose Fields
$200,000 - 300,000 / acre
Outdoor Pool
$5 million - 7 million
Baseball / Softball Fields
$225,000 - 325,000 / field
Tennis Courts
$75,000 - 100,000 / court
Outdoor Basketball Court
$75,000 - 100,000 / court
* Typical costs are only estimates and will be different from
final actual costs.
Appendix N
Appendix N:
Health Impact Assessment
Davidson Parks, Recreation, and Public Spaces
Master Plan
Appendix A: Health Impact Assessment
Contents:
Overview
Health and Wellness
Physical Wellness
Environmental Wellness
Emotional Wellness
Intellectual Wellness
Social Wellness
Spiritual Wellness
Occupational Wellness
Appendix N
Overview
This appendix presents the findings of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) completed as part of the
planning process for the Davidson Parks, Recreation, and Public Spaces Master Plan. The HIA includes a
definition of health and the seven dimensions of wellness; an overview of the relationship between
parks and recreational opportunities and each dimension of wellness; baseline health and possible
indicators for measuring wellness outcomes; and strategies for improving Davidson’s parks and
recreation system to have a larger positive health impact.
The following are the main findings of the HIA:
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There are multiple dimensions to health and wellness (physical, environmental, emotional,
social, intellectual, spiritual, and occupational); parks and recreational programs can have an
immense impact on both an individual’s health and a population’s health.
The seven dimensions of health are interrelated and influence the ability to attain wellness in
other dimensions. For example, being physically fit can lead to higher self-esteem and improved
emotional and social health.
Time spent in, interacting with, and viewing nature contributes positively to all seven
dimensions of wellness.
Parks serve multiple purposes for individuals and communities including providing: a safe,
accessible, and affordable place for physical activity; environmental services including
contributing to habitat protection and air, water, and soil quality; an escape from the stress of
daily life; a place for social gathering, spiritual restoration, and mental recharge; opportunities
for job creation and economic revitalization; and places where people of all ages and abilities
can feel welcome.
By offering a wide variety of affordable recreational programs for all ages, abilities, and
interests, parks and recreation departments can improve a multitude of dimension
combinations to varying degrees based on the type and intensity of the program and the
characteristics of the participant. For example a summer-long, trail-building and hiking course
for at-risk teenagers can contribute to all seven dimensions of their health and potentially be a
life-changing event.
Public spaces not typically considered as part of a parks and recreation planning process—
streetscapes, public buildings and facilities, vacant spaces between buildings, view sheds—can
offer services similar to parks and should be included within the plan.
Greenways are becoming more prominent as part of parks and recreation planning as they are
seen a linear parks and active transportation corridors that allow people to get to work, run
errands or simply access the park via an active mode rather than driving.
Increasing opportunities for volunteers, particularly older adults, to help patrol parks and
greenways can help alleviate safety concerns, put additional eyes on the ground, and offer the
volunteers more opportunities for social interaction and physical activity.
2
Appendix N
The following are the main recommendations of the HIA:
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Continue to work with partners to preserve natural areas and provide views and opportunities
for everyone to be immersed in and receive the multitude of health benefits associated with
being in nature.
When planning for park development, balance: the need of habitat and natural area
preservation with public access for all; the availability of organized sports fields and places for
quiet contemplation or self-led activities such as hiking or mountain biking; the potential for
overcrowding with the safety of park users and desire to use the space and resources efficiently;
permitted park uses with the recreational needs of the surrounding community; and the
potential for economic development with the environmental and social impacts on surrounding
neighborhoods and long-range opportunities for trail-oriented development.
Continue to partner with a multitude of organizations and members of the Davidson community
to offer a variety of programs that provide opportunities to enhance the seven dimensions of
wellness for all ages, abilities, and interests.
Offer opportunities for all ages and abilities to volunteer with the parks and recreation
department and encourage a broad range of community engagement opportunities within the
master planning process.
Whenever possible, be sure that parks, recreational programs, and public spaces are accessible
(physically and fiscally) to all−regardless of age, ability, interests, or income.
Establish baseline metrics of how parks, recreational programs, and public spaces are impacted
the seven dimensions of wellness within Davidson and track progress in positively impacting the
physical, environmental, social, emotional, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual wellness of
Davidson citizens.
Davidson Design for Life (DD4L) is an initiative of the Town of Davidson, North Carolina to foster healthy
community design through the use of health impact assessments (HIA), public participation, and
collaborative efforts in Davidson, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region, and North Carolina. DD4L’s mission is
“To help Davidson be a community that is healthy today and even healthier tomorrow while serving as a
model for other small towns by implementing healthy design.” For more information on the DD4L initiative,
HIAs, or this project please go to www.healthimpactnc.org.
3
Appendix N
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the way we design and build our
communities can affect our health.i Health Impact Assessments (HIA) can be used to integrate healthy
community design and evidence-based health strategies into parks and recreation decisions and
community planning. The Town of Davidson has included an HIA as part of the Davidson Parks,
Recreation, and Public Spaces Master Plan to broaden the health considerations typically considered
within recreational planning (physical activity and environmental health) to include all seven dimensions
of wellness (physical, environmental, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and occupational).
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a process used to estimate potential positive and negative health
impacts of a proposed policy, plan, program or project on the community.ii This is accomplished
through a combination of quantitative and/or qualitative methods and community engagement. At the
conclusion of an HIA, recommendations are made to decision-makers to enhance the positive health
implications of a decision and manage any negative health outcomes that may occur. The diagram
below outlines the six steps to HIA: Screening, Scoping, Assessment, Recommendations, Reporting, and
Monitoring and Evaluation.
Figure 1: Health Impact Assessment Process
4
Appendix N
Health and Wellness
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absences of disease or infirmity.”iii Using this holistic definition of health
implies that to improve the health of a population, the social determinants of health (the conditions in
which people are born, grow, live, work and age, shaped by the distribution of money, power and
resources at global, national and local levels) must be considered and addressed to promote health and
wellness for all.iv
Wellness is much more than physical health, exercise or nutrition. It is the full integration of states of
physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The model used by the Davidson Parks and Recreation
Department includes physical, environmental, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and occupational
wellness. Each of these seven dimensions act and interact in a way that contributes to our own quality
of life and parks and recreational programs play a significant role in creating a quality of life that
promotes the health of Davidson’s citizens.
Figure 2: Elements of Wellness
5
Appendix N
Physical Wellness
Physical wellness involves aspects of life that are necessary to keep yourself in top condition and
capable of doing daily activities without undue fatigue or physical stress. v Optimal physical wellness is
developed through the combination of beneficial physical activity/exercise and healthy eating habits.
Elemental components of physical wellness include building muscular strength and endurance,
cardiovascular strength and endurance, and flexibility.
Physical wellness is also concerned with developing personal responsibility for your own health care,
such as caring for minor illnesses and knowing when to seek professional medical attention. Developing
physical wellness empowers you to monitor your own vital signs and understand your body’s warning
signs. You’ll understand and appreciate the relationship between sound nutrition and how your body
performs. The physical benefits of looking good and feeling well most often lead to psychological
benefits of enhanced self-esteem, self-control, determination, and a sense of direction.
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Physical Wellness
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Parks can provide a safe and affordable place to be physically active for all ages, ethnicities, and
abilities. vi
A variety of recreational programs can offer instruction and equipment for being physically
active in multiple ways to serve different interests. vii
Community gardens, kitchens, and markets can increase access to fruits and vegetables and
promote good nutrition. viii
Instructional programs on gardening, composting, canning, cooking, label-reading, and offering
balanced meals can promote good nutrition.ix
Providing water fountains and limiting vending options within parks and recreational buildings
can encourage adequate hydration while being physically active and limit consumption of high
calorie drinks and snacks.x
Medical screenings, health fairs, and courses tailored for disease prevention or management can
provide information and promote physical wellness.xi
Preserving views of nature and providing opportunities to be in nature, have been shown to
reduce stress and violence, and improve healing times from disease and surgery.xii
Recreational programs contribute to youth development and reduction in risky behavior such as
drug use and sex. xiii
Proximity to parks can lead to increased use of parks by older adults and has been linked to a
longer lifespan.xiv xvxvi
Parks allow a variety of culturally-based physical activity programs and events to be conducted
due to the flexibility of space and being within the public realm. xvii
6
Appendix N
Recommendations and Health Benefits of Combining Physical Activity and Good Nutrition
For Children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommends:

1 hour of physical activity each day with the majority of the activity being aerobic activity (i.e.
walking or running) on at least 3 of the days, muscle strengthening activities (i.e. gymnastics or
push-ups) on at least 3 days, and bone strengthening activities (i.e. jumping rope or running) at
least 3 days of the week.
For Adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommends:

2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate intensity aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking)
every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major
muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).
OR
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1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., jogging or running)
every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major
muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).
OR
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An equivalent mix of moderate and vigorous intensity aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening
activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen,
chest, shoulders, and arms).
For Children and Adults, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommends:
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Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat dairy products
for those over the age of 2.
Limit the intake of solid fats, cholesterol, sodium, added sugars, and refined grains.
Health Benefits of Being Physically Active and Eating Nutritious Foods
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Physical activity is associated with reduced risk of being overweight or obese, strengthened bones
and muscles, improved mental health and mood, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,
diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and some cancers.
Health eating is associated with reduced risk of being overweight or obese, having micronutrient
deficiencies, and many diseases, including several leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer,
stroke, and diabetes.
Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development,
and can prevent health problems such as obesity, cavities, iron deficiency, and osteoporosis.
Combining physical activity and good nutrition for older adults can prevent diseases and improve
balance, overall well-being, and cognitive function.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html, http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html,
7
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/nutrition/facts.htm, http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index.html
http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/exercise-physical-activity#.UnupU9jAEdI
Appendix N
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Physical Wellness
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Physical activity levels (percent meeting recommendations, physically inactive)
Fruit and vegetable consumption (percent meeting recommendations, no daily consumption,
median daily consumption)
Obesity levels (percent overweight or obese)
Disease prevalence (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer)
Teen pregnancy rates
Number, type, and attendance of programs offered
Number, types, and facilities included within park system
Number of park users and ways using parks, trails, and greenways
Connectivity of parks into surrounding uses (access points, routes to park from specific
destinations)
Public spaces that link destinations and serve physical activity needs (sidewalks, bike lanes,
greenways, community gardens, school playgrounds, etc.)
Typical baseline health data (i.e. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Child Health Assessment
and Monitoring Program, Vital Statistics) is not available at the geographic scale of the Town of
Davidson. As part of the community engagement and monitoring efforts within the Parks, Recreation,
and Public Spaces Master Plan process, a survey, voluntary health screening, and participant evaluation
could be used to capture this baseline data in 2014 and track progress on reaching plan goals. Other
methods that could be used to track progress include: intercept surveys of park users, direct observation
of park usage, tracking program attendance and program evaluations, monitoring facility maintenance
and improvements, and mapping safe routes to parks and facilities.
Recommendations for Improving Physical Wellness through Parks and Recreation
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Work with neighborhood watch groups, friends of the park program, public works and the police
department to make sure that parks are well-maintained and safe.
Establish all parks as a drug-, alcohol-, and smoke-free areas with posted hours of use and types
of activities allowed within the park.
Offer a sliding scale, senior rates, and scholarships for park programs so that those with limited
incomes can participate.
Partner with medical and social service providers to distribute park prescriptions (prescriptions
to be more physically active, commonly accompanied by a list of park programs, a map of parks
or walking routes, or different ways to work physical activity into daily routines).
Survey members of the community (representing all ages, ethnicities, and abilities) and partner
with instructors or other organizations to offer a variety of programs, organized sports, classes,
and facilities based on the interests of the community.
Help identify, analyze, promote, and coordinate the various community gardens and markets
available within Davidson, especially in an effort to increase access to fruits and vegetables, and
promote physical activity through gardening.
8
Appendix N
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Include water fountains and bathrooms in plans for future parks, and encourage program
participants, and greenway or park users to bring water.
Work with schools and other partners to offer youth development programs (organized sports,
art classes, scouts, skill-building activities, volunteer opportunities, etc.) especially following the
school day.
Partner with the planning department and developers to make sure that neighborhood parks
are available in areas with high concentrations of youth, older adults, or low-income
populations.
Work with the planning department, hospitals, nursing homes, retirement communities, and
rehabilitation centers to make sure that natural buffers and areas are preserved around these
buildings and views of nature are available from the majority of rooms.
Participate in health fairs and partner with health professionals to offer programs focusing on
preventing and managing disease such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Carefully monitor animal (pet/owner) behaviors in parks to ensure other users feel safe and
enact policies for proper control of animals, if necessary.
Balance the need for larger parks for athletic fields, nature preservation, or hiking system with
the greater access provided by smaller neighborhood parks, community gardens, and
playgrounds.
Design preventive maintenance programs to keep facilities in working order so parks, recreation
facilities and greenways are not perceived as a hazard (e.g. fixing root heaves along greenways
or walkways in parks to reduce the risk of trips/falls).
Figure 3: Images of Physical Wellness
9
Appendix N
Environmental Wellness
Environmental Wellness is the realization of our innate connection to nature and our ability to recognize
our own responsibility for the quality of the air, the water, and the land that surrounds us. xviii The ability
to make a positive impact on the quality of the environment−be it our homes, our communities or our
planet−contributes to our Environmental Wellness. Protecting yourself from environmental hazards and
minimizing the negative impact of your behavior on the environment are also central elements.
Examples of environmental threats include air pollution, ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, chemicals,
noise, water pollution, and second-hand smoke.
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Environmental Wellness
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Access to Nature:
o Parks can preserve natural areas, especially in rapidly-urbanizing regions, allowing public
access to forests, lakes, rivers, streams, grasslands, wetlands, etc.xix
o Parks can serve as important wildlife habitat and corridors, especially for migrating
animal populations. xx
o Parks surrounding water bodies can be used to allow public access for water activities
such as swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing etc. Preserved lands and additional
instruction can be used to help protect water quality and establish regulations so that
these activities are safe.xxi
o Being in and viewing nature have been associated with faster healing times and disease
management, reduced levels of violence, as well as improved concentration, mood, and
behavior. xxii
o Parks in urban settings can emulate nature by providing created spaces that increase
educational and interactive opportunities.xxiii
Air Quality:
o The trees preserved within a park or along a street can improve air quality through air
pollution removal, carbon storage and removal, and temperature reduction.xxiv
o Improved air quality and reduced heat island effect and high ozone days can reduce the
likelihood and severity of asthma attacks, respiratory disease, and heart attacks. xxv
o Community gardens can also capture carbon and provide local food sources reducing
the air pollution associated with the shipping of produce and the amount of insecticides
commonly used in large-scale commercial farming.xxvi
o Parks and recreational facilities should be a smoke-free environment to reduce
exposure to secondhand smoke−especially for youth who respire more frequently than
adults while being physically active.xxvii
Water Quality:
o Parks can be used to provide buffers along waterways and filter out pollutants,
protecting water quality for drinking, fishing, and swimming, and reducing
sedimentation.xxviii
o Parks also provide natural storm water management measures, allowing ground waters
to be recharged and flooding likelihood and severity to be reduced. xxix
10
Appendix N
o
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Natural areas and parks are also preferable in flood zones to other uses such as housing,
industrial, or commercial buildings (less property damage and risk of loss of life in major
flood events).xxx
Soil Quality:
o Quality agricultural lands can be protected through recreational easements and
establishing demonstration farms.xxxi
o Soils should be tested prior to establishing community gardens or edible landscaping to
determine if raised garden beds with a protective layer are necessary.xxxii
o Composting can be taught and used at demonstration gardens to improve soil quality.
xxxiii
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Environmental Wellness
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Air quality measures (high ozone days, days of non-attainment)
Acres of land preserved either under easement or through government ownership for parks or
greenways (percentage of total land area, ratio of preserved versus developed, per capita,
percentage of population within a half mile, percentage of population within a quarter mile)
Tree canopy (street trees and within parks/undeveloped lands)
Water quality measures (days closed due to bacteria or algae blooms, chemical testing, macro
invertebrates, sedimentation measures)
Soil quality measures (acres of prime agriculture land, brownfields, heavy metals etc.)
Enrollment in nature appreciation and agricultural programs
Park usage especially for hiking, nature viewing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, etc.
Participant interviews or surveys in regards to mood, school performance, behavior, etc.
Asthma rates, emergency room visits and missed days from school due to asthma
Number of people volunteering with a community garden and their vegetable/fruit
consumption
Number of people learning to compost (amount of composting), or participating in some other
form of urban agriculture (edible landscaping, potted gardens, chicken coops, beehives, etc.)
Recommendations for Improving Environmental Wellness through Parks and Recreation
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Balance natural preservation needs (i.e. sensitive habitat preservation, large tracts of land
needed) with the need to have access to parks and natural areas (i.e. trail development, smaller
neighborhood parks).
Identify major wildlife corridors and water quality preservation areas and prioritize the
preservation of those areas either through zoning, easement, or ownership.
Offer programs to teach people about nature, conservation and ways to appreciate nature (i.e.
how to fish, canoe/kayak, hike, camp, etc.)
Partner with Davidson Lands Conservancy, EcoDavidson, Davidson College, the North Carolina
Cooperative Extension, etc. to establish baseline data and to track progress in preserving natural
areas, protecting tree canopy, testing soil, air, and water quality, etc.
11
Appendix N
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Incorporate demonstration gardens, composting sites, and edible landscaping within park site
plans.
Work with the planning and public works departments to ensure that public spaces (schools,
streetscapes, medians, public squares, neighborhoods, etc.) include pockets of greenery such as
street trees, flowers, grass, old shade trees, etc.
Establish, post, and work with neighborhood groups and the police department to enforce a “no
smoking/tobacco use policy” within all public parks, greenways, and facilities.
Partner with the planning department and livability board to establish and enforce policies for
tree canopy protection, riparian buffer protection, urban agriculture opportunities, agricultural
lands preservation, public lake access etc.
Work with public works department to maintain natural features, particularly in a wet, humid
climate, so they don’t overcome existing features within parks, open spaces and greenways.
Figure 4: Images of Environmental Wellness
12
Appendix N
Emotional Wellness
Emotional Wellness is the ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring.xxxiv
The ability to acknowledge and share feelings of anger, fear, sadness, stress, hope, love, joy and
happiness in a productive manner contributes to our Emotional Wellness. It also involves being attentive
to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, whether positive or negative. Emotional Wellness implies the
ability to: be aware of and accept our feelings, rather than deny them; have an optimistic approach to
life; express feelings freely and manage feelings effectively; express emotions appropriately; adjust to
change; cope with stress in a healthy way; and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and
frustrations. Emotional Wellness is essential to developing meaningful relationships with others.
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Emotional Wellness
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Access to green views and the environment has been shown to improve cognitive functioning,
impulse control, resilience to stressful life events, and overall mental health (i.e. reduction in
anxiety, depression, etc.). Studies have also shown that low nature access is associated with
increases in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), clinical depression, stress, and
anxiety.xxxv
By providing free access to recreational opportunities and green space, parks have been linked
to reducing stress and generally improving health especially for low-income populations. xxxvi
Social interactions produced by offering recreational programs or making places available for
people to casually meet are linked to an increased network of social support for an individual, a
feeling of self-determination, and a greater ability to cope with stress.xxxvii
The completion of youth development or fitness programs offered through recreation
departments can contribute to an individual’s feelings of self-worth, improved self-image, and
an ability to interact socially with others and resolve conflict. xxxviii
Well maintained and frequently-populated parks within low-income neighborhoods can improve
perceptions of neighborhood safety and provide opportunities for civic mindedness and
empowerment as members of the neighborhood “take back” the park. xxxix
By providing greenways and walking trails as part of a multi-modal transportation network,
parks and recreation can increase the number of travel choices available to people and their
feeling of control over their travel decisions.xl
Art programs and viewing art has been linked to emotional wellness related to self-expression
and self-esteem, reduction of symptoms of anxiety and depression, and providing opportunities
to have supportive social contact. xli
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Emotional Wellness
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Chronic and acute stress measures (14, 10, and 4 item Perceived Stress Scale)
Measures of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale)
Overall mental health indicators (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
Perception of safety within neighborhoods and parks
13
Appendix N
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Number and size of green spaces within neighborhoods, commercial, office, and industrial
spaces
Number, type, and attendance of programs offered
Documentation and evaluation of community involvement within the park planning process,
creation, updating, and maintenance.
Participant interviews or surveys in regard to mood, school performance, behavior, etc.
Recommendations for Improving Emotional Wellness through Parks and Recreation

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Preserve green views and natural areas and provide access to these areas and public art for
everyone regardless of age, socio economic status, or abilities.
Partner with parents, schools, Davidson Lands Conservancy, and others to offer programs for
youth (especially youth with mental disorders or behavioral issues) to be immersed in nature
and to play outdoors.
Work with the planning department to make sure that green areas are protected within
residential, commercial, industrial, and office developments so that residents and employees
will have spaces to escape stressful situations and socialize.
Offer a variety of affordable programs for youth and adults to serve varying interests and
provide an opportunity for all citizens to connect with others and continue to learn and develop
skills throughout their lives.
Involve those living around existing or planned parks in the planning process, updating activities
and maintenance of the park so that they have a feeling of ownership of the park,
empowerment, civic-mindedness and social connectedness.
Use greenways to connect existing and planned parks and transportation networks to increase
the number of safe travel options available and make it possible to bike or walk to popular
destinations and recreational areas.
Figure 5: Images of Emotional Wellness
14
Appendix N
Intellectual Wellness
Intellectual Wellness is the ability to open our minds to new ideas and experiences that can be applied
to personal decisions, group interaction and community betterment.xlii The desire to learn new
concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning contributes to our Intellectual
Wellness. An intellectually well person: cherishes mental growth and stimulation; is involved in
intellectual and cultural activities; explores issues related to problem solving, creativity, and learning;
pursues personal interests such as reading books, magazines, and newspapers to keep abreast of
current issues; and is engaged in the exploration of new ideas, hobbies, creative endeavors, and
understandings.
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Intellectual Wellness
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Recreational programs such as classes on gardening, composting, nature, nutrition, art, sports,
etc. can stimulate the interests of participants, engage them in new hobbies, and teach them
new skills.
Informational kiosks in parks can teach park users about natural features within the park, area
history, how to properly use park equipment, healthy lifestyle choices, etc.
Features within a park such as a demonstration garden, musical station, pond, etc. can be used
for self-instruction or as part of a course.
Spending time in natural areas or viewing nature has been shown to reduce mental fatigue,
restore attention, and increase effectiveness for working adults and undergraduate
students.xliiixliv
Walks in nature and regularly-scheduled outdoor afterschool activities have been shown to
increase attention in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).xlv
Parks increase opportunities for institutions such as schools, colleges, other continuing
education programs and conferences held within the town to offer specialized courses and
subject-specific instruction in a natural setting.xlvi
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Intellectual Wellness
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Evaluations after programs to see what participants learned.
Number of programs offered that teach a skill or area of interest and the number of participants
in each program.
Observation of how often informational kiosks are used.
Number of features within parks that can be used for instructional purposes and observations of
use both through self-instruction and as part of a recreational program.
Performance measures and interviews with employers who have implemented measures to
increase access to nature−windows with views, walking trails on their campus, outdoor seating,
etc.
Performance measures and interviews with parents and teachers of children with ADHD and
other behavioral issues following increased access to nature such as views of nature, having a
fish tank in a classroom, playing outside, or walking on trails.
15
Appendix N
Recommendations for Improving Intellectual Wellness through Parks and Recreation
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Survey citizens on their interests and partner with others to offer a variety of recreational
programs to meet these interests.
Partner with hospitals, the Davidson Lands Conservancy, Davidson Historical Society and others
to provide informational kiosks or signs along greenways, throughout town, and within parks.
Offer features within parks that can be used for instructional purposes, such as demonstration
gardens, traffic villages, and learning stations.
Partner with the Davidson Planning Department, Davidson Public Works Department, major
employers, Davidson College, Davidson Lands Conservancy, and others to preserve natural areas
and encourage viewing, interacting with, and receiving instruction on nature.
Partner with schools, colleges, continuing education programs, day care facilities, after school
programs, senior services, and lifelong learning programs to offer outdoor activities and
instructional time spent within nature.
Figure 6: Images of Intellectual Wellness
Traffic Village: A traffic village or children's traffic village is
a park in which children can learn the rules of the road.
Children of a minimum age are allowed to use bicycles or
pedal-powered cars to navigate the streets and operate
according to traffic laws.
Typically, traffic villages are scaled-down versions of real street networks, with the lane and
street-width proportional to the smaller vehicles. Often they include operating traffic
signals and during busy times are even staffed with traffic police.
One of the intentions of the traffic village is to improve awareness of traffic safety among
school-aged children. Many traffic villages enable children to gain hands-on experience
crossing streets and with bicycle or other pedestrian safety challenges in a highly controlled
environment devoid of actual motor vehicles.
16
Appendix N
Social Wellness
Social Wellness is the ability to relate to, interact with, and connect with other people in our world.xlvii It
involves using good communication skills, having meaningful relationships, respecting yourself and
others, and creating a support system that includes family members and friends. Social Wellness follows
these tenets: it is better to contribute to the common welfare of our community than to think only of
ourselves; and it is better to live in harmony with others and our environment than to live in conflict
with them. Our ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends, and coworkers contributes to our Social Wellness.
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Social Wellness
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

By offering opportunities for people to connect to nature and each other, parks have been
shown to reduce feelings of isolation and self-centeredness and to produce an increased
willingness to connect with others, a greater sense of community, and feelings of generosity,
trust, and civic-mindedness.xlviii
Parks and recreational programs can contribute to improved health equity by providing free or
reduced-price access to recreational, social, and stress-reducing opportunities for low-income
individuals and families.xlix
Neighborhoods (including low-income neighborhoods) with well-maintained and monitored
parks and green space have lower rates of crime, greater perceptions of safety, and lower rates
of social disorder (graffiti, abandoned properties, litter, public drinking, broken windows, traffic,
etc.).l
Views of vegetation in highly-populated housing have been linked to reduced levels of
aggression and violence among residents.li
Youth who participate in extracurricular activities following school are less likely to participate in
risky behaviors such as drug use or sexual activity. lii
Older adults who volunteer with environmental programs and are regular users of parks and
greenways have been shown to have reduced levels of depression, are more physically active,
and have better self-reported health.liii
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Social Wellness







Level of volunteerism within the community (especially for environmental programs)
Enrollment in recreational programs especially by low income individuals and families
Crime reports especially in parks and low-income neighborhoods
Self-reported adolescent behaviors (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System) such as alcohol
consumption, drug use, sexual activity
Teen pregnancy rates
17
Appendix N

Surveys and interviews of participants in recreational programs focused on connections made
and relationships formed through recreational programs
Recommendations for Improving Social Wellness through Parks and Recreation







Work with Davidson Lands Conservancy, Davidson Planning Department, Davidson Public Works
Department, Davidson Livability Board, and property owners to reserve natural areas and views
of vegetation.
Offer reduced-price or scholarships for recreational programs for low-income individuals and
families.
Engage residents within the park planning process and establish friends of the park programs to
encourage ownership, use, and user-surveillance of parks.
Partner with Davidson Public Works, Davidson Police, and neighborhood watch groups, friends
of the park, and park users to make sure that parks are well maintained and monitored.
Work with schools, parents, and childcare providers to offer extracurricular activities especially
during the hours between school dismissal and the return of parental supervision.
Increase areas with adjustable seating, natural views or artwork in public spaces throughout
Davidson to encourage social interaction.
Offer volunteer opportunities to help with recreational programs, park maintenance, trail
creation, overall department operations, etc.
Figure 7 Images of Social Wellness
18
Appendix N
Spiritual Wellness
Spiritual Wellness is the ability to establish peace and harmony in our lives.liv It is a personal matter
involving values and beliefs that provide a purpose in our lives. While different individuals may have
different views of what spiritualism is, it is generally considered to be the search for meaning and
purpose in human existence, leading one to strive for a state of harmony with oneself and others while
working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world. Spiritual Wellness follows the following
tenets: it is better to ponder the meaning of life for ourselves and to be tolerant of the beliefs of others
than to close our minds and become intolerant; and it is better to live each day in a way that is
consistent with our values and beliefs than to do otherwise and feel untrue to ourselves. The ability to
develop congruency between values and actions and to realize a common purpose that binds creation
together contributes to our Spiritual Wellness.
Spiritual health has been defined as “a high level of faith, hope, and commitment in relation to a welldefined worldview or belief system that provides a sense of meaning and purpose to existence in
general, and that offers an ethical path to personal fulfillment which includes connectedness with self,
others, and a higher power or larger reality.”lv
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Spiritual Wellness







Spiritual wellness has been linked to physical and mental health including recovery from
addiction, teen sexual activity, depression, eating disorders, breast cancer, length of survival
with AIDS, and other health behaviors.lvi
Spiritual wellness and the identification of a higher purpose in life can serve as reasoning for
improving health behaviors. lvii
Leisure activities—in particular those that fall into the areas of personal development activities
such as reading for personal growth, holistic exercises such as tai chi and yoga, cultural
activities, faith-based activities, outdoor activities, and hobbies—are associated with higher
levels of spiritual wellness. lviii
Parks and natural environments have a great spiritual meaning and represent a strong sense of
place for many people typically associated with memories of special times spent outdoors (i.e.
family outings, major life events, escapes from stressful times, etc.) or historically/culturally
significant places.lix, lx
Recreation can strengthen a person’s identity and help them define who they are by allowing
them to be themselves and express their personality. For example, it is becoming more
common for a person to identify himself/herself by the activities that he/she participates in (i.e.
hiker, swimmer, soccer player, etc.) lxi
The principles of land stewardship and serving others are found in many religions; parks and
recreation programs can offer opportunities for both.
Opportunities for play−music, art, dancing, and laughter−can encompass and express
spirituality.lxii
19
Appendix N

Relaxing recreational activities (reading, sitting, taking a walk in nature) have been linked to
spiritual wellness and a park can be appreciated for its serene, quiet, private and “spiritual”
qualities assuming that it is not over populated. lxiii, lxiv
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Spiritual Wellness







Number of and attendance of programs with a spiritual element such as yoga classes,
meditation programs, support groups etc.
Interviews and surveys with church leaders to identify and evaluate potential park uses,
programs, and partnership opportunities.
Number of and use of meditation gardens and outdoor labyrinths constructed.
Interviews with those who have attended support groups about the role of parks and recreation
in overcoming addiction, coping with grief or depression, and managing a disease.
Teen pregnancy and drug use (Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System)
User surveys and observation of activities taking place within the park.
Greenway linkages to shared use spaces, particularly Community Life Centers offered by some
churches and other religious organizations.
Recommendations for Improving Spiritual Wellness through Parks and Recreation





Provide information to and connect churches interested in developing meditation gardens or
outdoor prayer labyrinths.
Work with churches to develop shared use agreements and provide open spaces or public
facilities for yoga classes, church gatherings, discussions on spiritual wellness, or support/prayer
groups to meet.
Partner with Davidson Lands Conservancy and local churches to preserve and provide public
access to local water bodies and wilderness areas for individual reflection, ceremonies, and
social gatherings.
Offer classes on yoga, gardening, relaxation and meditation techniques, art, dancing, music,
singing, running, stress management and finding a work/life balance, etc.
Be mindful of parks becoming over-congested, especially during times when there are no
scheduled events and a person could be coming to the park to seek solitude and serenity.
Figure 8: Images of Spiritual Wellness
20
Appendix N
Occupational Wellness
Occupational Wellness is the ability to get personal fulfillment from our jobs or our chosen career fields
while still maintaining balance between work and leisure time in our lives.lxv It focuses on our search for
a calling and involves exploring various career options and finding where we fit. It also involves
addressing workplace stress and building relationships with co-workers. Because what we do for a living
encompasses so much of our time, it is important for our overall well-being to do what we love and love
what we do. When people are doing what they were meant to do: they deepen their sense of meaning
and purpose; contribute their unique gifts, skills, and talents in a personally meaningful and rewarding
way; and convey their values through their involvement in activities that are gratifying for them. Our
desire to contribute in our careers to make a positive impact on the organizations we work in and to
society as a whole leads to Occupational Wellness.
The Relationship between Parks and Recreation and Occupational Wellness









The development process of parks, trails, and greenways can create short and long-term jobs for
landscape architects, planners, engineers, construction teams, etc. For example, the building of
trails creates more jobs per dollar than any other type of transportation infrastructure
construction.lxvi
Recreational programs can generate jobs for instructors and program coordinators.
The maintenance and operation of parks and facilities can generate jobs.
Increased economic development around trails and greenways (especially regional systems that
attract tourists) can revitalize areas, spawning small service-oriented and retail businesses, and
creating substantial job growth and local spending. For example the “Trail Towns” along the
Great Alleghany Passage (formerly mining and railroad towns) have capitalized on the 700,000
annual trips along the trail with trail users spending over $40 million and generating $7.5 million
in wages every year with 54 new or expanded businesses hiring 83 new jobs in these small
towns. lxvii
Quality parks and recreation systems attract young professionals in high-tech professions
(knowledge workers) and retirees with disposable income or GRAMPIES (Growing [number of]
Retired Active Moneyed People in Excellent Shape). Increases in these two population groups
encourage additional high tech industry development and supporting services to be created. lxviii
Recreational programs can offer classes in skill development that can lead to career
advancement especially in low income, youth, women, and minority populations.
Increased municipal revenue due to higher property values surrounding a park or greenway can
be used to pay for park creation or improvement and to hire additional staff. lxix
Other government savings from parks and recreational programs include: improved health and
lower health costs, lower criminal activity and public safety costs, the creation of productive,
tax-paying citizens from at-risk youth, and environmental services such as storm water
management and carbon sequestration.lxx
Employers can improve the health and wellbeing of their employees by: providing views of
nature or incorporating greenery within their office buildings, providing a trail network or park
21
Appendix N

on their property, locating their business along a greenway, and encouraging active commutes
and outdoor recreation breaks throughout the day.
Office buildings located near parks and along greenways are shown to have higher occupancy
rates than other business locations.lxxi
Baseline Health and Possible Indicators of Parks and Recreation Impact on Occupational Wellness






Economic development and job growth associated with park, greenway, and trail development
Trends in property values along parks and greenways
Interviews and surveys of employers regarding recreation services offered to employees,
participation in those programs, job performance, absenteeism, and reasons for locating their
business in Davidson or along a greenway.
Number of tourists using the regional trail system and spending within Davidson (food, hotels,
purchases at local shops especially bicycle/athletic clothing shops)
Number of career skill-building courses available and attendance
Changes in municipal revenue and expenses associated with health, public safety, and
environmental services.
Recommendations for Improving Occupational Wellness through Parks and Recreation





Partner with employers and economic development entities (Lake Norman Chamber of
Commerce/ Davidson Community and Economic Development program) to identify the
potential economic benefits of additional trail, park, and greenway development and to track
actual impact on local economies and unemployment levels.
Develop additional parks and offer additional park programs as funding allows; generating
additional jobs.
Work with schools and local nonprofits to offer youth development and career building
programs with income-based discounts.
Partner with the planning department and employers to encourage offering natural views and
recreational opportunities within larger business campuses.
Work with the planning department to develop zoning and development standards around
parks and greenways to encourage and allow for Trail-oriented Development.
Figure 9: Images of Occupational Wellness
22
Appendix N
Images
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/DJ0Z_tOmDEg/UAMXEoDVIWI/AAAAAAAAABQ/Jhkrwg_oivg/s1600/Wellness_Wheel.png
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=people+gardening&qpvt=people+gardening&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id
=F716392E6E3CA53E6F2D9A55661AB66175F4CB17&selectedIndex=108
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=people+hiking&qpvt=people+hiking&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=10814
A8B4C358A0C99CD81B16D0F5E4415FE3C67&selectedIndex=22
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=health+screening&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=health+screening&sc=811&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=F423A5776A5D20E1A9501E0A4B60ABFC0138292E&selectedIndex=155
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=older+adult+play+equipment&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=older+adult+play+e
quipment&sc=0-16&sp=1&sk=&id=DF144B2A62D9168F5CF0804CC4E3EDCA9C7E2A3D&selectedIndex=199#view=detail&id=DF144B2A62D
9
168F5CF0804CC4E3EDCA9C7E2A3D&selectedIndex=0
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=hand+cranked+bike&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=hand+cranked+bike&sc=117&sp=-1&sk
=#view=detail&id=7E69A1A130E2E6604D731228B797C7AA6C4A9C0A&selectedIndex=27
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=deer+on+greenway&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=deer+on+greenway&sc=014&sp=-1&sk
=#view=detail&id=AE50C0C7FF1B1673CC0526B725B902A6728447AA&selectedIndex=306
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kayaking&qpvt=kayaking&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=C097C3D07E3728
5C370175D0B753A1E9E39C3754&selectedIndex=28
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=median+with+flowers&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=FCC4F1295143D
769CDE0A9400CA95D878CA7D935&selectedIndex=6
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=water+testing&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=water+testing&sc=8-9&sp=1&sk=#view=detail
&id=7783E2C7B3DCD745A8791B65B861C265BD97F043&selectedIndex=4
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=aerial+of+charlotte+NC&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=aerial+of+charlotte+nc&s
c=0-19&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=9787B39DD2E6188D5DBB22CD075BB2864389B30F&selectedIndex=55
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bird+watching&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=bird+watching&sc=8-12&sp=1&sk=#view=det
ail&id=0F0291E035AB58C8BD118ACEAD08C6BB2D450427&selectedIndex=18
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=eating+lunch+outside&qpvt=eating+lunch+outside&FORM=IGRE#view=d
etail&id=D38251E5B33A705F05EF620CA6B6E8548A5EE8C8&selectedIndex=325
23
Appendix N
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=laughing+in+a+park&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=laughing+in+a+park&sc=815&sp=-1&sk=#
view=detail&id=02E8119F5D09E9BBDF1F3F7C536ADDE69985C835&selectedIndex=15
https://www.google.com/search?q=yoga+in+the+park&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ENZmUqSzKYn28
wTG2oCADA&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=855#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=7_Xaso6qdp7McM%3A%3BkRii6W1
IcR8upM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.impactdash.com%252Fwpcontent%252Fuploads%252F2010%252F06%252FYoga-623x467.jpg%3Bhttp%
253A%252F%252Fwww.impactdash.com%252F2010%252F06%252F05%252Fyoga-in-thepark%252F%3B623%3B467
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=davidson+land+conservancy&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=D65C84A8
3A976E83D751CC7F11FBD446C0F9AFDB&selectedIndex=1
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=child+studying&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=child+studying&sc=6-12&sp=1&sk=#view=
detail&id=7D2992E0E84D00251DB2F852AEE9EFA2D7E4D38B&selectedIndex=41
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=college+student+staring+out+window&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=college+stu
dent+staring+out+window&sc=0-20&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=08943BA769DD0CC18CD63A160466AC5BE9409C24&selectedIndex=7
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=davidson+land+conservancy&qs=HS&form=QBIR&pq=davidson+&sc=89&sp=1&sk=#
view=detail&id=780C8DD138AB0848DF27B29E05305FBDF406C388&selectedIndex=48
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=music+station+in+park&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=music+station+in+park&sc
=8-17&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=234820A987C4CF3A98497B38C32909539C43D930&selectedIndex=41
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=class+for+older+adults&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=class+for+older+adults&sc
=0-13&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=19167FD2CAB09BC442F7336E0608FF6F94FF8614&selectedIndex=16
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=traffic+garden&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=DBEE8F4BBCC6B32C2BE
605B2682B2E6E43A27B63&selectedIndex=4
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=lunch+break&qpvt=lunch+break&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=0BC642F7
D7FFC15C4628894D879DA9CA4DF83104&selectedIndex=206
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=davidson+land+conservancy+volunteers&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=davidson
+land+conservancy+volunteers&sc=0-26&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=CC2D7D6C3ED10B8DE8C63CA17F386DCB7AD9F728&selectedIndex=
19
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=davidson+land+conservancy+volunteers&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=davidson
+land+conservancy+volunteers&sc=0-26&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=49FCA56CC8602C2784863E851834526F14858E01&selectedIndex=3
24
Appendix N
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Davidson+NC+Police+Department&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=davidson+nc+p
olice+department&sc=2-22&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=F9C3D49CF97453BFBB4DA6613D0BC105C303694D&selectedIndex=19
http://landscape-architects.squarespace.com/meditation-garden-at-st-peter/meditationgarden/12997991?originalSize=true
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Yoga&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=yoga&sc=8-4&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=DA82C99D7
DDAC81119DC8D77644101588CBD8879&selectedIndex=232
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=baptism+in+a+river&qpvt=baptism+in+a+river&FORM=IGRE#view=detail
&id=011E99CF65C474D07B9405D2AF599ED3DD1B0403&selectedIndex=10
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f2/6f/bb/f26fbb082f1ae1099055d43de7100155.jpg
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=support+group&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=support+group&sc=8-13&sp=1&sk=#view=
detail&id=9D904DC39F79932D2596707C7893948756D74C4F&selectedIndex=617
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=carolina+thread+trail&qs=AS&sk=&FORM=QBIR&pq=carolina%20thread%
20&sc=816&sp=1&qs=AS&sk=#view=detail&id=89E04AB5B856DBD7ACC59A823218A27D7F305EFF&selectedIndex=222
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=msc+industrial+supply+davidson+nc&qs=RQ&sk=RQ1&FORM=QBIR&pq=
msc%20davidson%20nc&sc=415&sp=2&qs=RQ&sk=RQ1#view=detail&id=BF1EAA7E6E88126069E5CA13F804E2D9B7D66EE8&selected
Index=8
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=youth+skill+development&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=youth+skill+developme
nt&sc=1-23&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=CF1F28FE671CF258552D0F87809D890050725C88&selectedIndex=37
25
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http://www.nrpa.org/uploadedFiles/nrpa.org/Publications_and_Research/Research/Papers/Synopsis-ofResearch-Papers.pdf
vii
viii
http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/downloads/State-Indicator-Report-Fruits-Vegetables-2013.pdf
ix
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http://www.cdc.gov/salt/pdfs/DHDSP_Procurement_Guide.pdf
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xviii
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xix
http://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/pdf/greeninfrastructure.pdf
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xxi
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/injury/index.html
xxii
xxiii
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xxiv
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Synopsis-of-Research-Papers.pdf
xxv
xxvi
http://www.communitygarden.org/docs/learn/articles/multiple_benefits.pdf
xxvii
http://www.tobaccofreeparks.org/documents/2011_Webinar_How_To.pdf
xxviii
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi_why.cfm
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http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24114935/
xxxi
http://www.ctnc.org/land-trusts/statewide-land-protection-programs/farmland-protection/
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xxxiii
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26
Appendix N
xxxv
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Mitchell, R, and Popham, F. “Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational
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xlii
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xliii
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xliv
http://mindshapedbox.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/gazing-through-the-window-attention-restoration-andviews-of-nature/
xlv
http://www.naturenurture.org.uk/pdf/greenspace%20positively%20impacts%20on%20the%20effects%20of%20A
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xlvi
http://www.naturalearning.org/sites/default/files/OutdoorSettingsForPlaying.pdf
xlvii
http://wellness.ucr.edu/social_wellness.html
xlviii
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l
Trust for Public Land. No Place to Play: a comparative analysis of park access in seven major cities. November
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li
lii
liii
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2937248/
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Payne, L. Ainsworth, B. & Godbey, G. (2010). Leisure, Health, and Wellness Making the Connections. State
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lix
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lx
Driver, B.L. Brown, P.J. & Peterson, G.L. (1991) Benefits of Leisure. State College, PA: Venture Publishing Inc.
lxi
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lxii
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lxiii
lxiv
http://www.lib.niu.edu/1996/ip960127.html
lxv
http://wellness.ucr.edu/occupational_wellness.html
lxvi
www.atatrail.org/au/impact.cfm
lxvii
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lxviii
http://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/pdf/economicdevelopment.pdf
27
Appendix N
lxix
http://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/pdf/economicdevelopment.pdf
lxxi
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/PDF/OGTOfficeOverview.pdf
lxx
28

Master Plan

Transcription

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