STEELE
CREEK NEWS
Parks Department Requests Input on Capital Needs Assessment
(July 28, 2002) The
Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) is a document that outlines the
financial needs of the Park and Recreation Department for capital
and construction projects over the next ten years. Projects listed
in the CNA are given priority rankings based on input from citizens,
park advisory councils, the Park and Recreation Commission, and
staff.
Capital projects
include renovations to existing facilities and the construction of
new parks, recreation centers, and other facilities.
The estimated cost
of all projects on the current countywide list of needs for the next
ten years is more than $1 billion, which is an unlikely achievement.
The CNA is updated every two years, and the Park and Recreation
Commission and staff is requesting input from the public on setting
priorities. In other words, as money becomes available for capital
improvements, which projects should get this money first?
The Southwest Park
District hosted one of several planned community workshops on July
25. Chris M. Jackson, Park Commission Chair and Southwest Park
District representative, Alan Beaver, Southwest Park District
General Manager, Steve Law, Environmental Services Division Manager,
and other park representatives spoke on current priorities and the
status of facilities in the Southwest Park District.
One item on the priority
list is greenways, but future greenways in the Southwest
District are a long way from the construction or planning stages.
Highest priority greenways in Mecklenburg County are those along Mallard Creek, Torrence
Creek, Briar Creek, and Little Sugar Creek. Within the Southwest
District, the Coffey Creek greenway is the highest priority. This is
because Storm Water Services is acquiring much of the property along
this corridor, and greenway planners want to take advantage of these
purchases. The second priority is the portion of Steele Creek
between Brown-Grier Road and Westinghouse Boulevard.
Another priority is completing final phases of major parks, including
the Thomas McAllister Winget Park. Projects at Winget Park include
softball upgrades, tennis courts, an enclosed shelter, a playground,
a trail, and landscaping.
Also listed is improvements to existing facilities, which would affect several
Southwest District parks and construction of new district parks. One of
the new planned parks is the
Upper Steele Creek Park, which will be adjacent to the new Pappas
development west of I-485 at Dixie River Road.
Two natural
heritage sites exist in the Southwest District. These are upland
depression swamp forests, which are uncommon forest types and are
not currently protected from development.
The Park and
Recreation Commission and staff are eager for your feedback on
priorities. What do you like to see first in the Southwest District?
They also urge you to share your views with Mecklenburg County
Commission, which will use the CNA in planning future expenditures
and bond
referendums.
If you have any
questions about the CNA and projects within the Southwest Park
District, contact District General Manager Alan Beaver at
704-529-1827 or by e-mail at beaveaw@co.mecklenburg.nc.us,
or visit the Mecklenburg
Park and Recreation web site. You also may view a schedule
of CNA
Workshops on-line.
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