THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 18, 1995 TAG: 9507180306
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Bringing the city's 19 parks in line with state standards and federal regulations could cost as much as $1.3 million over the next 10 years, a consultant told the City Council on Monday.
Howard T. Capps, whose Wilmington-based firm was commissioned for $14,000 last year to develop a master plan for the Parks and Recreation Department, said upgrading existing facilities should be the city's priority.
The information-gathering stages for the plan placed emphasis on getting public opinion through two hearings and thousands of surveys distributed to residents of Elizabeth City and Pasquotank and Camden county.
But the major improvements suggested by residents - the development of a fitness/wellness center and the creation of a greenway system of paths and trails - were included in the 70-page report only as projects to look at down the road.
Parks and Recreation Director Jim Overman said the priorities reflect the city's financial realities.
Or, as Councilman David P. Bosomworth told Capps after his presentation, ``We don't have a lot of money.''
With major capital projects such as a new fire station and the renovation of a new administrative building in the works, Overman said it would be ``tough'' to get funds for park upgrades in the next few years.
But ``the city needs to start addressing those issues,'' Overman said. ``We've fallen behind. And we're falling behind more every year.''
The report shows the city with less acreage for parks than the state recommends. Existing parks have fewer facilities than they should and do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the report says.
Also Monday, the council:
Appointed a three-member committee to begin negotiations with Pasquotank County over the possible purchase of what Mayor H. Rick Gardner said were water-related facilities. Gardner said after a closed session that the city and county were working together to improve their water situation and hoped to forge an agreement within six weeks.
Approved a motion from Public Safety Committee Chairman Jimi Sutton to study whether city fire trucks should be allowed to make nonemergency trips to city sites. Sutton said the expensive equipment is making too many runs to places like fast-food restaurants and is being brought in on 911 calls where it is not needed.
Heard a complaint by Sutton that 911 operators were seeking too much information from residents calling to report crimes to police.
``People are afraid to give name, number and address when they make these calls,'' Sutton said. ``When you have it so people are afraid to call the police, then something needs to be done.'' by CNB