THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605020182
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 31 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MILES DANIELS
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
PROVIDING PASQUOTANK County with one of the largest local parks in northeastern North Carolina, Fun Junktion will be a place for people of all ages, races and cultures to enjoy themselves, officials say.
Fun Junktion, a project begun a year ago by the Pasquotank County Solid Waste Commission, is a 200-acre recreational and educational park expected to open in July 1997.
Some features proposed for the park include horseback riding, jogging and hiking trails, and mountain bike riding. Three lakes also will be a part of Fun Junktion, providing opportunities for fishing, swimming, canoeing, paddle boating and skiing tournaments.
``This is probably going to be one of the largest recreational parks in this region,'' said Michael Etheridge, the county's solid waste director. ``Fun Junktion is a recreational park geared towards families spending quality time together.''
Fun Junktion will be located on the site of a closed-out landfill on Simpson Ditch Road. Etheridge said the land became available more than a year ago. Rather than let it sit vacant, the county decided to create the park.
Along with places to play, the park will have an educational forest complete with talking trees, recycling centers, wetland observation decks and an outdoor classroom.
Some 35 acres have been planted with 10 species of trees, courtesy of a grant from the Small Business Administration's Tree Planting Program. In addition, wildlife food plots will be placed in the area with funding by Quail Unlimited.
Another project under way is a $100,000 playground area for the 7,000 children of Pasquotank County.
``The county lacks a nice, safe playground facility for children,'' Etheridge said. ``There is definitely a need for a playground where families can spend some good quality time together.''
The county is considering two separate pieces of playground equipment, one for children through age 6 and the other for children 6-12. These two units are handicapped-accessible and will hold 120 children. No other playground in Pasquotank County is accessible to disabled children, Etheridge said.
The playground will be built with 85 percent recycled or reclaimed materials.
``This playground equipment will be a constant reminder of the importance of recycling and a perfect example to the children of how to `close the recycling loop,' '' Etheridge said. ``Best of all, this equipment gives children a great place to play with an unlimited combination of components to help them sharpen eye-hand coordination, improve balance, develop upper body strength and challenge their minds.''
So far, funding for Fun Junktion has come from grants and donations from residents. Among the grants is $47,000 from the state Smart Start program. The total cost of the park has yet to be determined.
``I want it to be a community effort. That way everyone will feel as if they played a part,'' Etheridge said. ``I think that this will make people respect the park a little more.''
One of the fund-raising projects Etheridge is using is personalized fence pickets. For a $25 donation, people from the community can buy a picket, which can include a picture and name of whomever the donor chooses.
``We're very pleased with the amount of funding we've received,'' Etheridge said. ``I didn't think that we would have this much funding this quickly.
``I hope to be able to walk out to Fun Junktion on a Sunday afternoon and see a mixture of people from the community enjoying themselves and spending quality time together.'' MEMO: For more information about Fun Junktion, call 335-4105.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Michael Etheridge, the county's solid waste director, is planning to
build Fun Junktion park on the site of a closed-out landfill on
Simpson Ditch Road. by CNB