THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 19, 1997 TAG: 9702190392
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: 77 lines
Church groups, clubs, families and ``young people in love,'' as one commissioner noted, could have a new place to congregate in Currituck County.
Maple Park - the rural county's first-ever community park - moved a step closer to reality when the Board of Commissioners approved a master plan and a state grant application to help fund the $500,000 project.
County officials hope that the project, to be located on 19.15 acres near the Maple airport off U.S. 158, will be contagious.
``This is the first step in that direction, and we hope this creates a domino effect and that we see more parks in other parts of the county,'' said John Mulvey, the county's economic development director.
For years Currituck County citizens have ranked the need for recreational facilities at the top of wish lists.
The county's 1990 Land Use Plan, a document that guides development and is based on public input, ranked ``the establishment of more county recreational facilities'' as ``the single most important priority.''
Last year, when the plan was updated, 62 percent of 553 mail survey respondents said there were too few recreation areas in Currituck County. Thirty-four percent thought there were enough, and 3 percent believed the county already had too many.
Bound by the Currituck and Albemarle sounds and the Atlantic Ocean, Currituck County has long attracted waterfowl hunters, boaters and beach lovers.
Landlubbers, however, have had a harder time of it.
The centerpiece of Maple Park will be a 30-by-80-foot picnic shelter with attached restrooms and tables, grills and water fountains.
Under the plan, approved unanimously at Monday's commissioners meeting, the site also will contain a standard-size softball field with backstop, players' benches and 8-by-150-foot safety fence.
A children's playground with slides, climber, swing set and benches will be nearby, as will a basketball court, volleyball court, badminton court and regulation-built horseshoe pits.
Another section will surround a natural lake and include four gazebos and a walking trail with a waterside safety rail.
The park's development is expected to be funded by a $250,000 grant from a $5 million North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, if the county's grant application is approved.
The remaining $250,000 will be a local match, $125,000 this fiscal year and next.
Mulvey said he had ``a strong feeling'' the grant will be approved because there currently are few applicants and the deadline is near.
County Manager Bill Richardson agreed.
``We stand a good change because we don't have any big community parks in the county,'' Richardson said.
One woman in the audience at a work session preceding the board meeting asked about equestrian trails.
That has yet to be discussed, Mulvey responded.
``The needs of the horse riders in the community have not been forgotten,'' he said. `` . . . We know that this group is increasing, and, in my opinion, it's good recreational activity for the county.''
Maple Park will be on property leased by the state to the county. An industrial park, county airport, wellfield, state prison, fuel farm and a campground for non-profit clubs are all nearby.
When asked about the location, Mulvey responded: ``The main reason is this is the most appropriate land that the county controls at this time. It fits the bill at this time.''
The location for the community park pleased Commissioner Eldon Miller.
``The Maple area is probably as central as you can get,'' Miller said, noting that it is within easy driving distance for some 10,000 of the county's 16,000 permanent residents.
Provided the grant money comes through, Maple Park should be fully functional within two years, Mulvey said.
Paul O'Neal, chairman of the board, stressed after the vote that Maple Park would be open to everyone, including church, civic and school groups, as well as families and ``young people in love.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color VP map
Maple Park