1. MECKLENBURG COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT1
MECKLENBURG COUNTY
PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
2-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Citizen’s Capital Budget Advisory Committee Presentation
February 21, 2007
James R. Garges W. Lee Jones, AIA
Director Capital Planning Services
Park and Recreation Dept Park and Recreation Dept.

2. Key Departmental Planning Documents2
Key Departmental Planning Documents
1989 Parks Master Plan
1999 Greenway Master Plan
1997 Nature Preserve Master Plan
1998 Natural Heritage Inventory Program
Prior Year Capital Needs Assessments
Countywide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CCORP)
Operational Needs Assessment (ONA)
Planning Commission Small Area Plans and other references

3. 3
2006 County-wide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CCORP) Conclusions
2006 Deficit: 7,866 acres of “developed” amenities
2015 Deficit: 10,957 acres of “developed” amenities
The County currently has a deficit of every outdoor recreational amenity. Since demand for outdoor recreation amenities is inextricably linked to population, no action will result in these deficits being significantly larger in 2015.
Parkland in Meck. Co. = 5.1% of all land, compared to the national average of 8.8% for cities of similar size and density.

4. CCORP Outdoor Recreation Amenity Analysis4
CCORP Outdoor Recreation Amenity Analysis
AMENITIES 1
Baseball Fields 2
Softball Fields 3
Football Fields 4
Soccer Fields 5
Multi-Purpose
Fields 6
Basketball Courts 7
Tennis Courts 8
Volleyball Courts 9
Disc Golf Courses 10
Golf Courses 11
Outdoor Pool 12
Spraygrounds
Primary
Provider
Supply 34 85 1 73 31
119
146 41 8 5 2 3
Recommended
Standard *
1 per
7,500
5,000
20,000
10,000
2,000
25,000
Demand
113
170 42 85 43
425 34
2006 Deficit of Primary Providers Providers*
-79
-85
-42
-12
-51
-279
-129
-26
-29
-41
-40
Additional Acreage Needed in 2006
299
321 92 27 25 8 47 13
442
7,252 10 7
Outdoor recreation amenity standards were developed by Park and Recreation Department planning staff in conjunction w/NRPA
and NCSU-Rec. Resources Services recommendations. They do not include nature preserve or greenway facilities/amenities.

5. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Strategic Objectives5
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Strategic Objectives
Updated annually w/input from citizens, advisory councils, staff, and Strategic Planning and Long Range Finance Sub-committee (SPLRF)
Department Senior Leadership completes final rankings and prioritization (after SPLRF identifies their priorities and information). This document is also presented to the Park and Recreation Commission for their information
Projects are ranked by their synergy with approved planning documents, other agency initiatives, timing, and critical need
Work closely with allied agencies, towns, and entities to identify and meet their needs
Land acquisition needs are a very high priority due to the rapid and explosive population growth Mecklenburg County is currently experiencing and the need to provide developed parks in under-served areas of the county.

6. Strategic Partnerships6
Strategic Partnerships
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (joint use including land acquisition)
Flat Branch Elementary School/Park & Nature Preserve
Hucks Road Elementary School/Park
Berewick Elementary School/Recreation Center
Ballantyne Elementary and Middle Schools/Park
University Meadows Elementary School/Park
Towns
Land Acquisition and joint development projects and opportunities
Quasi-Public Entities
Center City Partners/City of Charlotte/Planning Commission/Private Sector/Others
Second Ward Neighborhood Park/Re-development project
Bryant Park/ Small Area Plan
Discovery Place
Freedom Park Nature Center expansion
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System
Little Sugar Creek Greenway/Nature Center/Library

7. CIP Priority Ranked Categories7
CIP Priority Ranked Categories
1) Land Acquisition
2) Greenway Construction
3) Center City Parks
4) Improvements to Exist. Facilities
5) District Park Development
6) Neighborhood Park Development
7) Recreation Center Construction
8) Nature Preserve Development
9) Special Facilities
10) Community Park Development
11) Recreation Center Rehabilitation
12) Public Private Partnerships
13) Sportsplexes
14) Water Parks

8. 2-Year CIP Highlights 8 Land Acquisition
5 new community parks, 7 new district parks, 33 new neighborhood parks, greenways, nature preserves and remaining properties identified in the 1989 Parks Master Plan
Continued Greenway Development
Little Sugar, McAlpine, Irwin, Stewart, and Barton Creeks
New District Park Development
Flat Branch, Hucks Road, and Sherman Branch
New Neighborhood Park Development
Lincoln Heights, University Meadows, Big Rock, Second Ward and First Ward
New Recreation Center Development
Bradford, RL Smith, Berewick Parks and Hwy.51/Sardis Road vicinity
Nature Preserve Development
Flat Branch and Evergreen preserves
New Youth Sportsplexes
Ezell Farms and Eastfield

9. 9
2-Year CIP Highlights

10. 10
Recreation Centers

11. Land Acquisition Strategic Priorities11
Land Acquisition Strategic Priorities
Continue to purchase land to expand existing parks, greenways, and nature preserves
Reedy Creek, Shuffletown, and McDowell parks, selected greenways, and other properties
Purchase new park sites to fill service radii “gaps”
Work in conjunction with CMS for joint use sites

12. Comparisons of Total Parkland Acreage per 1,000 Persons *12
Comparisons of Total Parkland Acreage per 1,000 Persons *
* Compared to other cities of similar population density
Jacksonville, FL
Oklahoma City, OK
Virginia Beach, VA
Kansas City, MO
Mecklenburg County, NC
Nashville, TN
Indianapolis, IN
64.0
27.8
26.5
23.4
20.7
17.9
15.0
20.7 acres/1000 pop. denotes total current acreage owned by County. The 1989 Parks Master Plan
references 19 acres/1000 pop. for “developed” acreage standards.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2006) – population statistics
“The Excellent City Park System” (2003) -acreages

13. 1989 Master Plan Park Land Deficits13
1989 Master Plan Park Land Deficits
All 1989 MP-Identified Parkland*
Nature Preserves*
Community Parks
District Parks
Neighborhood Parks
1989 Standard
19 ac / 1,000
6 ac / 1,000
5 ac / 1,000
3 ac / 1,000
2007 Acreage
12,329
5,818
1,128
3,799
1,584
Acres / 1,000 Pop.
14.50 ac.
6.84 ac.
1.33 ac.
4.47 ac.
1.86 ac.
Deficit (acres)
3,824
717
3,123
452
967
All Parkland = Neighborhood Parks + District Parks + Community Parks + Nature Preserves; the 2007 total acreage amount is actually
17,613 acres - the difference is accounted for by excluding golf courses, greenways, and specialty facilities from this table because they
were not denoted in the 1989 Parks Master Plan..
*Nature Preserve acreage figures includes land purchased for watershed protection

14. Mecklenburg County Park Land Acquisition by Park Type14
Total Land Acquired: 17,613 acres

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17

18. Strategic Greenway Development Priorities18
Strategic Greenway Development Priorities
Little Sugar Creek – 7th St. to 4th Street
Little Sugar Creek – 4th St. to Independence Blvd.
Little Sugar Creek – Midtown Mall to New Baxter St. Bridge
Irwin Creek – West Boulevard to Barringer Rd.
McAlpine Creek – Sardis Rd. to Providence Rd.
Stewart Creek – W. Trade St. to Irwin Creek
Little Sugar Creek – Tyvola Rd. to Huntingtown Farms Park
Little Sugar Creek – Huntingtown Farms Park to Sharon Rd. West
Little Sugar Creek – Sharon Rd. West to I-485
Barton Creek – J.W. Clay to Mallard Creek
Irwin Creek Greenway
Little Sugar Creek Greenway-Morehead Section

19. Strategic Park Development Priorities19
Strategic Park Development Priorities
Develop new parks and facilities to fill service gaps
Hucks Rd and Sherman Branch District Parks
University Meadows, Lincoln Heights, Second and First Ward, and Big Rock Neighborhood Parks
Evergreen and Flat Branch Nature Preserves
Complete two (2) new sportsplexes
Ezell Farms and Eastfield Parks
Build four (4) new recreation centers
Bradford Park, Robert L. Smith Park, Berewick Park, and Hwy 51/Sardis Road vicinity
Continue to re-invest in existing facilities by selected improvements and upgrades

20. 20
Proposed 2-Year Capital Expenditures by Park District (all categories-including land acquisition)
Central Park District 1 $ 5,380,000
Central Park District 2 $ 6,704,500
Central Park District 3 $ 32,100,000
North Park District $ 63,775,000
Northeast Park District $ 52,565,000
Northwest Park District $ 50,600,000
East Park District $ 74,875,000
South Park District $ 35,700,000
Southwest Park District $ 43,700,000
Grand Total $365,599,500
* Average per District = $40,622,166
Figures are not adjusted for inflation

21. CNA Categories and Cost Estimates21
CNA Categories and Cost Estimates
2-Year CIP Total Year Total
Park Land Acquisition $ 219,615, $ 337,761,000
Greenway Construction $ 19,200, $ 67,750,000
Center City Parks $ 6,000, $ 15,000,000
Improvements to Existing Parks $ 16,780, $ 152,472,000
District Park Development $ 43,200, $ 70,900,000
Neighborhood Park Development $ 5,600, $ 6,560,000
Recreation Center Development $ 18,600, $ 46,100,000
Nature Preserve Development $ 1,000, $ 3,000,000
Special Facilities $ , $ 19,700,000
Community Park Development n/a $ 13,740,000
Recreation Center Rehabilitation $ 10,604, $ 22,304,500
Public-Private Partnerships $ 3,300, $ 14,210,000
Sportsplexes $ 21,600, $ 125,164,000
Special Facilities-Water Parks n/a $ 22,760,000
Grand Totals $ 365,599, $ 917,421,500
Figures are not adjusted for inflation

22. Park District 2-Year CIP Requests by Category22
Park District 2-Year CIP Requests by Category
CPD1
CPD2
CPD3
North
Northeast
Northwest
East
South SW
Total
Land Acquisition
900,000
50,375,000
36,465,000
40,500,000
8,500,000
32,500,000
219,615,000
Greenway
Construction
2,600,000
9,800,000
5,900,000
19,200,000
Center City Parks
6,000,000
Improvements
To Exist. Facilities
1,280,000
200,000
14,400,000
500,000
16,780,000-
District Parks
Development
7,200,000
43,200,000
Neigh. Park
Development.
600,000
2,800,000
1,000,000
5,600,000
Rec. Center
4,200,000
18,600,000
Nature Preserves
Rec. Center Rehabilitation
3,604,500
7,000,000
10,604,500
Partnerships
2,400,000
3,300,000
Sportsplexes
Special Facilities
100,000
21,600,000
Totals
5,380,000
6,704,500
32,100,000
63,775,000
52,565,000
50,600,000
74,875,000
35,700,000
43,900,000
365,599,500
Figures are not adjusted for inflation