During the public comment period Oct. 20, resident Efra Brodsky addressed the Halifax County Board of Commissioners about a request for proposals that lists the 4‑H site as the location for a proposed county multipurpose building intended to house the parks and recreation department.

Brodsky told commissioners she supports the county creating a parks and recreation department but urged officials to reconsider the 4‑H site because of low nearby population, limited night‑time safety on the access road and poorer visibility for tournaments and events. She presented maps showing the population within a five‑mile radius of the 4‑H site versus Roanoke Rapids and said the Roanoke Rapids radius contained far more children (the materials cited 312 children within five miles of the 4‑H site versus 6,373 around Roanoke Rapids).

Brodsky suggested examining sites near Interstate frontage or close to Halifax Community College and proposed that a city–county partnership could create a facility capable of hosting tournaments and attracting regional visitors. She asked the board to “think before the money is spent” and consider traffic, accessibility and economic impact when selecting a location.

Chairman Vernon Bridal thanked Brodsky for the input and said staff and commissioners would consider the comments as the procurement process continues.