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Dare County details parks-and-rec master plan, new fields, scoreboards and synthetic-playground pilot
Summary
Commissioners highlighted a 10-year parks-and-recreation master plan, dozens of program participants in 2024, several facility upgrades and a planned synthetic-turf playground pilot at Rec Park.
Chairman Bob Woodard and Dare County Public Services Director Spencer (last name not specified in transcript) presented an update on parks and recreation, previewing a countywide 10-year master plan and multiple near-term facility projects.
Woodard said roughly 5,000 children participated in parks-and-rec programs in 2024 across 75 programs and described active use across the county’s three divisions (Hatteras Island, Roanoke Island and Mainland/Northern Beaches). Spencer said the county contracted McGill Associates to complete a needs assessment and will move into implementation of recommendations over the next five months to form a 10‑year master plan.
Planned and underway projects the county listed include: new scoreboards at multiple parks (eight total scheduled), replacement of Westcott Park facilities in Manteo, additional youth-size soccer fields at the Nags Head soccer complex, resodding and lighting upgrades at First Flight Middle School fields, playground replacement with a synthetic-turf surface at Rec Park (a county pilot), resurfacing tennis and pickleball courts on Roanoke and Hatteras islands, and restroom renovations at heavily used venues.
Spencer said Rec Park will get new siding, roof and a county seal on the youth center; the playground there will feature a synthetic-turf surface, the first such county installation. The county also plans resurfacing and relining for outdoor basketball courts at Westcott Park, Manns Harbor Park and Head Start sites.
Why it matters: officials said improving recreation infrastructure supports youth programming, tournaments and community health. Spencer told the board the needs assessment had a higher-than-average 10% survey response rate and McGill Associates found Dare County’s parks to be “vibrant and active.”
No formal budget vote occurred at the meeting. Woodard and staff said some projects will proceed with funds remaining from previous appropriations and with CIP planning; exact funding lines and final project schedules will be part of upcoming capital improvement planning.
