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Wendell outlines parks accomplishments and seeks consultant for 12‑month master‑plan update
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Summary
Parks director Jeff Pulaski told the board the town has completed much of its 2019 parks master plan and plans to seek a consultant for a 12‑month update that would inventory facilities, assess needs and recommend a phased implementation strategy; commissioners asked staff to consider recognized public‑access metrics in the scope.
Jeff Pulaski, Wendell’s parks and recreation director, told the board the town has implemented a long list of projects from its 2019 parks master plan and is preparing to issue a solicitation to update that plan.
“Today I’m going to be presenting on the implementation of the current master plan that we have that was conducted in 2019,” Pulaski said, summarizing completed items including ADA upgrades, a new playground at Holly Brook Park, lights at Field 3, and four lit pickleball courts at Wendell Park. He listed additional improvements — concession stand updates, infield renovations, beach‑volleyball sand replacement, and new fences and LED tennis‑court lighting — and named partnerships with Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, North Carolina Football Club and the Wendell Rams.
Pulaski said the town is preparing an RFQ (likely an RFP for proposals) to update the comprehensive parks and recreation master plan. The scope will include an inventory of existing facilities, an assessment of current and future recreation needs, program and facility recommendations, funding evaluation and an implementation strategy. “The town anticipates the complete completion of the master plan will take within a 12 month time frame, and be done, hopefully, early 2027,” Pulaski said.
Planning staff also reviewed parkland dedications tied to new development: a 3.8‑acre neighborhood park at the Jones Tract with pickleball and walking trails, a 3‑acre mini park at the Edwards development, a 1.5‑acre linear dedication at Acorn Creek, and a 10‑acre neighborhood park at the Haven at Wendell development that the developer will build and dedicate to the town. Staff reminded the board that dedicated parkland passes to town maintenance responsibility once turned over.
Several commissioners asked staff to consider including established public‑access metrics in the update scope so the town can benchmark and publicize performance. One commissioner urged looking at scores such as Trust for Public Land’s park metrics and walkability measures to ensure projects improve measurable access and that Wendell’s efforts are visible to prospective residents and businesses.
The board did not take formal action on the RFQ at the meeting; staff indicated the solicitation will be posted soon and the final plan will be returned to the board for approval once the consultant completes deliverables.
Pulaski and staff also noted ongoing capital projects: Buffalo Creek Greenway phase 1 and Main Street Greenway preconstruction, design work on the Wendell Athletic Field Complex, continued planning for neighborhood parks (Holly Brook, Main Street, Pleasant Grove), and ADA improvements at J. Ashley Wall Square.
