Cramerton approves Timberlake pocket park design, debates streetscape bids

The Board of Commissioners for the Town of Cramerton on March 17 approved a design concept for a pocket park at the Timberlake neighborhood entrance and discussed next steps on a downtown streetscape contract.

Viz, Inc. designer Gary Fankhauser presented two design options for the Timberlake pocket park and described a proposed 10-foot multi-use walkway (Commissioner Atkinson and neighborhood speakers asked that the pathway be reduced to 8 feet). Fankhauser said “no other vehicular traffic would be allowed through the park,” and the concept includes an ADA-compliant ramp and sitting walls. Commissioner Atkinson moved to approve Option 1 with the requested changes; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Kincaid and passed 5-0.

Board members discussed materials, lighting and funding. The Town had allocated $15,000–$20,000 for pocket parks and staff reported that just over $10,000 remained in that allocation for additional pocket-park work. Residents and staff asked that six feet be left open at retractable bollards to allow golf-cart and wheelchair passage and that benches be installed rather than tables.

Separately, the Board discussed the larger streetscape package, including shade sails. Mr. Fankhauser said a previous cost estimate for nine shade sails was about $160,000 but acknowledged current market prices are higher; staff said the sails would be taken down and stored each winter and that expected lifespan was about 10 years. Commissioner Helms made a motion to proceed with approval of the certified lowest responsive bidder and to direct town counsel, the town manager, and the engineers to finalize the contract; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Neeley. Attorney Wolter noted a housekeeping condition related to a guardrail at a Timberlake stub-out. The meeting transcript records the motion and second but does not record a roll-call vote for that motion in the excerpt provided.