DPR zeroes in on Parkwood for rec center -- but are there enough funds?

As we noted last summer, South Durham is in line for a rec center in the City's capital planning process; this follows in line with the City's 2003-2013 Parks & Rec master plan, which called for locating new recreation centers towards the edges of the City to serve newer neighborhoods.

That suggestion has created some dust-up given plans in the works to add a rec center in Walltown and potentially another one on the site of the old Trinity Ave. YMCA, which served most recently as the Duke Diet & Fitness Center.

Still, planning for rec centers on the periphery has marched onward, with last summer's news that the badly-aging shopping center in the heart of the recently- (and controversially-) annexed Parkwood neighborhood might be in line to become the South Durham rec center site.

The shopping center offers advantages over other sites, including the fact that a parking surface is already built-out (avoiding one element of site plan work) and that the site is served by utilities already, something a buildout-on-bare-land might lack. Add proximity to existing Parkwood ball fields to boot and the site seems like a natural.

As of last summer, three sites were under consideration including Parkwood. A staff note to the City Council on the process by which Council reviews park projects, though, raised the interesting finding that Parkwood is in fact the "most desirable" location for the rec center -- but that the City's allocated funds for the project may not be enough in current form to buy the center:

[Durham Parks & Recreation] requested funding of $1 million in the 2008-09 CIP for acquisition of land for a center in the southern part of Durham; $889,102.00 was allocated. A team from Planning, DPR, and GSD Real Estate examined possible sites that were both suitable and available for purchase. The most desirable site that meets (and in this case exceeds)use requirements is a 5.5 acre parcel that is now the Parkwood Shopping Center; the site is on the market.  DPR staff met with citizens from Parkwood to discuss their vision for the site and received a verypositive response to the idea of a recreation center atthat location.  Staff has acquired an option to purchase on the site as a first step to allow getting an appraisal and a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment.  However, it is likely that the appraised price will be  $300,000.00 to $400,000.00 more than the available funding, so a purchase ultimately may not be possible.

As of last summer, the site had been reacquired by its developer, former Durham mayor Jim Hawkins.

Hey, I'm sure Hawkins remembers how hard it is to fund a city. You think he might cut the City a break on this one?

Comments

[Todd]

Here's one vote for the center on the NW side of town. My "newer" neighborhood was built 40-50 years ago and badly needs Parks & Rec facilities. The land for the center is already available at Valley Springs Park.

[T]

The Parkwood location is perfect, and in the long run, DPR can justify the added costs to acquire the site by achieving savings in construction due to existing infrastructure. Location, location, location ... existing infrastructure, adjacent public ball fields, thousands of single/multi-family homes (and growing) in established and new neighborhoods withing easy walking or biking distance that are clamoring for such a facility that is so obviously lacking in this part of town (need I go on?).

And the 150+ children on the Parkwood swim team would love to have a home pool to host swim meets (largest swim team in Durham, and only team without home a competition pool in which to swim).

[GreenLantern]

Is the darker gray the current or future city limits of Durham, or does it just represent the urban planning area?

[South Durhamite]

The Parkwood Center will do a number of helpful things besides providing needed recreational facilities.

It will preserve the community focus for Parkwood and surrounding neighborhoods. From shopping center to library to community recreation--the function of providing a place for neighbors to meet each other has been key to Parkwood's success as a culturally and economically diverse neighborhood.

When the library moves to the new South Regional Library on the old Lowes Grove School site, there will be a loss of property values if some community function does not replace the library.

[stacy]

as a resident of the parkwood area, i would love to see that space used as a rec center. so many meetings are already held there at the library. clearly, it's a great location.

[DanO]

The Parkwood Community Association (1000+ homes) has offered (in principle) to help fund the gap between what is in the budget and the asking price of the building. The current proposal is for the property to be split with the city having the right to purchase Parkwood's part for the value of Parkwood's expenses. This effectively allows the City to split the expense into multiple fiscal years. The latest word however is that due to the economy, Parks and Rec can not take on any new facilities this fiscal year. We (the "Parkwood Central" committee of interested citizens) intend to keep lobbying for the community center in the next budget planning cycle.

(I say “in principle” because the formal process of getting the community to commit has not taken place. We need a concrete proposed agreement in place before we take that step. Every community member who has heard about the idea has been supportive.)

P.S. I take issue with the "recently- (and controversially-) annexed Parkwood neighborhood" phrase. The timing and controversy are ancient history. Parkwood is part of the city and has been treated fairly in recent years. We are now no different than any other neighborhood.

[Tina]

The Parkwood Neighborhood has a rich history which is linked to both Durham and RTP. For over 50 years Parkwood has nurtured a sense of community, diversity, and involvement. In recent years, Parkwood has embraced it's neighbors from newer subdivisions in South Durham. The Parkwood location is an excellent, centralized choice for a community rec center and what a wonderful way to honor and recognize the Parkwood Neighborhood for it's many years of community building service to Durham!!

@DanO, if the plan goes through to have residents & neighborhoods help subsidize the purchase of this land, I encourage Parkwood CA to contact other residents and neighborhoods here in South Durham. We all can pull together to make this work for our city!!

[Melissa Rooney]

The work on Northgate Park, and especially the cooperation with NG park residents, has been truly heartening. As has the pro-neighborhood outcome for Tuscaloosa-Lakewood.

Now I hope that Durham Government will work with Parkwood Residents regarding the location of a Recreation Center at this more-and-more dilapidated and vacant 'shopping center' on Revere Road. This award-winning planned neighborhood (years ago), is now facing blight and crime/intimidation due to the status of this building. It is currently manned by a security guard, but that hasn't prevented several of my neighbors from asking me if I feel safe taking my kids there.

Admittedly, South Durham residents aren't as present in gov't processes as inner-city residents. It's much more than a walk or a 5 minute drive for us to attend meetings to ensure we are heard. But Parkwood is part of the city of Durham, and it deserves some TLC (and some funds) as much as any inner-city neighborhood.

Furthermore, helping Parkwood will benefit the many Southeast Durham neighborhoods nearby -- and will help soothe the irritation they feel at having been annexed and city-taxed, only to receive minimal returns/attention in their part of Durham.

I am saddened that the city has not included the Parkwood item in this year's budget, and I implore us all to ensure it is funded in the next budget cycle.

[Melissa Rooney]

The work on Northgate Park, and especially the cooperation with NG park residents, has been truly heartening. As has the pro-neighborhood outcome for Tuscaloosa-Lakewood.

Now I hope that Durham Government will work with Parkwood Residents regarding the location of a Recreation Center at this more-and-more dilapidated and vacant 'shopping center' on Revere Road. This award-winning planned neighborhood (years ago), is now facing blight and crime/intimidation due to the status of this building. It is currently manned by a security guard, but that hasn't prevented several of my neighbors from asking me if I feel safe taking my kids there.

Admittedly, South Durham residents aren't as present in gov't processes as inner-city residents. It's much more than a walk or a 5 minute drive for us to attend meetings to ensure we are heard. But Parkwood is part of the city of Durham, and it deserves some TLC (and some funds) as much as any inner-city neighborhood.

Furthermore, helping Parkwood will benefit the many Southeast Durham neighborhoods nearby -- and will help soothe the irritation they feel at having been annexed and city-taxed, only to receive minimal returns/attention in their part of Durham.

I am saddened that the city has not included the Parkwood item in this year's budget, and I implore us all to ensure it is funded in the next budget cycle.

[Melissa Rooney]

In my previous post, I meant that 'SouthWEST' Durham, not 'Southeast' Durham, will benefit from helping Parkwood...

Southeast Durham has only begun to see the growth and annexation that has happened in SW Durham -- but SE residents are already alarmed at the results (think: Olive Branch Road, Ravenstone, Egypt, Sierra developments...)

[Jared Butlin]

I live in parkwood neighborhood and fear what will happen to the property values if the community center becomes abandoned. I think a rec center is the perfect use for it, and could give kids a place to go after school. I also would not be apposed to an across the board increase in the HOA fees if it meant every home got membership, the fee was modest, and it made the difference between getting the rec center or having a vacant eyesore in the middle of the neighborhood.

[DanO]

There's a new article in today's Herald-Sun titled Recreation facility at Parkwood in trouble. See http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/durham/4-1095198.cfm.

I think it fairly represents the issues and that I was not misquoted.

[S Gwaltney]

I live in Parkwood, too. I hope there is an improvement in the shopping center, be it public or private funding. However, I am not going to support much of an association fee increase. I would expect a lot of the 1000 homeowners would agree. I guess the HOA meetings would be a more appropriate format that BCR to discuss, though.