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Town Center Plan
January 2007
Appendix 10
How do we determine what becomes a park?
Board adopted “Parks, Recreation, Greenways and Open Space Master Plan“
x
Approved by Board of Commissioners in 2002
x
Based on public input
x
Includes a public needs analysis
x
Identifies areas of recreational need in the Town
o
Provides for geo-equity to all residents in Morrisville
Standards
x
All parks and recreational amenities are compared to local park systems and weighed against
national averages
x
The analysis shows a deficit/surplus of recreational items such as soccer fields, swimming
pools and even types of parks and park acreage
x
This tool helps to determine exactly how many acres of parks, fields, basketball courts, etc.
the Town needs to provide residents presently, and into the future
Because we know what amenities we need to develop to provide the greatest equity to our residents,
further public planning meetings are conducted for public input
Implementation Strategies
Parks aren’t built overnight, but through a long planning process. First, the Town must develop a
concept of a park or greenway, acquire the land, and develop the park. Listed are just a few
common tools that the Town uses to acquire and fund parks and greenway projects in the Town:
Acquisition
x
Right of Way dedication
x
Fee-simple purchase, or purchasing land at market value
x
Easements
o
Limits development to build a “green infrastructure” or open space
o
Reserves land for a specific future use, such as a greenway
Funding
x
General Fund
x
Payment-in-lieu by residential developers
o
New residential developers may provide future parkland or a payment-in-lieu of the
land based on the number of units in the project
x
Grants
x
Public/Public partnerships
o
Town of Morrisville and Wake County School build School Parks
x
Public/Private partnerships
o
Developer agrees to build greenway into a neighborhood project
Town Center Planning Process
An Introduction to Parks and
Greenways Implementation Strategies
(Draft, 8/22/06)