Master Plan Citizen Comments from the Nov. 2 meeting:
Meeting Place: Jamestown High School
Two Adult Groups
Group #1
Facilitator: Tom Little
Recorder: Caroline Rhodes
1. Have you ever used a James City County park or facility (such as the community centers), or enrolled in a program?
- 100%
2. When it comes to parks, programs and facilities – what does Parks & Recreation do well?
Programs:
- Youth Programs (summer/soccer)
- WISC ( Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex at Warhill)
- Youth League Baseball
- Youth Swimming
- Before & After School program
- Marketing (youth/teen dances)
- Diversity of programs
- Activities for all ages
- Relationship of city/county programs
Parks & Facilities:
- Camping opportunities
- Outdoor experiences
- Community Center
- Chickahominy Riverfront Park
- Little Creek Reservoir Park playground
- Boating access
- Land acquisition
- In general, maintenance is done well
3. In reference to those parks, programs and facilities – in what areas do we need to improve?
Programs:
- Aquatics (not enough classes/programs)
- Timing of classes – not accessible to working folks, possibly in a.m.)
- Disparity of facilities between baseball and softball fields (city/County?)
- Less swimming classes
Parks & Facilities:
- Shade trees at WISC (Williamsburg Sports Complex at Warhill)
- Another year-round pool
- More walking paths
- More bike paths that connect to places
- Process to address small items with Parks and Rec staff/concerns (need method to expedite short term, immediate needs. Ex. Rec. field #1 rains, pools at home plate. Ex. lightning system at Rec Field #1 goes out when game is still in play but soccer lights on and no one is playing on field)(drainage problems).
4A. Think about the next five years and beyond – what do you feel will be your – or your family’s - greatest needs in programs, parks and facilities?
(Meeting participants were asked to rank the priorities. Number of votes appears first.)
Program Priorities:
- (54) - More swimming programs
- (want to see more County support for competitive & recreation sports)
- (49) - Creation/promotion of river based sports (canoeing, sailing, kayaking, rowing)
- (26) - Bicycle Safety programs for adults
- (19) - Aquatic/exercise programs for adults/seniors
- (17) - Lacrosse programs
Parks & Facility Priorities:
- (44) -
Aquatic
Center
– tournament quality facility, 50-meter pool to adapt to 2, 25 meter pools. Strong economic impact for seniors and youth.
- (37) -Boathouse for non-sailing sports
- (21) -Greenway Master Plan – walking trails, biking trails
- (19) - Sailing Center
- (16) -Softball field at Warhill
- (14) -Multi-purpose bike paths - from Freedom Park to James City-Williamsburg Community Center
- (8) -Mountain bike trails
- (6) - Walking trails with land acquisition
- (37) -Boathouse for non-sailing sports
4B. Do you feel we’ve adequately addressed your future needs? If not, what have we missed?
- When planning, plan for the reinvestment from long-range planning
- Economic development opportunities for tournaments such as swimming, softball, soccer, baseball, regatta, triathlon (Ironman) and lacrosse
- Ecotourism – don’t rob Peter to pay Paul, for example, don’t expand center and then lose fields
- Facilities need to meet citizen needs first, then revenue generation important to think about. If they build it, they will come.
5. How far are you willing to drive to use a particular facility?
- Most agreed to 20-30 minutes, 35 minutes but it would depend on the activity. For a special use facility, participants were willing to drive further. For families, about 15 minutes. For tournaments, longer.
Group #2
Facilitator: Tressell Carter
Recorder: Deborah Merritt-Ham
1. Have you ever used a James City County park or facility (such as the community centers), or enrolled in a program? Majority voted yes.
2. When it comes to parks, programs and facilities – what does Parks & Recreation do well?
Programs:
- Sports
- Inclusion/Special Needs
- Aerobics/Yoga
- Special Events
- Youth
Parks & Facilities:
- James City-Williamsburg Community Center
- Chickahominy Riverfront Park
- James City-Williamsburg Community Center pool
- Kiwanis Park (located in the City of Williamsburg)
- Mid-County Park
3. In reference to those parks, programs and facilities – in what areas do we need to improve?
Programs:
- Exercise/Weight Room
- Growth of bike paths and walking trails
- More swimming facilities/classrooms
- Special needs; classes cancelled due to lack of required number of participants; classes to address developmental ages versus chronological ages.
- Develop programs to encompass broader scope – fishing, kayaking, swimming, etc., aquatics (comprehensive).
- Parks/Rec (all offices in same facility)
Parks & Facilities:
- More swimming, larger or additional facility to meet demand and other needs (design, air quality, different type of swimming methods) ecology.
- Future renovations to the James City-Williamsburg Community Center should allow for competitive swimming needs for students.
- Special needs access, increase quantity, enhancements for disabled/seniors
- Chickahominy Riverfront Park needs improved docks, shelter, boat protection, Rowing teams, develop both program and facility.
4A. Think about the next five years and beyond – what do you feel will be your – or your family’s - greatest needs in programs, parks and facilities?
(Meeting participants were asked to rank the priorities. Number of votes appears first.)
Program Priorities:
- (25) More swimming offerings for disabled and specials needs citizens; expand, do not limit numbers
- (24) Master/competitive Swimming
- (15) Youth Rowing (middle –high)
- (27) Boating, canoeing
- (13) Underprivileged swimming needs
- (7) Equine program
- (17) Revenue – biking/walking trail programs
- (0) Eateries (inside or outside specific Parks & Rec facilities)
- (2) Before and After School for special needs/disabled more availability such as more slots at more places
Parks & Facility Priorities:
- (25) Appropriate dock for rowing ( Chickahominy Riverfront Park ); kayaking/canoeing (revenue/shared facility)
- (24) Expand weight room rooms/racquetball courts
- (23) Swimming pool (50-meter) host meets
- (16) Build for expansion/growth
- (15) Adaptive equipment at all parks
- (13) Walking/fitness trails
- (12) Inclusion accessible equipment
- (5) Consolidate location for Parks and Recreation
- (2) Porta-potties
4B. Do you feel we’ve adequately addressed your future needs? If not, what have we missed?
- Offer local artists a place to display their art & sculpture pieces
- Outdoor Concerts
- Plan for the biking community
5. How far are you willing to drive to use a particular facility?
- Most agreed to 15-20 minutes.