Park System Development (through January 2016)

Annual Presentation This link is a brief overview of Nash County Parks & Recreation Department. The County does does not own any park property to date.  We assist municipalities with the PARTF grant application. We also serve as the Grant Administrator for each of the grants. The Coopers/West Mount/Macedonia area is unincorporated and raised enough money to purchase and develop park property.  Upon completion, the County will operate, maintain and program for this park as it does  for Red Oak, Bailey, Castalia and Spring Hope.

Out of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Nash County is the only county that operates in this fashion. By requiring the municipalities to own and develop the land, the county is able to capitalize on the point system created by the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.  The other advantage with this style of operations:  the towns have a county wide park system instead of small pockets of municipal park operations that may not necessarily work together.

Bailey-Middlesex Park 65 Acres – The two town’s combined population is roughly 815.   This park is a 65 acre park property that was purchased by the Towns Bailey & Middlesex in 2009 with the agreement that Nash County would operate, maintain and program once the development was complete. Nash County wrote the first grant with exception of the rendered drawing and passed along to Wither’s & Ravenel to submit the PARTF Application.  Nash County serves as the grant administrator for both towns. Completion date for Phase I was in September 2014, Phase II is set for fall of 2016, Phase III and IV have not been determined.

Castalia Park 15 Acres– Castalia is a town with the population of 294 and purchased the 15 acres of park property in 2009 for $78,612 and the state matched that amount with the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. Nash County wrote the grant for the land acquisition and the C.O.G. wrote the grant for development. Completion for phase I:  Fall 2015.

Ennis Park – Red Oak 30 Acres – This park was the catalyst for the Nash County Parks and Recreation system. The Town of Red Oak owned the property and requested Nash County to operate and maintain and program for the Town back in 2006. Both Red Oak and Dortched pooled their money together to match the NC PARTF & LWCF Grants.  Nash County wrote the grant and served as project manager and grant administrator.  The park is 30 acres, with 4 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, adult softball field and 3 youth softball fields, open space for youth soccer programs as well as a 1/2 mile walking trail.   

Spring Hope Park 5 Acres – Spring Hope Community Park (5 acres) abuts the elementary school to lend nicely to our joint use of facilities. This park was recently renovated with new playground equipment, resurfaced tennis courts and basketball court. Nash County worked with the Town of Spring Hope to renovate the existing bathrooms. Nash County wrote the grant for all the upgrades to the park. The County Parks & Rec staff worked with the Spring Hope Chamber of Commerce to upgrade the dugouts and ball field fences.  The face lift to the 5 acres park property was completed September 2014 and cost $55,000 with a state match of $55,000.

Nash County Master Plan:

https://nashcountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/785/Master-Plan?bidId=