PARKS AND RECREATION NEWS

 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan
The Parks and Recreation Department is currently in the process of selecting a design firm to create a Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This plan will be used as a guide to meet the Village’s recreational facility and service needs over the next 20 years. The process will include surveys, public input meetings and presentations and we strongly encourage all residents to participate and share your opinions. The selected firm will be evaluating the need for future programs, parks, community centers, facilities, open space, land acquisition and management, trails, greenways and more in order to develop their recommendations. More information will be available regarding the schedule for public input meetings once a firm is selected so please look for this and plan to attend at least one of the sessions if possible. Anyone with questions regarding the Master Plan process can contact Mark Wagner, Parks and Recreation Director at 295-2817.

Pinehurst Walks!
The Pinehurst Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with FirstHealth of the Carolinas and Pinehurst Elementary School is encouraging students and their parents to participate in various “Walk to School” days and the popular “Walking School Bus”. This is an effort funded through a Fit Community Grant the partnership received in 2008 to promote healthy lifestyle changes and to combat the growing childhood obesity rates. Scheduled days to walk to school will be Wednesdays during the school year beginning on September 2 at 7:00 a.m. Parents are asked to park in the sand parking lot at Cannon Park and use the new Greenway Trail along Craig and Dundee Roads. We also ask that vehicular traffic keep an eye out for children walking to school on these days and adhere to the posted speed limit of 25 mph at all times so that our children can be safely walked to school. If you would like to volunteer on one of the planned walk to school days, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 295-2817.

Greenway System Additions!
In September of 2008, the Moore County Health Department received a Childhood Obesity Prevention Project (COPP) grant from the NC Division of Public Health. As a result of this grant, the Pinehurst Parks and Recreation Department was able to construct a concrete sidewalk approximately .36 miles along Gun Club Rd. from Hwy. 211 to the existing greenway near the end of Gun Club Rd. Construction was completed in June. The department was also able to purchase 9 bike racks that have been placed throughout the Village and add an additional .28 miles of greenway trail through Cannon Park connecting the signaled crossing on Hwy 211 and the Fit Community Trail from the park to Pinehurst Elementary. The total grant amount received as part of this partnership was $124,000 with the Village contributing approximately $33,000 to complete the projects. North Carolina was recently ranked 16th in the nation in adult obesity in a national report. More alarming is the state’s ranking of 5th in the nation in overweight adolescents. The percentage of children and adults who are overweight or obese rises each year, and despite advances in medicine, the current generation of children may be the first to live shorter lives than their parents. Eat Smart, Move More NC strives to reverse this trend by creating environments where healthy eating and physical activity are the norm instead of the exception. For more information on the statewide Eat Smart, Move More NC movement or to find out how your community can promote healthy eating and physical activity, visit www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com on the Web.

Department Announces Meredith Silhol’s Retirement
Meredith Silhol is retiring after 6 years with the Parks and Recreation Department as the Fair Barn Event Coordinator. Known around the Village and community as the “Barn Lady”, Meredith has played an important role in making the Fair Barn the successful venue it has become for all of the events she has worked with. Her dedication to customer service and striving to make each client’s event special will be greatly missed. We wish our best to Meredith, her husband Buzz and son Donnie, as they relocate to Florida. Thank you Meredith for all that you have done, it is truly appreciated!

Welcome To Our Newest Staff Member!
Ann Owen began work as our new Fair Barn Event Coordinator on August 27, 2009. Ann brings with her nearly 5 years of experience as an Event Planner as well as a background in marketing and promotion. Her office will be located in the Fair Barn and she will be working with all clients using the facility and in promoting Village sponsored events. Ann will be living in Southern Pines with her husband Jason and their daughter Charlotte. We welcome Ann to our staff and are looking forward to working with her on future events at the Fair Barn!