On Monday, the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the town’s top three priorities: a senior center, a community center and Phase II of Heritage Park.
The vote was carried out at the end of a special legislative meeting and presentation held at the Public Safety building, with several members of the Cumberland County Legislative Delegation in attendance.
Attending the meeting were N.C. State Sen. Val Applewhite, N.C. Reps. Mike Colvin, Diane Wheatley, Frances Jackson and Charles Smith, and Katie Smith, who represented the office of U.S. Rep. David Rouzer.
The board asked the delegates to seek state assistance in funding these top projects to enhance the quality of life for Hope Mills residents, a point reiterated by both Mayor Jessie Bellflowers and Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin.
Hope Mills is requesting $3,430,500 from state legislators for a Hope Mills Senior Center, $13,134,000 for a Hope Mills Community Center, and $773,883 to complete Phase II of Heritage Park, totaling $17,338,383.
According to a presentation letter from Bellflowers to the representatives, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Hope Mills at over 18,000 in 2023, growing at a rate of 0.31% annually, which is an increase of 1.27% overall. People aged 65 and older represent 12% of the population, with approximately 2,200 being veterans.
Bellflowers stated that the board agrees the community needs a multi-purpose senior citizen center and community recreation center, serving as a focal point for active older adults and vital community services.
“Just as water, sewer, and public safety are considered essential public services, parks and recreational centers are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in our community, ensuring the health of our families and youth, and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of our community and Cumberland County,” Bellflowers wrote in his letter.
Bellflowers also highlighted that Hope Mills Parks & Recreation hosts three seasons of league play sports: winter, spring and fall.
McLaughlin presented a slideshow to the delegates, showcasing projects the town has completed through joint financial efforts between the state and the town. Projects such as Heritage Park Phase I, the Reid’s Journey All-Inclusive Playground, and the Splash Pad were completed with town funds and state financial support totaling just over $2.2 million.
“We believe you have to have skin in the game,” McLaughlin told the delegates.
McLaughlin said he wanted to demonstrate that Hope Mills had invested and contributed a significant portion of its own funds to each project while securing state financial assistance to complete them.
Both Bellflowers and McLaughlin emphasized that pickleball is particularly popular among the town’s senior population, highlighting the need for better facilities and services for the town’s growing senior and veteran communities. They said the new centers would also improve the overall quality of life for all residents.
“Our amenities are why families are moving here,” Bellflowers said, adding that amenities and programs would always be free to town residents.
Future priorities
According to the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners, here are the town’s future priorities in order:
Priority Number One: Hope Mills Senior Center Retrofit
The town plans to retrofit the existing 20,000-square-foot recreation building, which was built in 1983, into an ADA-compliant, multi-purpose senior center with a White Flag Shelter designation — allowing it to serve as emergency shelter for unhoused residents in times of severe weather. Some of the planned features also include:
- A large exercise classroom
- A fitness room
- A gymnasium converted into a half-court with marked pickleball courts
- Multi-purpose classrooms
- A café and game room
- A commercial kitchen
- Locker rooms and dressing rooms
Priority Number Two: Hope Mills Community Center
With renovations planned for the existing recreation center, the town will also need a new community center. The proposed facility, to be built at the Golfview Greenway site, will be a 27,000-square-foot multi-purpose, storm-rated Facility 4. Some of the planned features will include:
- A gymnasium with a full-size court and four half-size courts
- Indoor pickleball courts
- A computer lab
- Locker rooms
- A full commercial kitchen
- Administrative offices
- Fitness equipment for disabled veterans and special needs populations
- Eight outdoor pickleball courts
The new community center will be a regional facility and will also serve as a shelter.
Priority Number Three: Heritage Park Phase II
Town staff is coordinating with the NLC Grant Program to submit a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant application for $1,000,000, which requires a $500,000 town match. Phase II will complement the Phase I extension by adding:
- Additional parking
- Shelters
- An outdoor classroom
- A kayak and floating boat launch
The next regular Hope Mills Board of Commissioners meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 3 at the Hope Mills Town Hall at 5770 Rockfish Rd.
