HOPE MILLS — Attendees of a public input meeting on the second phase of Heritage Park heard updates and provided feedback to the Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Department on the park’s design plans and construction costs.
The meeting, held Thursday at 6 p.m. in the town’s recreation center, was led by Parks & Recreation Director Lamarco Morrison. Mayor Jessie Bellflowers was in attendance but did not participate. Several town commissioners also attended, including Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray and Commissioners Jerry Legge, Joanne Scarola and Elyse Craver.
Morrison told attendees that the meeting marked the official kickoff of the master plan’s design process and that public input was required by law.
“Part two of the design process is scheduled to take place in fall 2025, after the town has attained 60% of the construction documents needed for the park,” said Morrison. According to the presentation, the design-build contract phase is scheduled for winter 2025, with construction beginning in fall 2026.
To help fund the project, Morrison said the town is applying for a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant, with a maximum request amount of $500,000. “We’ve got to match that,” said Morrison. PARTF provides matching grants to local governments to assist with public park and recreation projects. By his estimation, the town will need to contribute approximately $600,000. The projected total cost for Phase 2, including a 5% contingency, is estimated at $1,184,032.50.
Joining Morrison was project manager Jason Galloway of McAdams, a civil engineering, landscape architecture and geomatics firm based in Cary, which will design Phase 2. According to the presentation by Morrison and Galloway, Phase 2 is expected to include a playground, shelter, outdoor classroom, trails, pump house restoration, parking and a canoe launch.
The primary design goal is to provide active recreational amenities that complement the park’s existing historic and passive elements, according to the presentation.
Galloway explained that the team plans to incorporate existing structures on the land in a way that harmonizes with the natural water flow. He said he wants historic features such as the church and restored pump house to stand out.
The entry to Phase 2 will be located off Lakeview Road. During the forum’s discussion, resident Mason Steele raised concerns about traffic at the entry point, asking, “How are they going to manage traffic coming off the curb at 30 miles per hour?”
Morrison responded that an elevated crosswalk might be considered to encourage slower speeds. “Also, we could install a caution light,” he suggested.
“We are still in the design process; we’re not going to work these things out tonight. But we need your input, so if that’s something that concerns you, it’s definitely something we can incorporate into the construction documents,” Morrison said.
The resident replied that it was a safety issue that should have been addressed in Phase 1.
“It is, and now is the perfect opportunity to do something about it,” Morrison said. “It’s something we’re aware of now, and we can design for it.” He reiterated that while a caution light is possible, it’s also important for residents to follow the speed limit.
