AGENDA #4d

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and Town Council

FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT: Report on Potential Off-Road Sledding Locations

DATE: May 8, 2000

The attached resolution would designate three Town-owned locations for off-road sledding areas.

BACKGROUND

Due to concerns encountered during the January 2000 snowstorms the Council revised the ordinance related to closing streets for sledding. We were asked to identify possible off-road park locations appropriate for snow sledding.

DISCUSSION

We believe that a successful sled area should contain the following attributes:

· somewhat hilly

· clear of wooded areas and other potential obstacles

· distant from all vehicular traffic

· legally accessed by citizens

Suitability of Town Properties: All Town-owned park and recreation properties were reviewed. Due to the nature of the properties, we believe that relatively few sites are appropriate for sledding. The following three sites have been identified for sledding use:

· the hill on the Community Center grounds near the playground

· the Homestead Park parking lot and the incline parallel to the skateboard park

· the spur section of the Bolin Creek Greenway that leads to Elizabeth Street

The remainder of the Town park sites are flat (playing fields), heavily wooded (nature areas and trails), close to roads and/or other barriers, or have no legal access. In addition, most paved greenway trails are too narrow for safe sledding in wooded areas. Please see the chart below, listing all properties and concerns for their use as sledding areas.

CONSIDERATION OF OTHER TOWN-OWNED LAND FOR A SLEDDING AREA

Parcel	Too Flat	Wooded/Obstructions	Close to Road/Other Barrier	No Appropriate Access
Bennett Road		*	*
Burlington Park	*	*
Cedar Falls Park	*	*
remainder Community Center	*
Ephesus Park	*	*
Hargraves Park	*
Remainder of Homestead Park	*	*
Jones Park		*
Lloyd Land	*		*
Merritt Pasture				*
North Forest Hills		*
Umstead Park		*	*
Westwood Park		*	*

RECOMMENDATION

Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution identifying off-road sledding areas in the Community Center and Homestead Parks and along the Elizabeth Street spur of the Bolin Creek Greenway and that staff evaluate new sites for sledding as they are suggested and report back to the Council if new opportunities are located.

A RESOLUTION OFFICIALLY NAMING THREE SITES FOR OFF-ROAD SLEDDING (2000-05-08/R-4 )

WHEREAS, the Town Council has recently amended the ordinance permitting street closings for sledding, and

WHEREAS, all parks and recreation lands have been considered; and

WHEREAS, locations in the Community Center and Homestead Parks and along the Elizabeth Street spur of the Bolin Creek Greenway have been identified as sledding areas;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the following sites are adopted as off-road sledding areas:

· the hill on the Community Center grounds near the playground

· the Homestead Park parking lot and incline parallel to it by the skateboard park

· the spur section of the Bolin Creek Greenway to Elizabeth Street

This the 8th day of May, 2000.