Bladen County Park and Recreation has been a place for citizens to enjoy sports and social activities. Last week a group of almost a dozen people gather to discuss how to improve the communities in Bladen County with the Parks and Recreation programs.
Deb Jordon, with East Carolina University Recreation Leisure Studies, helped facilitate a public meeting last Thursday, March 8th, to assist with the master plan for Bladen County Parks and Recreation.
The first question Jordon asked the group was, “What was the purpose of local parks and recreation?” The purpose of parks and recreation the group described was to engage citizens for physical and social activities and encourage high community involvement.
Folks were asked what were some positive things the county offered with the local parks and recreation.
“I think we have some really nice facilities and parks,” stated Daine Smith, a citizen in attendance.
The sports and other programs offered by the local county recreation department were listed as assets to the communities. Grant Pait, with Bladen County Parks & Recreation, explained the Healthy Bladen Kids Program was kicked off last summer offering meals and conversations about healthy living to children at five different sites throughout the county.
Jordon asked for some suggestions for changes to the programs and facilities in the county.
Greg Martin, Bladen County Manager said, “Older citizens would like to have more opportunity for walking.”
Someone else in the group stated a new gym was needed because the gym isn’t up to standards to hold all star games. He listed the bathrooms and the floors as primary causes for a new facility. Parking at the county park and needs for new bathrooms were also added to the list of facility needs.
Next, Jordon asked what were some things competing with the Parks and Recreation Department.
“Private organizations competing with county parks and recreation hurts the activities,” Morgan King, with Bladen County Parks and Recreation said. Travel sports was quickly named as one of those organizations hurting county sports involvement.
Travel ball is really hurting the social aspect of the sport. Athletes will play together and go to school together if they play in the county. When they play travel ball they don’t get to socialize with each other, according to Grant Pait.
Greg Martin, said, according to a report on NPR, families are spending more on travel sports than they pay for their monthly mortgage payments.
“It takes away from the community environment,” Pait added
Other barriers discussed were rural area partnerships, drugs and budgets. The groups talked about creating partnerships with the health department. A big factor is the county’s opioid issues. The groups said partnerships with the Health Department and the Parks and Recreation Department could help with the drug issues. Dan Tatum, another citizen at the meeting, suggested schools and the NC Wildlife agency could partner for education at a shooting range and hunter safety courses.
Tatum said, “Education on understanding fire arms and hunting is a multi-billion dollar business and it’s getting a bad wrap, but it is part of recreation. It could be something our parks and recreation could offer.”
The meeting ended with a review of the items discussed. All citizens in attendance were asked to submit the ideas they had made at the meeting to Jordon on a note card. Jordon said she would follow up with the County Manager about the master plan.
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