Pender County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Pender County Recreation and Open Space Plan 1998 The Pender County Recreation and Open Space Plan, adopted in 1998, identified five areas of need: i. Facility development, including upgrading existing park facilities and beginning development of additional parks. ii. Greenways, including walking trails and a rail trail from Rockfish Creek on the north to Miller Pond on the south. iii. Land acquisition, including district parks. iv. Staffing, including district coordinators, program and athletic program specialists, in addition to volunteers. v. Operating budget increases as the number of parks and people served increases. Facility Development Short term needs identified in the 1998 Plan included upgrading existing park facilities with new ballfields, backstops, playground equipment, picnic tables, benches and trash receptacles. The priority was to concentrate on upgrading existing park facilities within a 1 to 5 year period beginning with Miller Pond Park. The mid-term priority was to update the District Park 3 (near the NC 53/ Burgaw Bypass) master plan and begin development at an estimated cost of $7 million (1997). The Plan noted that the capital improvement budget for recreation development had been increased annually from 1995 and that the 1998-99 budget year allocated $100,000 for recreation improvements. The Plan recommended, beginning with the 1999-2000 budget year that the capital improvement budget for recreation be increased to $250,000 annually. The Plan noted that this amount of funding could be leveraged with NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grants to maximize park development. Rail Trail and Greenways Other Plan priorities included developing a rail trail and greenways. The Rail Trail was to start at Rockfish and continue south to Miller Pond – approximately 26 miles. The rail trail was recognized in the Plan as a unique recreational opportunity that would attract visitors to Pender County. The Plan indicated that the communities of Willard, Watha, Burgaw, and Rocky Point had the most potential to benefit economically from development of the rail trail. Greenways were identified as a priority at Maple Hill Community Center, Long Creek Community Center, Old Atkinson School, Miller Pond, and the District Park.
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