The Town of Edenton would like to share an overall update as to the state of our Neighborhood Park Redevelopment Project.
As many are aware, we began receiving some generalized site drawings from our partner firm earlier this year. As of now, rough drawings for Griffith Park, Paxton Lane Park and Morgan Park are available for viewing. However, it should be noted and clarified that these renderings are not the final designs, rather, they are simple drawings of what the parks “could” look like in a very simple, computer-drawn environment, for planning purposes.
Not every amenity that staff has planned for were included in these drawings. After receiving these first three draft designs, town staff determined that further resident feedback – in the form of public meetings at the parks – would be required, so that this new input could be utilized for the final designs in the future. This input is absolutely critical in the overall process and helps us create outdoor spaces that are welcoming to all.
“Before we received the first drawings, we had considered local input from our residents on what folks would like to see at their neighborhood parks, via a survey conducted last summer of both adults and school-aged children,” said Town Manager Corey Gooden. “The Town heard everyone loud and clear as a result of this survey and months of public dialogue.”
Currently, town staff has received pricing estimates for new park shelters and pavement upgrades for existing basketball courts. Our contractors are expected to start building picnic shelters at Paxton Lane Park, Griffith Park, and Stratford-Hawthorne Park within the next two weeks. Contractors will move to the rest of the parks as materials are delivered or shelters are completed. It should be noted that some shelters and pavement upgrades were not displayed on the initial drawings for these parks, as they are generalized outlines to assist with the planning and feedback process rather than hyper-localized final designs.
In regards to new pavement – our paving contractors are expected to start on fresh basketball court overlays within the next two weeks at both Paxton Lane Park and Griffith Park.
Once the pavement upgrades and the shelters are added, staff will work through the process to install any tables, backboards, striping, to make each location functional. Once these improvements are complete, staff will return to the site designers to make updated final site plans (that will include ALL completed and planned amenities); these final additions could also include lighting retrofits, security enhancements, and other requests from the general public during the survey and dialogue process.
“We would like to thank our residents, local stakeholders, partner firms and all those involved with this process as we move forward and begin these upgrades,” said Manager Gooden. “To say we are excited is an understatement, we are truly thrilled to provide improved park facilities across Edenton – from Oak Hill to Old Hertford Road. Thank you for everyone’s patience as we continue down this path to enhance livability for all of our residents.”
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