DPNA Meeting Minutes

Special Session to discuss Duke Park Renovations
Feb. 13, 2003

Minutes of DPNA Meeting, 2/13/03

Board Members Present: Carol Donin (President), Andrew
Preiss (Vice President), Esther Bent (Treasurer), Rob Dilworth
(Secretary), Pam Campa (At-Large Member), Katherine O'Brien
(At-Large Member), Barry Ragin (At-Large Member), Wayne Allen
(President Ex-Officio)

Full Attendance: 25

Guest Speaker: William Royston, Durham Parks and Recreation

***IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be a special DPNA meeting on
Thursday, 2/20, at 7:00 P.M. at Grace Baptist Church to try to
reach a consensus on the renovation plans for the park.

***1. Brief Updates
*Treasurer's Report. Esther Bent reported that the DPNA's
account currently has approximately $3,040.

*Newsletter. Barry Ragin stated that the deadline for copy for the
next issue is Tuesday, 2/18. The newsletter will contain a
coupon from Stone Bros. and Byrd that will help raise money for
DPNA's initiative to buy a neighborhood sign.

*Yard Sale. Barry Ragin confirmed that the neighborhood yard
sale is scheduled for April 27.

*Coffee with City Council. Katherine O'Brien mentioned the
upcoming Coffee with City Council and encouraged neighbors to
provide topics/concerns for the meeting.

*Spring Clean. Katherine O'Brien reported that the city won't do
any "spring cleans" until May. Carol Donin will contact the city
and try to have Duke Park scheduled for a spring clean in May.2.

William Royston's Briefing on Renovation of Duke Park
Note: Prior to Royston's briefing, Barry Ragin and Andrew Preiss
handed out a document that they created titled "A Brief History of
the Duke Park Renovation Project" so that attendees would have
some background on the renovation.

Royston began his briefing with a discussion of the pool area,
which he said can't be fixed in the short run. The expense of
fixing the pipe under the pool and demolishing/removing the
pool itself would be approximately $1,000,000 ($300,000 for the
pipe and $700,000 for the pool). This problem is too big for
Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) to resolve on its own. DPR
needs financial assistance, which is currently unavailable, and
the assistance of the Department of Public Works to resolve the
problem. At some point, he thinks that the financing may come
from a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) grant and/or a bond
referendum.

If possible, he would eventually like to remove the pool house
and replace it with a new structure that would serve as a
community center. In the meantime, he plans to refurbish the
bathrooms, so that they're usable.

Because the problems with the pool area can't be resolved for
the time being, he would like to focus on renovating the
playground area on the western side of the loop for
approximately $325,000 to $350,000. (The cost of the renovation
would include new equipment, grating, benches, etc.) He would
like to complete this renovation by mid-summer of this year.
There would be two main areas for the playground--one area for
2-5 year olds and another area for 5-12 year olds.

Royston would also like to focus on converting the current
handball courts to a skateboard area, which would be the same
size as the handball courts. The area would remain fenced,
though the area would not be locked at night; the wall would be
removed; and the estimated maximum number of participants at
a given time would be 25-30 people. The area would contain
removable ramps and rails for skateboarders, and people using
rollerblades would be able to use the area. DPR is also
proposing 3-4 other skateboard areas/parks, so Royston doesn't
think our skateboard area would become a magnet for
skateboarders throughout the county. The city has extra money
for skateboard parks so it would be an efficient way to utilize the
park's renovation budget, esp. because tennis courts can be
expensive to create because of resurfacing etc. The skateboard
area would be monitored by park police; the city doesn't have the
staffing to supervise the area. There's a possibility that the city
would receive a grant from Nike or Gatorade for a drinking
fountain or a vending machine in the area.

3. Questions and Statements about Park Renovation
*Someone asked whether the proposed nature trail on the
eastern end of the park would be part of the plan. Royston
responded that the trail would actually be fairly
expensive--because of grating and dead-tree removal; he
envisions a nature trail being part of a later phase of renovations.

*Barry Ragin asked whether the "concrete slab" in the northern
portion of the park has potential as a skateboard area. [Note:
The slab is near the highway, east of the pool, and west of the
handball courts; the slab used to be covered by a shelter, which
was destroyed by Hurricane Fran. Royston responded that this
option would probably be too expensive because the area would
require grating, drainage, fencing, and new concrete.

*Carol Donin asked whether the equipment (ramps etc.) within
the skateboard area could be removed if the area became a
public nuisance. Royston replied that this would be an option.
DPR would listen to neighborhood complaints and monitor
police reports.

*Bill Anderson asked whether the city could guarantee in writing
that the neighborhood has the power to ask for removal. Royston
said that this was not possible. DPR doesn't want a skateboard
area that is objectively a public nuisance, but it would retain the
authority for removing equipment.

*Esther Bent compared the current debate about the skateboard
area to the recent debate about whether the Durham Rescue
Mission (DRM) should move to the neighborhood. Many
residents had concerns about DRM, but they proved to be
unfounded, and she thinks most residents will be pleased with a
skateboard area in the long run. She also read letters, written by
her daughters, in support of a skateboard area and other ideas,
and confirmed her support for having volleyball courts.

*Richard Hart expressed that the concrete slab in the northern
part of the park might be an ideal spot for a skateboard park
because it's near parking and it's less visible. He's concerned
about the loop having more traffic, and he would like the city to
consider removing the loop. He also thinks it's outrageous that
the city has not dealt with the problems in the pool area. Royston
agreed that the pool area is a big problem, but, at this point,
resolving it is incredibly expensive, esp. during a budget crisis.
With regard to the loop, he would consider closing it off and
converting it into a walkway. In the future, he might also consider
leaving the park open at night and installing some waist-high
lighting.

*Barry Ragin mentioned an idea that Steve Hiltner of the Ellerbee
Creek Watershed Association had mentioned as a
possibility--namely, that the pool area could be converted into a
stormwater pond. Royston thinks that this is a bad idea because
of liability; someone could drown in the pond. He has
approached the state about funding a stream restoration for the
area, but it doesn't fit their criteria. (The stream isn't long
enough.)

*Chris Shepard stated that he is over thirty years old and would
enjoy using a skateboard area. He has seen many well-run
skateboard parks in California and thinks they're family oriented
and nice. He thinks a skateboard area in Duke Park would be a
positive.

*Katherine O'Brien encouraged the city to consider using the
concrete slab as the skateboard park and suggested converting
the handball courts to tennis courts

*John Paschall expressed that people living near the park have
serious concerns that a skateboard area would increase traffic,
parking, and noise. He would like the park to retain its quiet
aspects. Royston stated that the playground will actually create
more noise than the skateboard area. The highway will drown
out the noise of skateboarding. However, if the skateboard area
were to generate excess noise, the city can use materials to
cover the area's fence to lessen the sound.

*Ben Holmes thinks that most skateboarders would be from the
neighborhood. If kids are driven, they'll probably be dropped off
so this wouldn't generate parking problems. He's been to the
huge skateboard park in Chapel Hill, and there are rarely more
than a handful for cars in the parking lot.

*Tom Holmes stated that he's been doing research on public
skateboard parks in North Carolina and has had contact with a
couple of the directors of the parks. In general, these directors
feel that the skateboard parks have been positive for their
communities. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

*Barry Ragin suggested that we consider buying less
playground equipment and then spend the extra money on
converting the concrete slab, rather than the handball courts, into
the skateboard area because placing the skateboard area in this
vicinity seems less controversial. Royston said he would figure
out the feasibility of doing this scenario and report to Andrew
Preiss asap. However, he's certain it would mean there wouldn't
be enough money to convert the handball courts to anything
else--they would remain as is for the time being. For instance, it
would cost $40,000-$50,000 to convert the handball courts to
tennis courts, but this money won't be left if the skateboard area
is somewhere else in the park.

*Scott Mitchell asked about the feasibility of sand-lot volleyball
courts. Royston stated that the sand can create problems (i.e., it
can become a magnet for garbage), and if there were to be
volleyboard courts, he would prefer a different court surface. He
estimated the cost of a volleyball court at about $6,000.

*Chris Crochetiere asked about Royston's original plans to
renovate/upgrade the loop. He responded that the loop is in
disrepair, and if it stays, it will need to be repaired so that it's
safe. It actually might be more expensive to close off the loop
because much of the asphault would need to be removed etc.

*Esther Bent asked whether an electrical outlet would be
possible. Royston said that this would need to be done in a later
renovation; the outlet is more complicated than it seems.

*Richard Hart suggested including a small climbing structure in
the playground area. Royston agreed to consider it.

*Royston urged the neighborhood to come to a consensus on
the park renovation in two weeks. He wants to begin the
renovation process soon to make sure that the funding remains
available in a tough budgetary climate.

--Minutes taken by Rob Dilworth