Alliance starts making plans for park
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on August 18, 2006 1:53 PM
Stoney Creek Park Alliance board members met Thursday to discuss potential funding sources for the park project, organizational details and ways to get the Goldsboro, Wayne County and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base communities involved in the effort.
Dr. Peter Roethling told the board there are many ways to raise awareness about the proposed $2 million project. He passed around one of them -- a mailer designed to solicit donations and volunteer hours.
"This is for soliciting money," he said. "But as important is involvement."
When city and county residents review the pamphlet, they will gain a better understanding of the group's mission, Dr. Roethling added. Those who pledge their time and/or money should receive membership in the alliance, he said -- and the perks that come with it.
"Any donation is appreciated, large or small," Dr. Roethling said. "If a child wants to donate $2, it's still valuable."
After a few revisions were made to the mailer, the group discussed potential "benefits" of membership in the alliance, an aspect of "this whole program of getting people involved with the development of the park," Dr. Roethling said. Bumper stickers, lapel pins, newsletters and invitations to a potential lecture series were among their preliminary ideas.
"It would be nice to see, in the next six months, cars with Stoney Creek Park on them," he said.
Dr. Roethling said he hopes to have a final draft and targeted mailing list at the next alliance meeting, currently scheduled for Sept. 21. He asked board members to think about potential places around Goldsboro and Wayne to leave copies of the mailer.
"Let's keep thinking about what individuals, what groups and locations might need them," he said.
Board members also discussed possible dates for a public hearing on the project. All agreed that the last week of October or first in November would be optimal.
Recreation and Parks Director Neil Bartlett said he would check on availability of a space for the hearing and present his findings at the September meeting.
Dr. Roethling said the hearing will afford the public an opportunity to sound off on progress that has been made on Stoney Creek. The alliance will present an organized plan and outline the many changes that have occurred at the park throughout the past few months, he added.
Board members said they would like to see a question and answer session at the meeting as well and hope to see staff from Kimley-Horn and Associates present also. Dr. Roethling agreed.
"I think we can have segments at the meeting," he said. "We could maybe even do break-out sessions after we present our plan."
The alliance also approved the purchase of a $750, 4-by-8 sign to promote the park project. The rendering on the sign will give residents an idea of the city's vision of what Stoney Creek Park can be, Dr. Roethling said.
A project Web site, parking and a park logo were also discussed at the meeting.