Comprehensive Plan

Vision

All people in Carrboro, of all races and backgrounds, will have safe and equitable access to recreational and cultural opportunities, including a connected network of parks, green space, and trails. The Carrboro community comes together year-round through creative programming and events that celebrate the Town’s history, unique essence, and diverse range of cultures through festivals, music, and the arts.

Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources Mission Statement

To enrich the leisure needs and quality of life for citizens by providing accessible facilities, creative and diverse recreation opportunities and a safe public park system.

What We Will Measure
What We Will Measure
The number of residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park or programmed activities
The number of BIPOC participants in RPCR programming
The number of all people participating in RPCR programming
The number of BIPOC-led programs
The number of new programs and events in Carrboro
The number of new equitable and accessible recreational amenities (such as outdoor exercise equipment)

Goals	Projects
Goals	Projects
Categories Goal 1: Address disparate impacts of transportation decisions and investments in Carrboro’s BIPOC, lower-income, and differently-abled populations.
Strategy 1.1 Center equity in transportation planning processes.
Categories Goal 1: Promote recreational programming and cultural resources across all ages, genders, races, and abilities with affordable opportunities.
Strategy 1.1 Evaluate recreational programming through the adopted One Orange Racial Equity Framework to identify any gaps in activities for all interests, age groups, ability, and affordability levels.	C Install additional outdoor exercise amenities in more parks and along trails for affordable and easy access.
	D Develop a communications campaign that focuses on targeted outreach in communities not currently utilizing RPCR programs.
	E Enhance the promotion of the Financial Assistance Program (FAP) for families and individuals who wish to participate but cannot afford fees.
	F Provide activities and spaces geared towards teenagers with both passive and active gathering spaces and programs.
	A Periodically survey the public and conduct needs assessments on recreation services to identify new opportunities, changing priorities, and barriers.
	Conduct a feasibility study and/or needs assessment for an indoor recreation center/swimming pool in Town.
	G Continue, promote, and expand offerings for virtual recreational programming.
Strategy 1.2 Identify and promote opportunities for both passive and active recreation for young and old populations.	A Dedicate funding and identify sites for a splash pad (or similar interactive water feature) that can serve all ages and ability levels.
	B Add at least one multigenerational wellness opportunity each year to an existing town-wide event.
	C Continue to encourage and expand neighbor-organized community gardens in public parks.
	D Improve park and trail accessibility for people with different abilities, aspiring to go beyond ADA standards.
	E Add programs that offer health education, physical training, and nutrition for all ages and ability levels.
Strategy 1.3: Continue to adapt and expand cultural resources and programming to align with community needs.	A Capitalize on the 203 Project and the new ArtsCenter to plan for arts and cultural programming that reaches underserved populations.
	B Identify partnerships and opportunities for cross-pollination with other organizations providing programming.
Categories Goal 2: Ensure all people in Carrboro have safe, equitable, and connected access to parks, open space, and recreational facilities.
Strategy 2.1 Strive for a park, play field, or other green space within walking distance (e.g. half-mile or 10-minute walk) and physically accessible to all residents in Carrboro.	A Prioritize access for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, and other underserved communities in siting new park and recreation facilities or improving access to existing parks and facilities, including the number of entrances, access points, and safe pathways to existing facilities, allowing more residents to be able to walk to a park.
	B Pursue opportunities for new, expanded, or shared multi-purpose fields that can accommodate a range of activities and users.
	C Find ways that the Town of Carrboro can coordinate with and encourage Orange County to implement plans for Twin Creeks Park.
	D Explore partnerships with homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and other landowners for joint use agreements that increase public access to open space and recreation facilities.
	E Adopt siting and service criteria for evaluating potential land acquisition for recreation and park facilities in cooperation with other regional park providers and in relation to siting facilities in underserved areas and exploring sites for pocket parks (less than 2 acres) or button parks (1 acre or less).
	F Identify locations for a new dog park in a central location in Town to provide an amenity for dog owners and another opportunity for additional social and gathering spaces for residents.
Strategy 2.2: Continue to maintain and pursue new opportunities for coordination and shared-use agreements with Orange County, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and other recreation providers to connect park and greenway systems.	A Expand existing parks partnerships and identify the need for any new agreements that can improve access across different park systems.
	B Encourage and participate in a regional Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan to guide future parks planning and help leverage outside funding.
Strategy 2.3: Preserve, enhance, and promote access to additional parks and open spaces through partnerships with other agencies and organizations.	A Continue to work with other agencies such as the County, UNC, OWASA, and the Town of Chapel Hill to maintain and expand opportunities in Carolina North Forest and University Lake
	B Identify new sites for recreational opportunities as part of future development in the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
	Continue to promote and spread awareness of nearby park facilities, especially those that closely border Carrboro and provide amenities and programming that Carrboro lacks.
Strategy 2.4: Focus on community outreach and education about parks and recreation opportunities, especially to those without access to the Internet or for whom English is a second language.	A Connect with community ambassadors / neighborhood liaisons to help with translation and outreach.
	B Collaborate with school districts, community organizations, and businesses to promote park resources and programs.
	C Add multilingual park signage that also uses pictures and icons.
	D Engage new and existing parks users through events that serve multiple purposes (i.e. food distribution and programming for children).
Strategy 2.5: Encourage and support the development of greenways and trails for public use, creating a complete network of connected greenways connecting parks, open spaces and conservation areas for biking, walking, and wildlife corridors.	With efforts led by the Planning Department, continue to collaborate with Planning, RPCR, Public Works, other Town departments, government agencies, and Advisory Boards and Commissions (i.e. Greenways Commission) to implement planned greenway improvements strategically and efficiently in conjunction with planned park and neighborhood linkages.
Categories Goal 3: Ensure that recreation and park facilities and programming are environmentally responsible and help further climate change related goals.
Strategy 3.1: Implement Best Management Practices in maintenance and future upgrades to Carrboro’s park facilities.	A Treat recreation and park facilities as functional and exemplary landscapes that can employ green stormwater infrastructure, include native vegetation, flood mitigation, and other resiliency measures.
	B Install educational components in park facilities to share information with the public about stormwater management, sustainable practices, and nature preservation.
Strategy 3.2: Enhance public access to parks and natural areas while balancing environmental protection and locating active facilities away from ecologically sensitive sites.	A Continue to explore options for “nature play” areas like the ones at Dr. MLK Jr. Park.
	B Encourage strategies for farming to be viable in Carrboro using open space in subdivisions or other underutilized land.
Categories Goal 4: Strengthen a sense of community and inclusion through the arts, events, and cultural programming that celebrates the diversity in Carrboro.
Strategy 4.1: Continue activation and flexible programming of public spaces in partnership with businesses or other private entities.	A Increase opportunities for flexible events and informal activities that enhance the use of public spaces for things like exercise classes, music lessons, dining, outdoor meeting spaces and gatherings, pop-up events, etc. (also see Economic Sustainability)
Strategy 4.2: Continue to celebrate the diversity of the Town’s residents through events, festivals, and programming that honors the variety of cultural backgrounds and traditions in Carrboro.	A Conduct outreach with different segments of the population to identify new opportunities for town wide events that honor and share a variety of cultural traditions.
Strategy 4.3: Continue to support, fund, and install public artwork by local artists in strategic locations throughout Town to celebrate the history and story of Carrboro.	Seek ideas and funding for interactive and culturally representative public artwork to be installed in parks and along greenways.
	B Explore the development of an Arts Plan to be led by the Arts Committee. An Arts Plan could identify strategic locations in both public and private spaces— such as near parks, inside and around affordable housing, on buses and at bus stops, etc.—for additional artwork and arts initiatives around Carrboro.
	C Pursue more opportunities for people to organically express themselves and come together through art in the parks via temporary installations, using chalk art or portable paint boards.
Strategy 4.4: Encourage expanded compatible uses of the Town Commons to include year-round programming such as a crafts and artisan markets.	A Recruit new and emerging vendors and entrepreneurs selling a range of goods.
Strategy 4.5: Support placemaking projects that promote the Carrboro story and brand.	A Pursue installations that promote Carrboro as a creative community to attract arts-related tourism and economic development.
	B Incorporate historical elements and context to share the Town story
	C Continue the Truth Plaque Project. In 2017, the Carrboro Truth Plaque Community Task Force was established to recognize Carrboro’s history while uplifting the truth and acknowledging an unjust past.
Categories Goal 1: Promote the design of new development, renovation of existing buildings and public spaces that add to the character and promote the diversity of the community.
Strategy 1.1 Foster quality design of the public realm including public right-of-way, Town facilities, parking lots and other public spaces.	A Make improvements to public spaces and rights-of-way in the downtown to attract more residents and customers to support local businesses, entertainment, arts, and culture.
	B Continue to upgrade Town lands to incorporate native landscaping and Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI).