By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
The gold-tinted official shovels turned a bit of dirt Monday, marking the beginning of construction for Southern Community Park. But as most speakers noted during opening ceremonies at the edge of the Southern Village park-and-ride lot, getting to this point took a while.
“Sometimes, you have to stick around for a long time to see ideas come to fruition,†said Moses Carey, chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. He praised the foresight of town leaders who 20 years ago purchased the park site. “That is an investment that’s going to pay dividends for years to come.â€
Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy said it was an example of good, sound planning.
“This doesn’t happen overnight,†Foy said, pointing out that a long line of people invested a lot of time and money to make it happen.
The groundbreaking was followed by a tour of the park site led by Bill Webster, assistant director of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation.
Webster said crews will begin to put in tree protection fencing in preparation for grading. Once the fencing is in, the areas to be graded will be opened up for a July plant rescue.
The 72-acre park is Chapel Hill’s eleventh and largest park. The first phase is estimated to cost $4.7 million. Plans call for the site to remain half natural areas.
In addition to grading and utility work, the first phase of the new park includes:
• completion of the Fan Branch greenway through the park to Dogwood Acres Drive;
• construction of three soccer fields near U.S. 15-501;
• all-weather restrooms;
• expansion of a parking area and access to U.S. 15-501;
• a 2-acre dog park and 40-space parking areas south of Dogwood Acres Drive;
• traffic calming, including signs and three speed tables along Dogwood Acres Drive;
• a public art project that will incorporate the thematic elements of earth, air, water, fire, fauna and flora;
• two picnic shelters;
• two basketball courts;
• an in-line hockey court.
The majority of the construction in the first phase will take place on the main parcel north of Dogwood Acres Drive. South of the road, construction will include undergrounding utility lines, improving trails and creating a meadow area.