Politics

Planning Board member says city should step up its game on parks and recreation

By Andrew Dundas, Published: October 2, 2020

Hendersonville Planning Board member Hunter Jones says the city could do a better job on parks.

Some of his suggestions included the creation of a teen center in the old fire station at Boyd Park and converting the Whitmire Activity Building into a senior center. He said pickleball courts could be created at Whitmire and in other parks across the city. For Patton Park, he addressed the need for additional parking and shelter updates, also suggested mini-golf and a dog park could be added.

Looking at the master plan for Berkley Mills Park, Jones discussed revenue potential in baseball/soccer fields, an amphitheater, splash park, disc golf course, bike trails and parking. He presented figures of how other municipalities made money by hosting sporting tournaments.

In light of Jones’s suggestions, Mayor Barbara Volk said, “This is something we can certainly take a look at, because we have talked about updating our strategic plan and I think this would definitely be something we would be discussing during that.”