WASHINGTON PARK & RECREATION STUDY
WASHINGTON , NORTH CAROLINA
WASHINGTON PARK & RECREATION STODY
WASHINGTON , NORTH CAROLINA
The preparation of this report was financially aided through a
Federa! grant from the
Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Urban
Planning Assistance Program authorized by Section 701 of the
Housing Act of 1954, as amended.
PREPARED FOR THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
MAYOR - A. Thomas Stewart
CITY MANAGER - Wilfred A. Wells
CITY COUNCIL
T. H. Patterson, Mayor Pro Tem
J. Clifton Hodges
Clarence A. Rawls
J. Max Roebuck
PLANNING BOARD
W. B. Scott, Jr., Chairman
Ashley G. Leggett
Ledrue Buck
Dr. S. Neal Trueblood
Paul Leggett
James A. Hackney, III
H. Clyde Roberson
Ralph A. Lee
Hilton E. Sawyer
W. C. Rodman, III
RECREATION COMMISSION
Mayor A. Thomas Stewart
J. Clifton Hodges
Wilfred A. Wells
Shepherd R. Grist
AT LARGE MEMBERS - RECREATION COMMISSION
William F. Roach, Chairman
Mrs. Walter B. Gerard, Jr.
Sam R. Fowle, III
Dr. Garland R. Homes
J. Herman Eason
DIRECTOR OF RECREATION - W. C. Singletary, Jr.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BY:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION OF COMMUNITY PLANNING
George J. Monaghan, Administrator
COASTAL AREA OFFICE
James R. Hinkley, Director
PROJECT STAFF
K. W. Poore, Community Planner
Douglas L. Wiggins, Chief Draftsman
Marian J. Alligood, Secretary
February 1967 Price $1>Q0
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6,
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2014
https://archive.org/details/washingtonparkre1967nort
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I INTRODUCTION 1
II EXISTING FACILITIES
REGIONAL RECREATION 3
LOCAL RECREATION PROGRAM 7
Charlotte Street Recreation Center 9
Bridge Street Recreation Center 10
Oakdale Recreation Center 11
Outdoor Recreation Space 11
Participation 12
SUMMARY 17
III DESIRABLE RECREATION LAND & SPACE REQUIREMENTS
LAND REQUIREMENTS 18
Population 18
Leisure Time 19
Income 20
Mobility 20
Age Composition 21
DESIRABLE PARK & RECREATION LAND
Topography, Water Resources, Vegetation 28
General Soil Characteristics 29
Flood Plain 30
Historic Buildings, Churches, Battlesites 32
Summary 36
URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS 37
IV THE RECREATION PLAN & ITS IMPLEMENTATION
THE RECREATION PLAN 40
Introduction 40
The Park & Recreation Plan 40
The Parkway Concept 41
The Community Recreation Facility 46
The Neighborhood Recreation Centers 49
Other Cultural Facilities 53
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION 55
Introduction 55
Monetary Aids & Legal Tools 55
Federal Government Aids 57
Local Government Aids 62
Gifts 6t Contributions 62
SUMMARY 63
INTRODUCTION
In the overall comprehensive development of the
urban center, the necessity of open space and recrea-tion
facilities, two fundamental elements essential in
a decent and desirable living environment, finally has
been recognized. The importance these elements have
to our future and our children's future has been studied
and restudied such that recreation no longer has a
"back seat" in society's needs.
However, it may be ex post facto to emphasize the
importance of inaugurating a strong recreational pro-gram
for the City of Washington, North Carolina. Today,
the need for recreational facilities has been recognized
by both the general citizenry and the political leaders
of the community, On the other hand, too often a polit-ical
entity approaches a recreation program with the
concept of only satisfying the recreational demands
made by the local residents. Historically, this has
been a mistake, Often, by the time a proposed program
has b een completed, it is usually outdated. This is
because some group lacked enough forethought to antici-pate
change based on all the determinants that depict
recreation. Optimistically, this will not be the case
here .
In addition to satisfying specific recreation needs,
open space and park facilities can be used to bolster
the economic base. While this statement may be redun-dant
to some, the old adage has merit, Washington cannot
afford to overlook the importance of an open space pro-gram
if it could be beneficial to economic growth. Such
a program can be utilized to attract new residents, new
industry, provide employment opportunities in both the
public and private sectors of the economy, increase
property values, and consequently, provide additional
revenue for the city. In addition to meeting the
demands of the local residents, all of this should be
the function of such a program and the idealology from
which a park and recreation plan is formulated.
If the purpose is based upon the above factors,
the approach should not be founded on the old method-ology
which uses population figures as the sole criteria
for establishing recreation land requirements. Radical
changes in population could occur overnight, and, as a
result, population figures would be only valid for
determining present recreation needs. On the other
1
hand, the recreation program could be instrumental in
molding the future population, the population composi-tion,
the income, etc»
In this report the present park standards estab-lished
by the National Recreation and Parks Association
will be the foundation from which a pragmatic approach
will be taken to determine the required recreation space
and the type of recreation Hopefully,, the recreation
program will mold the proper socio-economic and esthetic
character desirable for the future.
The study entails four major elements? an inventory
of existing local recreation and an evaluation of these
facilities; determination of the most desirable land
for recreation purposes; the physical plan; and imple-mentation
of the concepto The plan will be coordinated
with the existing recreation program and the proposed
park and recreation plan established in the four urban
renewal areas by the Washington Redevelopment Commission
Additionally, some attention will be given to the. re-gional
recreation opportunities available, to local
res idents
2
Existing Facilities
REGIONAL RECREATION
Washington is situated in a unique regional envi-ronment.
Any proposed open space concept should link
most certainly with the illustrious wilds east of the
cityts boundaries. From the north marshes of Back Bay
to Beaufort Inlet lie the temporary sanctuaries for
hundreds of south bound Canadian geese, whistling swans
and various species of ducks. The Albemarle and Pam-lico
Sound, the salty outer banks, and the cypress
studded Mattamuskeet provide inconceivable beauty and
recreat ion.
Because of its proximity, Washington has an
excellent opportunity to utilize all of this. Matta-muskeet
offers inexhaus tab le excitement with its shallow
lake and low marshes, Here contrasted against a motion-less
world, one can witness thousands of Canada geese,
swans and ducks slowly rise and take flight in the misty
dawns. This stunning 40,000 acre lake is the home of
the largest assemblage of these flawless performers on
the Atlantic seaboarda From Labrador to Alaska they
scatter across the northern rim of the world and take
refuge in the sparsely settled swamplands.
Excellent hunting opportunities have developed
because of the prevailing conditions. This not only
entails waterfowl, but deer and black bear as well.
The flat peninsula between Albemarle and Pamlico is
dominated by extensive swamps, wet savannahs and low
pinelands, restricting or limiting any possible devel-opment
other than recreation. Consequently, consider-able
hunting, camping, fishing, and sightseeing are
enjoyed.
South of Mattamuskeet, situated at the mouth of
the Pamlico River is Swanquarter National Wildlife
Refuge which includes about 43,000 acres of picturesque
land and water., The woods and marsh provide sanctuary
chiefly for various species of diving ducks, but like
Phelps Lake, Alligator Lake and Mattamuskeet, the
Refuge is also the temporary home for geese, swans and
other waterfowl.
Northeast of Swanquarter and Mattamuskeet lies the
Pungo National Wildlife Refuge. Eventually, this area
will have one of the largest waterfowl-agriculture
management programs in the total National Wildlife
3
Refuge System. The Pungo area adds additional conser-vation
of natural amenities to
for its unparalleled quality.
land already recognized
In addition to the recreation opportunities on the
peninsula, facilities and potential for development spot
the entire coast. Public and private beaches are strewn
all along the river shorelines and outer banks. The
sea-lover can occupy his time with fishing, swimming,
camping, hiking, etc. or even recreating "The Wreck of
the Hesperous" while watching the old shipwrecks bob
with the tide.
Commercial and private fishing erupts from every
salty harboro The flavor of an old port lingers here
and there and creates a matchless image. The old
fisherman with his weathered face; the smell of fish;
the battered, unpainted cottages; the salty north wind;
all tell the picturesque story. Here the fishing is
plentiful. Along the Pamlico an infinite variety are
available. Channel Bass, Black and Striped Bass, Blue-fish,
Trout, white perch and bream are the most fre-quently
caught.
Participation in these regional recreation areas
has been good and it is only logical their use will
increase with the increase in leisure living.
The following table illustrates the recreational
participation in the National Wildlife Refuges in
North Caro 1 ina
.
Number of Persons Participating
Refuge Overnight Daily
lunting Fishing Misc
.
Participants Participants
(24 Hour) (12 Hour)
Mackay Island
N.C.-Va.
4,500 18,000 22,500 2,920
Mattamuskeet , N.C. 3,500 18,500 5,400 27,400 8,900
Pea Island, N.C. 3,050 3,250 6,300 3, 160
Pungo , N . C
.
3,690 3,690 1,250
Swanquarter, N.C. 19,500 12,400 3 1 , 900 12,500
TOTALS 3,500 45,550 42 , 740 91,790 28,730
4
Nationally, the bulk of the wildlife refuge users -
almost 9 million or 69 5 percent in 1965 - represented
sightseers, bird watchers, picnickers, and those using
water areas for swimming and boatingo Only 27 percent
were fishermen. In North Carolina, fishing use repre-sented
almost 50 percent, reflecting a greater avail-ability
of water facilities and a higher interest in
water sports.
Other types of recreation facilities contribute
to the regional recreation opportunities as well as
the wildlife refuges. The Cape Hatteras National Sea-shore
recreational area's giant sand dunes accent one
continuous strip offering excellent surf fishing, swim-ming,
sightseeing and picnicking. Roanoke Island and
The Lost Colony, Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers,
and historic Edenton can reenact significant days of
North Carolina heritage, thus providing enjoyable
entertainment. Fortunately, Washington is in a unique
location, situated at the intersection of two significant
highways that provide the major access to these unlimit-ed
individual outdoor recreation possibilities. Further
development of the highways, waterways, and recreational
potential in and around Washington will tie the area even
closer.
5
LOCAL RECREATION PROGRAM
What does Washington have to offer in the form of
open space and recreation activity? Obviously, there
is very little. In fact, any tourist or new citizen
would find it difficult to find anything 3 Although
this statement may appear polemic, it is not without
justification. The present structures that are pro-vided
are either outdated and almost dilapidated or
are inadequate in size and furnishings and out of
place* How does Washington view its recreational needs?
The tenet usually held by local governments is that
recreation is low on the priority list of government
concern and appropriations in comparison to other render-ed
services, This is dogmatic in light of the social
consequences associated with poor recreation facilities.,
One would have to conclude this attitude prevails in
Washington if the conclusion is based on the existing
recreation furnishedo Logically, with this attitude
there is an inherent danger that the social demands
and needs of Washington's citizenry will not be satisfied,
resulting in such consequential dangers as emigration,
social behavior problems, monetary losses, sprawling
development, destruction of esthetic values, etc. The
responsibility lies with the political leaders of the
community who must find the means to provide the open
space and recreation necessary to alleviate the problems^
Presently, the city has afforded its citizens with
three major facilities^ the Charlotte Street Recrea-tion
Center, located adjacent to Jack's Creek and Park
Drive on Charlotte Street; Oakdale Recreation Center and
playground, located adjacent to West 15th Street and
Oakdale Cemetery; and Bridge Street Recreation Center,
located between Van Norden and Bridge Streets on West
11th Street (see sketch 2). In addition to these centers,
the only other open spaces utilized for recreational
purposes are Havens Gardens and the boat ramps on Run-yons
Creek, Kugler Field, and two little league ball-fields
bordering the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, one
of which may be eliminated if the proposed extension of
West 3rd Street is endorsedo
The above essentially comprises the total space
allotted for recreational use in and by the City of
Washington,, The following table gives a complete break-down
in acreage figures of the publicly owned recrea-tion
space presently existingo
7
Washington Park and Recreation Areas
Locat ion Acreage
Charlotte Street Center 2 . acres
Kugler Field 3 . 7 acres
Todd Maxwell Field 4.3 acres
New Park Area
(process of being developed) 3.7 acres
Oakdale Park 1.6 acres
Washington Docking Facilities c
• -> acres
Jack ' s Creek a ere s
Bridge Street Center 1.7 acres
Beebe Park 2.7 acres
Carver's Landing 1.8 acres
Haven 's Garden 4.2 acres
Water Tank Property .5 acres
TOTAL 36.0 acres
Although this figure represents the total acreage
of publicly owned recreation space, it does not include
land adjacent to public schools which is presently being
utilized for recreational purposes by the Washington
Recreation Department. For purposes of simplicity and
in all fairness, these should be included in acreage
estimates. John Small School, Washington High School,
John Cotton Tayloe School, and P. S. Jones School pro-vide
an additional 23.8 acres of recreation land. Com-bined
with the 36.0 acres of park space, the total space
available for public recreation amounts to 59.8 acres.
This total is entirely inadequate to facilitate the
recreation demands of Washington' s present population,
much less the anticipated population for the city and it
environs twenty years hence. Based on National Recrea-tion
and Parks Association standards , ^ the existing
The National Recreation and Parks Association stan
dard is 10 acres for each 1,000 persons. With Washing-ton's
1960 population of 9,939 persons, the requirement
would be 99.4 acres.
8
59.8 acres accounts for approximately 60 percent of
what is presently needed and only 25 percent of what
is required by 1985, This percent represents developed
recreation space and does not include natural open green
space which is essential for functional, economical,
and esthetic city growth. The absolute minimum acreage
requirement to fulfill just present day needs without
any anticipated increase or change in population, lei-sure
time, income and ease of mobility is 100 acres and
this figure would be unacceptable if the age composi-tion
changed significantly. Specific space allocations
for recreation and open space use in 1985 are presented
in more detail in later sections.
Charlotte Street Recreation Center
The fact that Washington is below minimum stan-dards
cannot be emphatically emphasized enough. On
the other hand and furthermore, similar stringent stan-dards
of judgement should be used to evaluate the con-dition
of the structures housing the recreation depart-ment.
From such an evaluation the city can determine
whether the buildings are proficient enough to meet
the present and the future recreation requirements.
In some respects what exists is structurally sound but
is inadequately furnished. An exception to this is the
Charlotte Street Recreation Center which presently
houses the administrative function of the department
and, in addition, provides space for recreation activity.
This particular building is neither sufficiently fur-nished
nor structurally sound. Evidently, a sentimental
association prevails between Washington's citizens and
what was once the Bug House Laboratory and Field Museum.
Regardless, the building in its present condition is no
longer suitable for meeting existing recreation needs.
The structure originally was erected in the summer and
fall of 1934 and was officially opened as a museum on
November 12, 1934. Since that time, little has been
done in renovating the structure and in providing an
acceptable recreation building. Consequently, the city
has placed itself in an awkward position on any safety
issue that may evolve.
The poor condition of the building constitutes
immediate action, but in addition, numerable problems
arise with respect to floods and, accordingly, demand
attention. The center is located below sea level and
quite naturally has been flooded during severe hurricane
9
weather „ What was the cost to the city during these
periods? Was the cost substantial enough to warrant
relocation?
Today, the Charlotte Street facility provides
more diversified types of recreation programs and
recreation apparatus than both the Bridge Street Center
and Oakdale, the other two major facilities The build-ing
is equipped to offer numerous recreational activitie
such as table tennis, billiards, bridge, dancing and
handicraftSo Also, the usual outdoor recreation space
one would expect to find at a neighborhood playground
is providedo Tennis, horseshoes, basketball, badminton,
volleyball, shu f f leboar d , play apparatus for children,
and a limited open area for other functions is avail-able*
Although, there is a wide diversification of
types of activity, the provisions for these and the
essential furnishings of the. center are not sufficient
to satisfy demands. The department has been using the
same furniture that was originally acquired for the
center in 1942 when it was used as a USO Club. On the
other hand, the present sports equipment is in reason-ably
good condition; but the amount of apparatus is
not commensurate with recreation needs.
Bridge Street Center
Unlike the Charlotte Street Center, the Bridge
Street Recreation Center was originally designed for
recreational purposes. The existing building is the
first stage, of a three stage development plan for badly
needed recreation accommodations. The design initially
originated in 1960, but only the first step has been
completed. Although this center is the most modern
facility, it is inadequate to meet recreation demands
of the neighborhood population. The only space provided
is one large social room, unfurnished; one office, which
includes minimum kitchen equipment; and two bathrooms.
Minimal provisions prevail outside as well as inside
There is a general lack of play apparatus. Some hard
surface playing areas are available, but in short, the
provisions for recreation functions are not ample.
One helpful note is that additional funds are avail
able from the Public Housing Administration earmarked
for an addition or improvement to the Bridge Street
Center in conjunction with the Washington Public Housing
Project. Approximately $15 s 000 has been authorized to
complete any proposed construction by a 1967 deadline.
10
The city should proceed with i mm ediate use of these
funds to assure itself the maximum benefits possible.
Construction of the second stage of the Bridge Street
development plan would be the most appropriate means
for any use of the revenue.
Oakdale Center
Oakdale Recreation Center's facilities are some-what
synonomous with the Bridge Street Center. Recently,
the structure was renovated to provide, what was hoped
to be, adequate space for recreational activity. The
same problems prevail, namely, little or no furnishings
in the building and minimal exterior provisions, incap-able
of satisfying neighborhood population demands now
and in the future.
Outdoor Recreation Space
Essentially, there are four parcels of publicly
owned space designated for specific recreation activity;
Kugler Field, which is utilized for organized baseball
and football; Todd Maxwell Field, which is used for
little league activities; and Carver's Landing and the
city dock, which accommodate small boats.
In addition to specialized recreation areas,
Havens Garden and the Jack's Creek Park provide some
open space for passive outdoor activity. Both areas
have potential for excellent esthetic and functional
development,, Even so, these areas essentially comprise
the only park space that affords any type of leisurely
activity and esthetic appealo The Havens Garden picnic
area, which has been leased from the city and is now
under the direction of the Junior Chamber of Commerce
for future development, offers some picnic facilities,
play apparatus, and access to the Pamlico River for
fishing purposes. The remaining publicly owned open
space is sparsely scattered throughout the community and
provides only minimal accommodations
o
Inside the city limits there is very little privately
sponsored recreational activity and no private facilities
open to the public. Local organizations, such as the
Washington Little Theatre, the garden clubs, and the other
large social gatherers put additional strain on the accom-modations
offered by the recreation department. In the
past, the department has been fortunate to obtain use of
high school facilities to aid in alleviating some of the
demand. This, in turn, has created several problems of
11
administration, programming, and cost for the recrea-tion
activities sponsored by the city. In addition to
the high school gyms, the only other similar indoor
facility is the National Guard Armory on East Main Street.
During basketball season this building costs the city
recreation department approximately $200 for a period
of eight to ten weeks of use.
Lack of spacious meeting facilities is another
problem the recreation department is constantly attempt-ing
to rectify. The sole publically owned space in
Washington that can readily oblige a group larger than
200 persons is the high school cafeteria. However, the
present rental does not include any provisions for meals.
To accommodate groups of 100 or less, the Christian, the
Methodist and the Episcopal Churches do have several
social halls, each with kitchen facilities. The Moose
Lodge also offers rental space for large groups of 100
to 150 people and, in addition, provides kitchen facili-ties.
In the past, this building has been used by the
recreation department for bridge tournaments. In the
city, only minimum public space is available; and, con-sequently,
social and business groups find it difficult
to find ample accommodat i ons
.
The only auditorium or lecture hall is also pro-vided
by the high schools. The Washington Little Theatre
has to rely upon John Small School auditorium for its
productionso Because high rent accompanies the use of
the facility, rehearsals usually are conducted elsewhere.
The implication here is that a center furnishing public
meeting space, workshops, and an auditorium definitely
deserves serious consideration.
Part icipat ion
Participation in the activities offered by the
recreation department only points out the need for a
complete reevaluation of existing facilities and the
organization of a comprehensive program allocating
necessary recreation space. The following table
illustrates a typical month's participation. It may be
pertinent to point out that these statistics were com-piled
during the season when a large majority of the
recreation programs had a lower than normal attendance.
The monthly report also provides some insight into the
types of activities offered during the autumn season.
12
Month ly Report
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
October, 1965 Attendance
Locat ion Activity Children Adults Spec Total
Char lotte
Street
Center
Craft Workshops
Flemish flowers
Cracked marbles
Cooper Tooling
Dance Class
223
62
88
68
223
62
68
Free play — Center
Tuesday Duplicate Bridge
Thursday Duplicate
Little Theater
Saturday Duplicate Game
Senior Citizens Meeting
Sr. Citizens to Raleigh
Junior Teen Night
Home Demonstration Meet.
Birthday Party
Community Kindergarten:
Halloween Party
T.B. Stuffing Night
492
203
35
43
64
124
18
36
25
20
26
19
492
64
124
18
36
25
20
203
26
35
43
19
Oakda 1 e Coin Club 15 35 50
Center Football Coaches Meet. 10 10
Scouts -- Girls 50 4 54
Cubs 83 4 87
Birthday Parties 75 10 85
Picnics 50 75 125
Basketball League Meet. 15 15
East End
Hous ing
Junior Art Classes 56 8 20 84
High School
Gym Vo 1 leyba 1
1
80 80
High School
Field
Flag Football 240 10 120 370
Kug ler 7th & 8th Grade Football:
Field Practices 480 48 500 1,028
G ame s 320 16 350 686
W. H. S. Practices 640 80 350 1 ,070
Game s 150 15 3 ,835 4,000
J.V. Practices 620 60 50 730
Free Play 500 100 600
(Con't.
)
October, 1965 Attendance
Locat ion Act ivity Chi ldren Adu Its Spec. Total
Havens Picnics, Fishing
Gardens Free Play 125 75 200
Bridge P layground 800 36 836
Street Adult Night 6 6
Pre-School Group 1 ,040 105 145
Gaylord Club 139 139
After Game Dances 1,071 16 1,087
Adult Night (Men) 6 6
P . S . Jones
Homecoming Drive 57 8 65
P . S . Jones
Fie Id
Footba 1
1
365 365
GRAND TOTALS 7,809 1,498 6,095 15,444
Upon viewing the monthly attendance report for
June, 1966, when recreation participation was at a peak,
a clearer picture materializes. From June 1st to
June 25th, there were 10,402 spectators, 15,839 children,
and 2,812 adults actively engaged in various recreation
programs. The grand total, 29,011 represents an appre-ciable
amount of interested citizens for a community with
a 1960 population of 9,939. Based on past trends, it is
not unreasonable to presume in all probability that an
acceleration of these figures will evolve. Further-more
and of greater significance, these figures are not
indicative of the total support given the recreation
department. Attendance figures are not accumulated and
recorded in many cases, and as a result, the true mag-nitude
cannot be expressed.
City-County Participation
A not unusual ratio exists between county partic-ipation
and city support of the recreation programs.
The following table illustrates the percent of county
attendance and the cost per individual for each activity
requiring registration in the 1965-66 fiscal year. Based
on the amount of support and the cost, it would not be
unreasonable to conclude that Beaufort County should
provide some financial support for the programs. The
county could administer the collection of revenue to
cover its portion based on a percent of population use.
Further recommendations regarding city-county coordi-nation
will follow in later sections.
15
CITY-COUNTY PARTICIPATION
Washington Recreation Department Programs
1965-1966
TlUnLfdal1 City C oi i n t" v
7« of
li V. !_ L V J. L. V Reg i s
-
Partici- Partici- County Part ic i-tration
pation pation pat ion
• Washington Little League L1 AVCD DO j1yQ O "7°7
? 7.31
Little Tar Heel League 75 45 30 40 5.69
Small Fry League 70 45 25 36 6.79
Jr. Tar Heel League 78 55 23 29 9.56
Sr. Teener League 50 32 18 37 14. 10
women s bortDaii / 1 4U "3 1 O 1 A A
1 . 85
Men s unurcn oortDaii Q In ou jj 9 "7 z. 92
rien s rastpitcn oortDaii A A z jR 1 o A A o . 79
Men's Basketball 40 27 13 33 Self
Support
7th & 8th Grade Football 91 64 27 30 6.55
Flag Football 45 30 15 33 2.22
Tennis Classes ^n j9j^ ld 9n 1 . ZD
PEIlOayX7^tTlT*UnUilITIlHU3C
uakda le i j J.
i lnuoz 4AyO 9 9 4A cc . 55
K-ugier rieiu l inuoy SA zo 09 Z-J o . zy
tiLgn acnooi an / 1Ij9 10 a4 . (Jo
Tot Lot 52 32 20 38 12.78
Special Activities
Duplicate Bridge DV j9jc 1 tr 13 39 UM 1 . UU
Dance (Ballroom) y J o5 JU 32 7 . 89
j r . nrt uiuD 11A4 i n JLU 4 zy belt
Support
C" 1 aim A eh \*Tn T*Lrch/~\r\ I r iciuj-on wul Kbnop v Pr 1iautwicotr*ao j1 HO Z / 9Z 11 A4A4 9 9 c; Z . ZD
Copper Tooling Workshop O "3
1 i Lz 52 2 . 50
Marble Workshop 50 18 32 64 2.00
Pine Cone Workshop on QO AOUn Z . UU
Bridge Street Activities
Pre-School Program 82 71 n 13 9.05
Women's Softball 21 18 3 17 1.00
Little League Baseball 45 41 4 9 3.00
Jr. League Baseball 25 20 5 20 2.25
Sr. League Baseball 20 17 3 15 2.50
Gymnasium Program 75 61 14 19 5.33
P layground 150 125 25 17 4.70
TOTALS 1,924 1,336 588 30%
SUMMARY
If the findings to date are briefly summarized, a
foundation can be established from which future plans
can be constructed. Without a doubt, Washington is in
an advantageous location with respect to regional recrea
tion opportunities. However, on the local scene, the
city has not maximized the use of its own natural amen-ities
possessing recreation potential,, An inventory
and evaluation of the existing recreation space and
facilities shows an inadequacy. Acreage is well below
national standards, and buildings in addition to being
limited in number are poorly furnished, unsatisfactorily
located, and in some cases, in poor structural condition
The present demand reflected in today T s attendance
records substantiates the need for more space and better
facilities and establishes the question of possible city
county participation in the future.
All of these factors, of course, will be influen-tial
in the determination of specific recreation require
ments for Washington. However, before submitting any
recommendations, it would be relevant to review the
National Recreation and Parks Association standards in
more detail and, also, to study the social character-istics
prevailing today and expected in the immediate
future in Washington. From this study definite land
requirements can be delineated.
17
Desirable Recreation Land
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
i
LAND REQUIREMENTS
The most universally accepted standards by both
recreation departments and planning agencies in the
State of North Carolina and the United States are those,
of the National Recreational and Parks Association,,
The NRPA suggests ten acres of land for local parks and
ten acres for regional parks for each 1,000 population,
resulting in a total of 20 acres per 1 ,000 population,.
However, the above figures were originally established
for large metropolitan areas and at a time when income
and leisure time, two major determinants of recreational
needs, were much smaller* Since that time the demand
for recreational facilities has increased immensely and
the standards established by the NRPA are no longer
acceptable. For a city the size of Washington this is
especially true, With any sort of immigration of busi-ness
and industry to the area, population, income, lei-sure
time, and, accordingly, recreational demands would
change overnight, This is presently occurring and there
is no apparent reason to believe it will discontinue,,
Consequently, these standards should be modified accord-ing
to Washington's future social and economic charac-teristics
in order to determine the land requirements
necessary to satisfy any future recreation demand. The
following paragraphs will deal more specifically with
each of these factors.
Population
According to the Population and Economy Study for
Washington, N. C. s September, 1963, a potential popula-tion
of 13,400 by 1980 is anticipated. This figure was
based on two assumptions?
lo that present efforts to bolster the economy
and provide additional employment will con-tinue;
and
2. that these effor
pensating for th
between 1950 and
the growth trend
between 1930 and
s wi 11 be capa
lag in g r owth
1960 and will
wh i c h Wa s hi ng t
1950 2
o
b le of com-which
occurred
reestab lish
on experienced
2
Population & Economy. Washington . N „ C
.
. September,
1963, Division of Community Planning, Department of Con-servation
and Development, State of North Carolina,
Raleigh, North Carolina, p. 17.
18
The prediction of 13,400 population represents a 34
percent increase^ over the 1960 population of 9,939.
This does not include expected population increase for
the township, Of even more significance is the increase
the city is experiencing today In light of industrial
immigration presently occurring, it would be safe to
conclude that the highest influx of population will
occur during the 1965-1970 period. The critical ques-tion
is whether present recreational facilities are
capable of satisfying the demand of this expected
increase and the demand of the anticipated population
twenty years hence and, finally, whether present facili-ties
would provide any impetus to these individuals and
businesses desiring location in the region? The exist-ing
recreation program evidently does not accomplish
any of thi s »
If industrialization and the i mm igration of labor
increases, this figure of 13,400 may be a conservative
estimate as often is the case with anticipated growth
of a small town Q Even if industrialization does not
occur as expected, a recreation-open space program could
be utilized to provide inducement for the recreation
seeker and concurrently to provide an additional incen-tive
to business leaders and industrial enterpreneurs
to locate their establishments here. At present, Wash-ington
fails to fully satisfy the recreational needs of
its population, let alone provide any incentive to out-siders
to migrate to the locale 8 The shame of it is
that the city is endowed with an environmental quality,
rich in natural beauty and picturesque character, an
area possessing all the natural amenities that afford
unlimited recreation potential. Yet today, most poten-tially
usable areas either lie idle and undeveloped, or
that which is developed is abused and misused.
Leisure Time
In addition to the changes in population and popu-lation
demands for open space, a change in the amount
of leisure time of the middle class citizenry of
Population and Economy,, Washington, N. C. , Divi-sion
of Community Planning, North Carolina State. Depart-ment
of Conservation and Development, Raleigh, North
Carolina, September, 1963, p 17.
19
Washington by 1985, would also shed a different light
on the NRPA requirements. With the work week contin-ually
being reduced to an expected 30 hours a week by
the end of the next several decades, it is obvious a
greater use intensification of existing facilities and
a greater number of facilities than suggested by NRPA
will be required. By the year 2000, the amount of
leisure time available will increase 22 percent. ^ With
the increase in leisure time, demand for recreation and
open space activities will rise accordingly.
Income
The family income also tends to influence the
degree of participation in recreation activities and,
consequently, the amount of land nessary to satisfy
recreation demands. Today, the incidence of individual
participation in recreation activity is lowest among the
low-income segments of the population but rises pro-portionately
up through the middle income bracket until,
in the highest income group, participation again declines.
In other words, the greatest degree of participation is
from the middle-income population groups. Washington
is presently growing toward a middle income society.
With Urban Renewal and the industrial migration in the
area, the city may have to accommodate a substantial
increase of a middle income population and, consequently,
may have to increase the acreage and facilities required
to meet the recreation demands.
Mobi lit y
Mobility also could affect the recreation land
requirements. Today, as in the past, mobility has been
a significant factor in determining the degree of
participation of an individual. For the future, this
may have less consequence in view of improvements in
transportation facilities. Even so, some consideration
should be given the possible relationship between trans-portation
and recreation,
This figure is based on the assumption that a 30
hour work week will exist in the year 2000 and an average
of 14 hours a day will be consumed in sleeping, eating,
commuting, etc. The remaining time would be consumed in
leisurely activity reflecting the expected 22 percent
increase.
20
Presently, the highest degree of citizen partici-pation
in recreation activity is experienced where
movement has the greatest flexibility such as in the
less urban complexes, Even in the highly urbanized
areas, those of low personal mobility, the heaviest
reliance is on local amusement parks, playgrounds,
ball parks, zoos, and other intensive use facilities
where pedestrian access is feasible. Essentially, all
of this only tends to reflect the influence mobility
has as a major indicator in determining recreation
distribution and the desired amount of recreation
activity. With better pedestrian and vehicular trans-portation
facilities, which is inevitable, the demand
for, and use of, recreation areas will increase. With
the expected improvements in transportation for the
Washington area, the need for more recreation land and
facilities also is inevitable.
Age Composition
The age composition in an area can have a very
influential effect on the type of recreation demanded
and the amount of land necessary to facilitate recrea-tion
demands. The relationship between land require-ments
and the age groups may be better exemplified by
viewing the national picture.
In the U.S., the desire to participate in physical
activities declines with the advancing age of the partic
ipant. For example, a sharp decline in skiing and horse
back riding occurs after age 24. After 44 a decline is
noted in swimming. Up to age 45 there is very little if
any decline in camping, picnics, pleasure driving, and
hiking. Accordingly, little provision should be made
for the more strenuous activity in residential areas
composed of older populations. The reverse holds true
in the younger age groups.^
The following table illustrates recreation partic-ipation
for the various age groups in the United States
in 19 60.
The Future of Outdoor Recreation in Metropolitan
Regions of the U. S„ 9 Outdoor Recreation Resource Review
Commission, Washington, D. C . , 1962, p. 236.
21
PERCENT OF 1960 POPULATION BY AGE GROUPS
PARTICIPATING IN OUTDOOR RECREATION
Age Group United States
Under j ii i
5-9 10.4
10-14 9.4
15-19 7.4
20-24 6.0
25-34 12.7
35-44 13.4
45-54 11.4
55-64 8.7
65 & Over 9.2
What significance do these figures have in Wash-ington'
s future recreation plans? Obviously, after
reviewing the present age composition and the expected
composition and based on the degree of participation of
the various age groups in recreation activity, the
desirability of orienting the recreation program toward
a certain age category can be considered. The specific
type of recreation can be designed according to the
city's population characteristics.
Washington is presently losing much of its popu-lation
in the 20-24 age group through emigration; ^ how-ever,
this should have very little impact on the recrea-tion
participation figures now and in the future. Based
The Future of Outdoor Recreation in Metropolitan
Regions of the U. S., Outdoor Recreation Resource Review
Commission, Washington, D. C, 1962, p. 236.
7 Population and Economy, Washington, N. C. , (State
of N.C. Department of Conservation and Development, Divi-sion
of Community Planning), September, 1963.
22
on the preceding table, this age group engages in a
very small amount of recreation activity,, While on the
other hand, the 35 to 44 age group, which is immigrating
to Washington, represents one of the larger groups
participating,, This degree of participation is the
case on the national level and in all probability holds
true for Washington, also. Only the very young engage
in more activity, and this is only because of the amount
of leisure time they have available in comparison to
the older age groups Consequently, additional recrea-tion
acreage and facilities are required if Washington
is experiencing a more than normal increase in the
middle-age group. Apparently, this is occurring because
of the industrial expansion taking place here.
After comprising all of the preceding statistical
information, i.e., an anticipated population increase
(34%), a leisure time increase (22%), the age composi-tion,
the future transportation facilities, etc. antic-ipated
by 1985, and in addition, if Washington desires
to endorse a recreation and open space program that
will be instrumental in establishing an esthetic envi-ronment
conducive to desirable industrial and individual
location in the area, modification of the previously
stated National Recreation and Parks Association land
requirements can be justified. A minimum 50 percent
increase of standard requirements published by the NRPA
is necessary if Washington expects to satisfy future
recreation and open space needs. The city's respon-sibility
would amount to 15 acres per 1,000 population
for local parks or 30 acres per 1,000 population if a
regional park is necessary. Specifically, Washington
needs 203 acres of developable recreation space based
on both the 1985 population estimates and the adjusted
NRPA acreage-population ratio. If a city-county pro-gram
were enacted, an additional 78 acres for local
parks would be required based on both an anticipated
24 percent increase in county population by 1985 and
the existing percent of county participation in the
existing recreation program.^ These figures exclude
any general open space use, such as conservation pro-jects,
parkways, etc. but instead reflect only developed
public land for specific outdoor recreation use. The
following table has been formulated specifically for
Washington. It shows the acreage requirements for the
different types of parks, including the suggested
servicable distance.
23
WASHINGTON'S LAND REQUIREMENTS FOR RECREATION. FACILITIES
Parks Suggested
Service Distance
Population
Served
Acres
Neighborhood
Community
District
Regional
< to \ mile
walking distance
1 to Ik mile
driving distance
15 to 20 min.
travel time
30 to 60 min.
travel time
2-5,000
10-15,000
25-75,000
75-400,000
18-24
40-75
150-450
750
The anticipated 24 percent increase in county
population was an assumption founded on past trends
with consideration of the phosphate mining influence
recently effecting population figures,, The 1960 Beau-fort
County population was 36,014 and is expected to
rise to 44,657 by 1 9 8 5 <> Presently, 1.6% of the county
participates in the city program,, Assuming this same
percentage will continue in the future, the local parks
would have to serve an additional 715 people. However,
this figure does not represent the total county popula-tion
being served but only that percent registered. If
we accept the same ratio that exists between the number
of participants registered and the total population for
the city and apply it to the county, the county popula-tion
to be served amounts to approximately 5,300 addi-tional
people above and beyond the city f s 13,400. This
figure should be included in computing future recreation
r equ ir ement s
.
9,939 (city population) = unknown co pop, to be served
1,336 (no. of actual 715 (Actual no, of participants
participants) in 1985 assuming 1,6% of
county population will
register).
X = 7 15/. 135 = 5 , 300 county population to be served in
1985
24
The aforementioned acreage figures could include
present and future school recreation space, assuming
that present cooperation continues, With any kind of
coordination and cooperation between the local Recrea-tion
Department and the Public School Board some of the
acquisition costs can be eliminated from the capital
outlays of the local government; and, at the same time,
Washington could still meet minimum space requirements.
This attitude of cooperation prevails and should con-tinue
to be stimulated in order to maximize the use of
available school facilities.
Once the approximate space requirements are
designated for each neighborhood, the general location
and number of neighborhoods must be delineated. Each
is established from, and oriented to, a population to
be served. Based on the Washington Neighborhood Anal-ysis,
which was conducted concurrently with this study,
ten neighborhoods, including Washington Park and Runyon
Hills have been determined (see sketch 3). Essentially,
the criterion adhered to in the selection of these
specific areas was the following! number of residents,
school district boundaries, transportation systems, and
areas possessing homogeneous economic and social attri-butes
. For a more detailed description see Washington
Neighborhood Analysis, 1966o^
25
Since a neighborhood park serves approximately
2-5,000 people, the neighborhoods used in this study
in determining the distribution of recreation facili-ties
will be either synonomous with those established
in the Neighborhood Analysis or will be a combination
of those in the Neighborhood Analysis (see sketch 3).
This is not to say the criteria, viz., population,
transportation, schools, economics, etc. determine
exactly where recreation facilities will be located,
but instead only designate the general area to be
served. The service areas for each proposed neighbor-hood
park are shown on the sketch.
WASHINGTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS 9
1960 Population Figures and Acreage Estimates
Gross
Pop .
Dwe 1 1 ing
Units
Gross
Acreage
/Acre
Density
West Riverfront 659 271 83 . 7
CBD 291 13 1 59 2.2
West End 3080 875 360 2.4
East Riverfront 1640 637 180 3.5
East End 1440 452 248 1.8
Norths ide 1734 528 185 2 . 9
Washington Hts. 205
Washington Park 574 196 2 13 0.9
Honeypod Farm-
Runy on Hills 192
Tayloe-Somerset* 378 109 163 0. 7
*1960 Census Acreage. Present acreage is 300 acres.
Toward Total Renewal . Washington Neighborhood
Analysis, Washington, N. C, (Department of Conservation
and Development, Division of Community Planning, Raleigh,
N. C., and Ruth Mace & Associates, Chapel Hill, N. C),
19 66.
26
DESIRABLE PARK AND RECREATION LAND
With the land requirements and the servicable
neighborhoods designated (sketch 3), a series of fac-tors
must be determined that establish the location
and the general nature of a desirable park system.
These determinants consist of the significant natural
resources and existing manmade facilities in the Wash-ington
area that lend themselves to recreational devel-opment.
Following this, the predominant character and
the exact location of recreational uses can be estab-lished.
This has been accomplished in part with the
inventory of existing recreation provisions but in
addition will include the following factors to aid in
establishing the most suitable land for recreational
purposes: water and wetland resources, topography and
geological influences, vegetation, historical and cul-tural
sites. It may be relevant to again state that
these factors will be the major influence on the final
design.
Another factor of considerable importance in the
evolution of the physical plan is the type of relation-ship
that recreation and open space will play on such
land uses as residential, industrial and commercial.
The most desirable plan may be accomplished by utiliz-ing
the visual and ornamental attributes of the land
and developing them in accordance with the esthetic
tastes of the population. Just as important, buffers
of green space should be incorporated into the design
to distinguish the homogeneous sections of the city.
The resulting visual experience could provide a more
rewarding and pleasurable environment. This would min-imize
also the probability of any encoachment of dif-ferent
land uses on one another. Furthermore, these
zones of open space could aid in maintaining continuous
pedestrian circulation systems.
On occasion, incompatible land uses are adjacent,
and if the green space segregates these areas, other
advantages could exist. For example, various species
of vegetation have cleansing attributes which would aid
in air purification, if strategically located. Areas
of heavy foliage can cool circulating air, can achieve
some degree of noise reduction, and can curtail strong
winds
.
The remaining part of this section deals in a more
detailed manner with each factor that is influencial in
determining the most suitable recreation land.
27
Topography, Water Resources and Vegetation
Topographically, there is nothing really unique
about the Washington area; however, the topography is
an influencial factor in the determination of the pro-posed
park and recreation plan Sketch 4 helps deter-mine
what land is best suited for recreational devel-opment
because of the nature of the existing slope and
ridges. Some parcels of land are quite acceptable in
their present state while others may require leveling
and grading for specific types of recreational activity.
Additionally, different elevations of the landscape can
have different uses. High land is deemed the most sus-ceptible
for business, residential, and commercial
development, while on the other hand, proposed park
space is designated, quite naturally, on the unbuild-able
lower areas. There is some exception to this when
economics enters the picture, but usually this is the
trend employedo
Obviously, the water facilities offer some of the
best potential for recreational activity,, Following
the Corps of Army Engineers completion of the Pamlico
and Tar River Channel, all future recreation only de-pends
upon utilization of this water resource and the
shore lines. Several sites are ideal for boat launch-ing
and prospective marinas, which would offer consider-able
entertainment possibilities. Consideration of
possible swimming locations, campsites, hiking trails,
reservoirs, boating facilities, etc. will follow in the
plan formulation stage.
In order to achieve a properly landscaped recrea-tion
environment, considerable attention should be given
to areas that have a significant amount of tree coverage
and other vegetation. This factor helps determine some
of the most desirable recreation spaces and also may
help eliminate a large majority of the landscaping costs
associated with recreational development. By studying
areas with extensive vegetation, feasible campsites,
parkways, hiking trails and other similar facilities
associated with woodlands can be easily defined.
Also, of some importance is the preservation of
certain types of vegetation that have brilliant fall
coloring and unusual foliage. Steps will be taken to
incorporate into the concept the conservation of various
areas possessing certain species of decidious plants and
evergreen trees conducive to a proper esthetic environ-ment.
28
Gener al Soil Characteristics
The general soil map depicts the major soil con-ditions
in and around Washington,, This map is a poor
substitute for the detailed soil study that should have
been conducted in Beaufort County a Even so, the fol-lowing
sketch will be used to aid in determining land
best suited for recreational development. Meanwhile,
it is recommended that the City of Washington contract
with the U D S s Soil Conservation Service for a detailed
soil survey, which would provide valuable information,
measurements, and interpretations of such significant
data asi porosity and percolation rates, drainage,
ponding, flooding, run-off, depths to bedrock and water
tables, bearing strength, shrinkage and swelling, corro-sion,
frost action, erosion, etc. Without such a study
Washington does not have a realistic interpretation of
urban land-use suitabilities. In turn, improper con-struction
and development in the future could occur
causing unnecessary costs to the city and the public.
From the soil map presented, (see sketch 5) some
indication of suitable recreation land can be made.
Immediately north of the Pamlico River the soil is
primarily the Kalmia-Stough Class, the somewhat poorly
to well-drained friable coastal stream terrace soils.
More specifically, the composition consists of Norfolk
fine sand and fine sandy loam in the major parts of town
and Ruston sandy loam in the western areas. T idal
marsh essentially comprises the Kennedy's Creek section
and some areas south of the Pamlico River. Swamp pre-vails
immediately south of the river and encompasses
Runyon' s Creek in the east c In the swamp areas the
use definitely should be restricted to recreation, wild-life
and esthetic appeal or some types of natural re-source
development,, Areas having soils with better
drainage properties and bearing strength, should be
designated for a higher land use than recreation except
in cases where recreation structures are required. Areas
with weaker soils should be used for recreational pur-poses.
The areas bordering Jack's Creek, Runyon's Creek,
and along the Pamlico River shoreline exemplify the type
of land possessing poor soil conditions that are con-ducive
to recreation use rather than other developed
uses .
29
Flood Plain
To aid in the determination of land best suited
for recreational purposes, a close, analysis should be
made of an area's flood plain and the frequency of
high water.
"Washington, North Carolina has been subjected to
flooding by hurricane-produced wind tides of sufficient
height to cause appreciable damage at least seven times
during this century, including five times since Hurri-cane
Hazel in 1954."^ Any type of storm is likely to
raise the water level. However, to date the highest
tidal flooding on record was the tropical storm of
September 3, 1913, which produced an elevation of 10
feet above the normal water level. Based on studies
conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers, a severe
storm reasonably characteristic of the region could
produce a storm tide 14 feet above mean sea level if
the hurricane moved on an east-west direction along
the Pamlico River.
The following figure indicates the frequency at
which flooding can be expected for various elevations.
STAGE FREQUENCY , WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
r~
i
1
!r
-CONNIE
j
1955
- DONNA , I960
1
SEPT . 1 , 1913
i
i
r— H AZ E L , 1954
EPT.I6, 1!
^DIANE ,
)33
1955
IN
I
TERSECTI
NO EAST
DN OF MA
2ND ST
RKET ST
L
"
— ^
| [-I0NE ,
1
1
1 1
!
1955 ERSECTI 3N MAR ket a E . MAIN STS .
1
! > J—
>**
i
/
*
t
j iCKS CR EE K DIKI
r ^
1
1
1
f
i1—
I
f
f
1 NTERSfXTI0N MARKET a WATE R STS.
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
RECURRENCE INTERVAL IN YEARS
30
This curve was determined from storm tides known to
have occurred and can be used in estimating how often,
on an average, a certain flood height can be expected,
^
Little needs to be said about the ramifications of
tidal flooding. The Wilmington U. S. Army District
Engineers estimate that Washington presently could ex-pect
over 3 million dollars worth of damages from water
and wave action alone if a storm similar to the one in
1913 reoccurred. Consequently, better use should be
made of flood plains, with recreation and other open
space activity being the most desirable. Of course,
some type of open space activity should be used because
of low probable damage cost of such areas in comparison
to high damage cost of highly developed areas. Where
structures presently exist, control measures should be
taken to minimize probable damage.
The following map (see sketch 6) illustrates the
approximate 20-year and 100-year flood plains based on
the available hurricane data obtained from the Army
Corps of Engineers.
Flood Plain Information Report on Pamlico River
at Washington. N. C. . U. S. Army Engineers District,
Wilmington Corps of Engineers, p. 1.
1
*"Ibid. , p . 10.
31
Rodman House - 520 West Main Street — The
building is the home of Judge William B.
Rodman, Jr., member of the North Carolina
Supreme Court. It was built in 1848.
Fowle House - 412 West Main Street — The
building is a spacious three (3) story house
containing lovely spiral staircases. In the
late nineteenth century, it was moved back
from Main Street and remodeled.
Patrician Inn - 126 East Main Street The
site was the location of the home of Dr.
Susan Dimock (1847-1875), the first woman
admitted to the North Carolina Medical Soci-ety.
She was a resident physician at the
New England Hospital for Women and Children
in Boston. She established the first course
in scientific nursing in the United States.
She drowned in a shipwreck off the Coast of
England, at the early age of 28.
St. Peter ' s Episcopal Church - Bonner and
East Main Street — The original church was
destroyed by fire in 1864, during the Civil
War. In the northwest corner of the grave-yard
is the grave of Colonel James Bonner.
On November 30, 1771, the General Assembly
authorized Colonel Bonner to establish a
town at the Forks of the Tar River which
later was named for the Commander-in-Chief,
George Washington. The earliest record that
mentions the town of Washington was an order
of the Council of Safety at Halifax, dated
October 1, 1776, which made the settlement
the first town to be named for General George
Washington.
The Beaufort County Courthouse - Southwest
Corner Second and Market Streets — The
building was originally constructed about
1800. The clock in the cupola antedates
the building. In the courthouse is a will,
inscribed in French and dated 1820, which
indicates that Colonel Louis Taillade lived
in Washington at that time. Taillade accom-panied
Napoleon from Elba to France when the
ex-emperor attempted to regain his lost do-ma
ins . 1
2
33
Castle Island - Pamlico River — Major Gen-eral
Foster s a Union officer with the Fifth
Rhode Island Volunteers occupying the City
of Washington, North Carolina during the
Civil War, fortified the small island in his
attempt to control the river
Rodman' s Point - Beaufort County -- The Civil
War confederate General D Q H Hill with 9,000
troops attempted to siege the City of Wash-ington
when it was under Federal occupation
in April, 1863* Batteries were mounted on
all the ridges surrounding the town and on
Rodman's Point, across the river D Bombard-ment
continued for some, time, but the con-federate
forces finally withdrew to join the
Army of Northern Virginia,,
During April and June, 1862, confederate and
union forces battled throughout the City of
Washington, Major encounters occurred on
Ma in Street , Market Stree t, and B ridge Street
On one occasion Federal Cavalry charged up
Second and Third Street, Confederate forces
had artillery in front of the old Methodist
Church on Second Street, and Federal guns
were mounted at the intersection of Second
and Respess Streets,
The role of the city in utilizing these areas in
one manner or another is quite elementary, The only
advisable approach recommended is direct purchase for
historic reasons or the creation of an atmosphere con
ducive to preservation by private ownership. In the
case of the former, "municipalities apparently do not
have specific authority from the General Statutes for
the acquisition of historic buildings and sites, How
ever, G,S„ 160-200 (40) authorizes acquisition, estab
lishment, and support of a museum , and G S 160-158
(as well as G S 160-204 and G„S 160-205) authorizes
acquisition of parks and recreat iona 1 facilities, whi
12 Robinson, B Q P , The North Carolina Guide,
University of N D C c Press, Chapel Hill, 1955, p 283
34
may be an adequate basis for acquiring some types of
historic buildings or sites.
The incentive for private preservation, of course,
may be accomplished with the help of various financial
inducements. This could take the form of "(a) the
payment of grants (one-time or annual) to the owner of
the property and (b) the offering of some form of tax
relief to him, in return for his maintaining the prop-erty
and possibly opening it to the public on certain
agreed-upon occasions. Both of these measures would
require statutory authority. The first might raise
questions as to whether such payments were for a pub lie
purpose under Article V, Secti on 3 of the State Consti-tution,
but it is believed that with proper drafting
the act could be made to meet this test,"^ Any imme-diate
tax revenue loss resulting from such action would
be overshadowed in the long run by an increase in adja-cent
property values, consequently, increasing revenue
to the city in the long run.
Philip P. Green, Jr,, Legal Powers to Preserve
Historic Buildings and Areas In North Carolina , A Report
to the Legislative Council, Institute of Government,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Caro-lina
, 1965 , p. 3
.
14
Ibid. . p 10 o
35
CULTURAL & HISTORIC SITES c
510 90 1020
WASHINGTON PARK & RECREATION STUDY
WASHINGTON, N C
1 CHURCHES
J LIBRARY
"] BOAT RAMPS
~|| HISTORIC SITES
Summary
The preceding sections and sketches have depicted
the most desirable recreation land in and immediately
around Washington. These feasible recreation areas
will be that land from which specific recreation facili
ties and parks will be selected. As has been suggested
the best use of this land is recreation and not other
land use development.
If all the preceding information is combined into
a single sketch, the resulting pattern depicting desir-able
recreation areas would be essentially linear in
nature. From such a pattern the selection of specific
recreation space would be made with ease. However,
before selecting these areas for development, the pres-ent
recreation facilities and the proposed parks dedi-cated
in the urban renewal projects should be analyzed
and incorporated into the overall picture.
The following section is a brief inventory of pro-posed
recreation in Washington under the Urban Renewal
Program.
36
URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS
The purpose of including a brief analysis of the
Urban Renewal Projects in this study is to introduce
additional viewpoints that most certainly will affect
the proposed park and recreation program.
A major aspect of a federally aided urban renewal
scheme is the dedication of necessary park and recrea-tion
space. Since the implementation of the Urban
Renewal program, or more specifically, because the
funds necessary for the acquisition of recreation areas
are financed under "Urban Renewal", and because the
park space will be dedicated to the city in most
instances; Washington should attempt to utilize as
much of the Redevelopment Commission's park space and
recommendations as possible. In most instances, the
land dedicated for recreation in urban renewal sectors
lies within the most desirable park land determined in
preceding sections. Consequently, there will be little
conflict between the numerous proposals.
Four areas in Washington have been designated for
urban renewal funds. Preliminary specifications and
designs and moderate construction are presently under-way.
To date the city council has approved everything
that has been presented and in most cases has endorsed
every aspect of the designs.
All four projects have received similar publicity
on all facets of their design. However, the most
extensive and complete park proposal of the four pro-jects
is in Area 3, the East End Urban Renewal Are a
,
illustrated on the map following this section. In this
plan the proposed park space follows Jack's Creek to
John Small Highway, and then beyond that point, north
to the project boundary. The total space entails approx
imately 24.5 acres, most of which is bounded by resi-dential
areas and the Redevelopment Commission's pro-posed
rehabilitation settlements. The only exception
is in the northwestern section of the East End Urban
Renewal Area where the park borders Washington High
School. As proposed, the park should provide some
excellent recreation opportunities. It links various
neighborhoods and introduces an uninterrupted pedestrian
circulation system which provides a closer tie between
the neighborhoods, the Pamlico River, and the Havens
Gardens area. Specific recreation use should be made
of the creek and the open space included in the park
37
proposalo The areas not dedicated for definite activ-ities
should be properly landscaped, which in turn woul
provide a desirable esthetic quality suitable for pas-sive
recreation activity
o
Washington Heights Renewal Area, Area 4 in the
illustration, (see sketch 8) is the site for a pro-posed
elementary school and a small park The proposed
lake located in the park is no longer deemed feasible
for development due to an inadequate water supply The
proposed park adds an additional 9.7 acres to the other
renewal areas*, No specific recreational activities
have been specified for the space; however, it does
offer an outdoor area for picnics and other relaxed
recreation activities while providing several esthetic
f unct ions,
The park adjoins the proposed Washington Heights
Elementary School site a The school area covers 28.7
acres of land of which the largest part will be used
for the usual school recreation functions,) In summary,
the total space amounts to approximately 38 acres <,
In the Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Area ,
A rea 2 , very little park space was dedicatedo The only
open land other than parking facilities is a narrow
strip between the river and the proposed street that
provides access around the Central Business Districto
This strip offers some passive use and esthetic poten-tial,
but, even so, the strip is not adequate open
space for the project area Q Because there are only a
few residential establishments in Area 2, specific
recreation facilities cannot be justified; but the day-time
CBD population deserves some park space intermit-tently
scattered throughout the districto This space
would satisfy many passive recreation demands and psyco
logical needs of the downtown shopper, especially in
the realm of relief from a monotonous manmade environ-ment.
Several small landscaped rest areas could be
developed along Main Street, or some consideration
could be given to possibilities of outdoor restaurants,
auto shows, boat shows, art shows, etc, functioning
along major pedestrian circulation routes. These may
be situated between parking lots and the Main Street.
An excellent illustration of the type of space is the
area between McLellan's 5 & 10 and the Turnage Theatre
on the north side of Main Street, With a little imagi-nation,
the space could be utilized for various enter-taining
functions. This type of development would add
38
to the overall esthetic qualities of downtown Washington,
providing an additional attraction to the would-be shop-per.
In the remaining project, A rea 1, the West End
Urban Renewal Are a, the location of a new recreation
center is proposed. In the preliminary plan it is
placed approximately on the corner of Gladden Street
and West Fourth Street, which is somewhat in the south-ern
area of the project. In addition, a large neigh-borhood
park has been proposed between West Fifth and
Seventh Streets (see sketch 8). Based on the prelimi-nary
design, the proposed park would house some struc-tures
for sheltered recreation use. The entire park
space is comprised of 471,975 square feet or about 10.8
acres to be used for various outdoor functions, viz.,
baseball, football, tennis, picnics, etc. As proposed,
the public park would be coupled with several proposed
extensions to the now existing playground facilities
of P.S. Jones School a Together they should provide the
maximum outdoor recreation space possible for the area.
The school playground extensions are located on Bridge
Street and on Carolina Avenue. Each provides an addi-tional
2.7 acres and 1„65 acres, respectively,, The
total space amounts to 15 2 acres of playground and
public park.
39
THE RECREATION PLAN
Introduction
After determining the deficiencies of the present
park and recreation program and after establishing new
park standards for Washington, the formulation of the
Park and Recreation Plan can begin. The plan concept
is based upon the criteria established in the preceding
chapter, i.e., land uses possessing recreational capa-bilities.
Essentially, the design is in two stages:
a ten year plan and a 20 year plan. The first stage
of development would satisfy basic recreational re-quirements
for the city T s residents, while on the other
hand, the second stage would satisfy the projected
population for both the city and the surrounding areas.
These areas in all probability will fall under city
jurisdiction 20 years hence.
Full development should be realized by 1985; how-ever,
acquisition of all the proposed park land needs
to occur immediately. This point cannot be emphasized
emphatically enough. The success or failure of any
park and recreation program depends entirely upon the
speed with which land is acquired. As land development
continues and the population increases, less and less
of the desirable land is available for purchase, thus
hindering the recreation program. Also, the cost of
land continues to rise because of increases in the
standard of living and the never ending inflationary
trends. Only through immediate purchase will the city
relieve the long term cost of acquisition.
The Park and Recreation Plan
As discussed in the Regional Recreation section,
the eastern North Carolina area is afforded with numer-ous
Federal, State, and private recreation facilities.
Efforts are presently under way by the Corps of Engi-neers
and the North Carolina Highway Department to
improve the transportation links with these areas,
consequently, increasing Washington' s opportunities
for recreation enjoyment.
With the improvements, Washington's Regional
requirements should be ample. On the local scene, the
following plan is recommended to satisfy expected
future recreation demands.
40
The Parkway Concept
If the most suitable park and recreation land,
established in the preceding sections, is analyzed
and, in turn, designated for recreation uses in the
proposed plan, a connecting, continuous linear pattern
of open space will result, To reiterate, this land
possesses the desired recreation character is tics
Essentially, the linear pattern is a 'parkway'
meandering throughout the area, seldom interrupted by
other land uses It essentially forms a natural
"greenbelt" around the City of Washington which, if
properly utilized, offers several advantages,. This
'parkway' approach will be the major element of the
overall park and recreation plan, The entire design
will be oriented toward its design. In summary, this
approach will be taken for two reasons; first, it
reflects land having recreation capabilities, viz. ,
topography, water resources, vegetation, etc ; and
second, it offers several advantages which are not
found in most recreation planso
Advantages
By utilizing the parkway system, one advantage
is a high degree of flexibility can be introduced into
the. plan. For example, any highly developed recrea-tion
area may be shifted at anytime anywhere along the
parkway<» This may be desired if the population distri-bution
changes. If the population shifts over a period
of time, the developed parks can change accordingly to
accommodate the different population locations and
characteristics.
This ability to change from one location to another,
in turn, minimizes travel time for the pedestrian walk-ing
from his home to the park. For that matter, an
individual could walk or cycle, whatever the case may be,
from his neighborhood to the parkway and continue through-out
the whole system without interruption to any of the
recreation centers which are located in the parkway.
This maximizes safety and promotes the interrelationship
among neighborhoods and their respective centers. What
results is a segregation of the homogeneous sectors of
the city and a minimization of a sprawling population
which would adversely affect growth. On the other hand,
the parkway would integrate the activities of each neigh-borhood
through a mutual green space and the recreation
41
offered*, Because of the continuous nature of the park-way
and the resulting interaction between centers, an
individual could be involved in many more aspects of
recreation and collective social activities, conse-quently,
tying the city closer together socially
Another advantage with the parkway approach is
that maximum use can be made, of the surrounding lando
This is because the parkway would tend to concentrate
development within certain areas, providing a physco-logical
barrier to sprawling development,, Consequently,
many services offered by the city can be made readily
available to the public with minimum cost to the city.
Also, problems normally requiring annexation tend to
be eliminated? greater concent r a t i on-- le s s annexation,
Because of the nature of the proposed parkway, sections
of the city can be easily defined and, quite naturally,
the problems associated with each particular section
can be corrected with ease For example, a parkway
encompassing an area would tend to hold any deterioration
in that area alone, such that corrective measures could
be taken with minimum cost
Also, of great significance is the fact that the
system helps segregate incompatible land uses such as
commercial, industrial, and residential,, This segre-gation
would minimize possibilities of legal action,
nuisance problems and encouchment of the one on the
others property rights and valueso
Another advantage would have to be the influen-tial
affect park space, would have on property values
and Washington's future development;, Future residen-tial
construction can be expected to take place, in
all probability, in relation to the parkway 8 If such
a relationship materializes, the plan, in fact, would
be providing the city with valuable information regard-ing
the location of future development. Because of
this, better planning can results In addition to being
an aid in anticipating future growth, the parkway offers
advantages to the individual landowner » Property values
rise; noise is reduced; traffic movement is minimized;
and each residence is enhanced e s t he t i ca 1 ly « In the
long run these factors will pay off monetarily for the
City of Washington because of increased property taxes.
Func t i ons
The parkway provides a wide variety of functions.
In addition to a pedestrian circulation route and a
42
neighborhood buffer zone, which was pointed out in the
advantages of parkways, the parkway offers the expected
hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, and camping facili
ties. The underdeveloped sections can serve an esthet-ic
function conducive to desirable development, espe-cially
in areas immediately bordering the parkway and
along the proposed outer highway e
Pr ov i s i ons
Upon endorsement of the proposed parkway, steps
should be taken to obtain the services of a qualified
landscape architect for detailed landscaping purposes.
Several suggestions regarding picnic and campsites
strategically located throughout the system have been
made (see sketch 11), These areas are adjacent to
major vehicular circulation systems, pedestrian links,
and population concentrations. Each campsite (see
sketch 11) should include picnic tables, cleared open
space for strenuous recreation activity, outdoor bar-becue
pits, and an area which provides water and rest
rooms. Picnic areas (see sketch 11) should provide
outdoor cooking facilities and tables, and in some
instances, water provisions, where feasible. In all,
there are 16 picnic sites and three campsites. The
total acreage figure for these parks amounts to 27.4
acres; 6,3 acres for campsites and 21<>1 acres for
picnic areas.
The developed parks and playgrounds in the park-way
are strategically located throughout the system.
Some of these areas should be developed immediately
while others should follow during the second stage of
the plan e These developed areas will be discussed in
more detail in later sections. All the present facili-ties
and proposed facilities also fall within the park-way
and will be discussed in later sections.
In addition to the proposed campsites, picnic
areas and playgrounds, and park facilities mentioned,
several recommendations for the landscaping of certain
areas in the parkway are included, One such area is
along Jack' s Creek which runs parallel to Park Drive.
At the discretion of the landscape designer, retaining
walls and railing should border the creek, Any design
proposal should include fishing spots, picnic tables,
barbecue pits and well designed trash receptacles.
The present location of the playground apparatus in
the vicinity of the water tower on Third Street is
A3
satisfactory. However, similar provisions should be
made throughout the remaining parkway system. The
recommended location for the apparatus is shown on the
overall design sketch (see sketch 11).
Similar design requirements should be applied in
the Washington Heights area, Havens Gardens area and
Kennedy's Creek area. The recommended site plans for
these areas have been shown on sketch 11, also.
Throughout that part of the parkway which lies
within the city limits, paved walkways, water fountains,
and park furniture should be incorporated and strate-gically
located. Adequate, well-designed lighting also
should be included for illumination of every pedestrian
circulation route within the parkway.
The inclusion of these aspects of design can make
the difference between the mediocrity found with most
park concepts and the type of park plan desired in
Washington. The details of the design, such as park
furniture, may be the major factor that determines the
esthetic and functional quality of the parkway.
Throughout that part of the parkway which lies
outside the city limits, bridle paths, hiking trails,
and bicycling trails should be included. These paths
should be an uninterrupted pedestrian circulation sys-tem.
Conflicts with vehicular circulation have been
minimized except in a few instances. In the later
stages of the plan, it may be economically feasible
to provide underpasses beneath the major highways
—
N. C. 33, N. C. 264 and U. S. 17—consequently, elim-inating
traffic hazards and maintaining a continuous
pedestrian circulation system.
The entire plan consists of 1,637 acres, most of
which falls within the 20 year flood plain of Washing-ton
or is cleared open space already designated in the
urban renewal projects for park use. The Urban Renewal
park land will be dedicated to the city in the near
future
.
Of the total 1,637 acres, 260 acres should be
developed for specific recreational uses. First stage
development should begin immediately and the second
stage should begin by 1975„ However, as has been pre-viously
emphasized, total acquisition should occur
now •
44-
The estimated 260 acres represents enough recrea-tional
area to support the expected 1985 population
for the City of Washington and its immediate environs.
Of this figure, 202 acres should be developed within
the city T s boundaries, satisfying the standard recrea-tional
space requirements for Washington's expected
population. The remaining acreage should be developed
outside the corporate limits. These areas do lie with-in
the zoning and planning districts. Final develop-ment
should be realized by 1985 with various stages
periodically completed over the intervening years,
preferably in 10 and 20 year stages as shown in the
sketches. The final design is illustrated in sketch
11 which delineates the recommended boundaries of such
a parkway.
45
The Community Recreation Facility
one new com-
This build-system
and
recreation
In order for the facility to satisfy the recrea-tion
requirements for the city, a wide array of activ-ities
and recreation provisions must be provided. The
following provisions should be incorporated into the
center.
A uditorium
An auditorium with at least a 300 person seating
capacity should be required. This space may be used
by theatrical groups, such as the Washington Little
Theatre, and other individuals desiring large meeting
space
•
Work Space and Exhibition Space
The center should provide work space for arts and
crafts and exhibition space for local displays, art,
boat, auto, etc. shows Since a large majority of
the art work is accomplished in the neighborhood cen-ters,
this facility would be the most appropriate space
for major exhibitions
Gymna s ium
A public gymnasium is definitely needed in Wash-ington,
This fact is evident after the analysis was
made of present conditions and gym facilities in the
area, Because of these conditions a gymnasium is rec-ommended,
which, it is felt, should be integrated in
with the community center complexo This building,
coupled with the gym presently being considered for
the Bridge Street Center, should amply satisfy future
population demands. It is recommended that both build-ings
include locker rooms and bathing facilities for
the users »
Administrative Offices
The department's administrative functions should
be transferred to the new community building. The
In addition to the proposed parkway,
munity recreation center is recommendedo
ing should be integrated into the parkway
should be the focal point of the park and
activity in Washington c
46
minimum space necessary to efficiently administer the
proposed program is a director ' s office and an assist-ants
office, secretarial space, workroom, and general
meeting room. The latter would be used by the recrea-tion
commission and small groups associated with the
department
.
In addition to major space requirements, it may
be desirable to provide space accommodations for small
social gatherings. If the community center is well
designed, the general meeting area possibly could be
converted into a multipurpose room and used for this
function. Adjacent kitchen facilities, or at least a
serving area where hot meals may be kept, temporarily,
prior to banquets or dinners, should be considered.
Under such circumstances, meals would be prepared else-where.
Also, storage space for equipment, uniforms,
etc. is necessary, along with the usual toilet facili-ties
and required parking space. The parking require-ment
is approximately 75 spaces or 15,000 square feet.^
Outdoor Facilities
The entire complex consists of approximately 24
acres which should provide numerous possibilities in
outdoor recreation activities. Based on accepted
national standards, the recreation provisions included
here should consist of at least four tennis courts.
^
Also, one softball field and one baseball diamond should
be constructed, ^ This would satisfy the ball field
requirements, assuming the city can make use of the
high school and elementary school facilities, along
with the existing recreation facilities, i.e., Kugler
Field and Todd Maxwell Fields.
In addition to the ball fields, general play space,
picnic areas and the tennis courts in the main community
center, it is recommended that an amphitheatre be pro-vided.
This facility would be an asset to the depart-
This figure was determined by assigning one
automobile parking space for every four persons in the
auditorium and requiring 200 square feet for each park-ing
space.
47
ment. Two factors justify the facility; first, the
topography in the Washington Heights area easily war-rants
the location; and second, the cost to the city
for construction and maintainance would be minimal in
comparison to the benefits afforded the public.
Also, some consideration should be given to the
inclusion of a park drive which would provide easy
access to all the activities offered and to the border-ing
parkway. Essentially, the drive would be an exten-sion
of Avon Avenue connecting with East Fifth Street
near Runyon' s Creek (see sketch 10).
The proposed location of the Community Center is
shown on sketch 10. The decision in establishing the
most appropriate location was based on the evaluation
of suitable park land, today ' s development trends, the
expected distribution of population, and the nature of
the proposed parkway system. Following from an anal-ysis
of these factors, the best location, it was felt,
was in a wooded area adjacent to the present Washington
Heights Urban Renewal project and the parkway which
follows Runyon' s Creek. Here, the center easily could
utilize the nearby school facilities, the urban renewal
park, and the proposed parkway. The building would be
centered in an area presently experiencing significant
population growth and in a location easily accessible
by pedestrian and vehicular transportation systems.
Accepted National Standards are one tennis
court for each 2,000 population. Washington presently
has three tennis courts, consequently, requiring an
additional four courts to satisfy the expected 1985
population of 13,400, If a city-county program is
enacted, and if the 30 percent county participation
presently occurring continues, an additional two courts
are necessary to satisfy future demands. Also, if and
when the Charlotte Street Recreation Center is phased
out, the existing tennis courts may be moved.
^Based on NRPA standards, one softball field is
recommended for each 3,000 population. For a city pop-ulation
of 13,400, a total of four fields is recommend-ed.
For a city-county program, and consequently, an
18,100 population in 1985, six fields are recommended.
One baseball field is recommended for each six (6)
thousand population.
48
Neighborhood Recreation Centers
As was previously mentioned, the Park and Recrea-tion
Plan essentially is in two stages: a ten year
and a 20 years plan. The first stage of development
should include the development, construction, or reha-bilitation
of the forthcoming neighborhood recreation
centers. All of these centers are inside the corporate
limits of the city (see sketch 2).
Two new centers are proposed in addition to the
three existing facilities, bringing the total to five
neighborhood recreation centers for the City of Wash-ington.
Each facility T s location (see sketch 10) was
based on the neighborhood populations to be served and
the suitability of the land for recreation use.
Tarboro Recreation Cente r
A new neighborhood center should be constructed
west of the city's boundaries. Specifically, the
recommended location is adjacent to the John Cotton
Tayloe School on Tarboro Street extension (see sketch
10). In this area, the center would be centrally loca-ted
in the western neighborhood and, if coupled with
the school recreation facilities, would satisfy recrea-tion
demands for the population growth occurring in the
west. The building should house a social room, a meet-ing
space, two offices, adequate storage space, and
toilets. At least six parking spaces should be includ-ed
adjacent to the structure., The remaining open area
should include children's play apparatus, picnic pro-visions,
one paved basketball court, and free play
space
.
The area consists of approximately 4.4 acres, all
of which should be landscaped under the direction of
a qualified designer.
Van Norden Recreation Center
Another neighborhood center should be located in
the West End Urban Renewal Area, The location, which
is quite acceptable, has been proposed by the Redevel-opment
Commission; however, the center does not lie
within the Commission's recommended neighborhood park
just north of Fifth Street on Van Norden Street. A
more desirable location for the park would be south of
Fifth Street integrated with the proposed recreation
49
center,, If this were done, the proposed park would
lie within the 20 year flood plain and within an area
possessing a more desirable amount of vegetation, two
factors deserving considerable attention,. The center
should contain the required provisions to facilitate
expected usages These were outlined in the Tarboro
Center's space requirements and should be applied here.
The park space that is to be incorporated with the Van
Norden Center should include a ball field with portable
bleachers, a picnic area, and possibly public swimming
facilities. This would be an ideal location for the
latter because of the park's central location.
The proposed Van Norden Park and Recreation Center
consists of 14o5 acres. Like the Tarboro Center, proper
landscaping should be requiredo Special efforts should
be made to retain existing tree coverage.
Charlotte Street Recreation Center
Although three new neighborhood centers are favor-ed,
substantial regard for the existing recreation
facilities should not be overlooked. In reference to
the Charlotte Street Recreation Center, several prob-lems
prevail which were pointed out in the analyses.
There are two possible alternatives to correct the
situation. The first alternative consists of three
corrective moves. First and foremost, immediate steps
could be taken to renovate the center. With the appli-cation
of stringent structural standards, the city can
determine what necessary steps are required to convert
the building into a more acceptable and safer place
to conduct recreation activities. In addition to the
structural condition, specific attention should be
given the poor furnishings and expedient steps taken
to remedy that situations Also, at this particular
site, adequate parking is sorely lacking. However,
any expansion of the Charlotte Street area would rec-tify
the problem.
The second alternative essentially entails com-plete
elimination of a recreation center at the present
Charlotte Street site. It is recommended that a new
building be constructed in the parkway north of Third
Street and adjacent to Telfair Street. At this loca-tion
(see sketch 11), the center would be capable of
serving the surrounding population with greater ease
and efficiency. The advantage of the site is that
the recreation department could utilize park space
50
dedicated by the Redevelopment Commission, consequently,
alleviating land acquisition costSo Also, further
justification for relocation can be found by analyzing
the cost of renovating versus the cost of new construc-tion
c Neither type of construction is substantially
more than the other, so, consequently, it may be desir-able
to build a new structure
If the existing Charlotte Street Center is phased
out in the intervening years and new construction of
the building begins on the parkway, the original site
could be used for a small playgrounds This particular
area consists of 5 o acres The new location would
consist of 1 5 acres which is adjacent to playground
space in the parkway a
B ridge Street Recreation Center
Bridge Street Recreation Center is dissimilar in
many respects to the Charlotte Street Center. With the
completion of the final two stages of the complex,
which have been approved by the Planning Board, the
recreation requirements for the West End neighborhoods
would be adequate., However, several improvements of
the outdoor facilities are necessary,, Additional play
apparatus should be. forthcoming to satisfy expected
population demandso In addition, a general overall
esthetic enhancement is lacking which results primarily
from poor landscapingo Funds should be authorized to
complete necessary seeding, tree planting, general
landscaping, paving, etc Q
Inside the structure,
decorations are necessary
work tables are available,
drapes are provide do
additional furniture and
Only a limited number of
and very few pictures and
The area presently consists of 1«,5 acreso This
space combined with the bordering school recreation
facilities, Beebee Park, and the proposed parkway
should be sufficient space to serve the neighborhood
popu lat ion.
Oakdale Recreation Center
At the Oakdale Recreation Center several facets
of the facility deserve attention and expedient action,.
The major deficiency lies with the inadequacy of the
facility to satisfy specific recreation floor space
51
requirements. More specifically, a large meeting room
and additional office space should be incorporated into
the present complex. Also, means should be employed
to correct the general lack of furnishings that pre-vail
and the poor parking facilities that exist. Addi-tional
work tables, office furniture, curtains, lamps
and possibly a few stuffed chairs would do wonders to
create a more livable space. Black top surfacing of
the dirt parking area in front and some landscaping
around the building could make the Oakdale Center a
very attractive facility.
52
Other Cultural Facilities
Ten Year Phase
Over and above the previously recommended park
and recreation development for the first stage of the
plan, various other types of recreation facilities also
should be incorporated into the first ten year recrea-tion
plan. The proposals consist of a marina on
Kennedy's Creek, a structure on Castle Island, and the
earlier mentioned public swimming pool in the Van Nor-den
Street recreation area. While some of these pro-posals
probably would not be financed by the Recrea-tion
Department, they still should be considered
seriously. Various inducements could stimulate pri-vate
investment in many cases.
First and foremost, purchase and development of
the Eureka Lumber site for a marina and boat launching
area is recommended. The existing topographical con-ditions,
the natural harbor, and the area's relation-ship
to the community as a whole easily warrants the
development of this location (see sketch 10). This
facility, coupled with the existing City Boat Ramps
on Runyon's Creek, would offer boating facilities for
each end of town.
Second, it is recommended that the Recreation
Department reserve the Castle Islands for recreation
activity. Private groups may be induced to utilize
the islands for one of several uses, i.e., social club,
boat club, picnic area, restaurant, etc. Because of
its location to the downtown renewal project, the
possibility of some type of cultural or recreational
investment becoming successful is very good. Also,
even though the development may be private, financial
aid could be obtained through the Federal Government
for such a venture.
Third, a public swimming facility is definitely
needed in the Washington area. This fact is obvious
when viewing the swimming accommodations available to
the public within the city limits. Sp ec i f ica 1 ly # the
facility should be incorporated into the Van Norden
Street recreation area. If this were done, only one
full-time employee would be required to administer both
the nearby recreation center and the proposed swimming
pool. Seasonal personnel could conduct swimming lessons
and provide the maintenance required. The lack of
53
such a program is unusual for a
adjacent to one of the nation's
t ion areas
•
community located
foremost water recrea
Twenty Year Phase
For the first ten year phase of the plan (see
sketch 10) the proposals have been specifics, This
procedure will not be followed in the recommendations
for the second stage of development,, This is because
as was previously pointed out, developed recreation
areas and future centers should be located based on
population characteristics and concentrations at that
time. However, it can be concluded, as a result of
present trends, three new centers will probably be
required in the second phase of developments- The
tentative locations are shown on sketch 11. In addi-tion
to these facilities, a nine hole golf course is
recommended (see sketch 11 for location) in the
northeast section of the parkway. It is preferable
that the facility be public, and related to the pro-posed
center in that area, Also, it may be desirable
to include two ball parks, located tentatively in the
northeast section of the parkway (see sketch 11)
These developments, combined with the recreation
areas proposed in the ten year plan, complete the
park and recreation requirements necessary to satisfy
the expected population demands in 1985.
54
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
I ntroduc t ion
Once the proposed plan is accepted and adopted,
steps must be taken to implement the various recom-mendations.
Often times, because of numerous problems,
this is when a plan falls by the wayside and effectua-tion
never materia lizes For example, it has been
repeatedly stated that all the land should be acquired
immediately in order to assure its availability in the
later stages of the plan Because of this need for
total acquisition, several problems arise. One obvious
hindrance is the City of Washington's lack of a size-able
fund to purchase large tracts of land. Even if
total acquisition were accomplished, a second problem
may also evolve because of minimum funds. Vast amounts
of capital are required for comprehensive development
and a continuous maintenance program. This is virtually
impossible for a city the size of Washington. Instead,
partial development would probably occur now with the
funds that were available, and a surplus amount of
potentially productive land would be unused.
The purpose of this section is to introduce the
various tools and sources of revenue and technical
assistance available to aid in alleviating these prob-lems.
Although the methods may be redundant to many,
some of the more recent Federal bills are included and
should be considered as a means of implementing the
plan.
Monetary Aids and Legal Tool s
It is understood that the major responsibilities
of the Recreation Department are the acquisition of
land for open space and recreation needs, improvement
and development of this land, and the administration
and maintenance of the recreation facilities. With
regard to the acquisition of the land, there are two
methods employed; first, the direct purchase of open
space based on the long range program; and, second, the
purchase or acquisition of particular development rights
from the landowner without purchasing all rights and
title. In the case of development rights, easements
have been historically acquired for open space and
recreation purposes when coordinated with programs for
highways, drainage, utilities, and flood controls.
Today scenic easements as well as easements for the use
55
of land are not unusual. Although this type of ease-ment
has not been effectuated in North Carolina, this
does not mean it should not be considered. These par-ticular
tracts of land ordinarily reflect topographica
conditions and water resources which have recreational
use capabilities rather than other uses. In the pro-posal,
scenic areas normally fall within the linear
parkway pattern.
56
Federal Government Aids
In the direct purchase of open space, the problem
of available funds is more critical than in the case of
development rights 8 Cost is substantially more for the
former, and nominal fees are required in the latter,
However, there exist numerous sources to aid in the
direct purchase of lands The following are some of the
Federal programs providing monetary aid and in many
cases technical advice.
Open Space Land Program
The Open Space Program, authorized under Title VII
of the 1961 Housing Act, provides a 50 percent grant on
a matching basis to help public agencies preserve or
provide urban open space land having value for park,
recreation, conservation, scenic, or historic purposes.
Also matching funds are authorized to help communities
develop lands which have been acquired with assistance
under the Open Space Land Program, However, development
includes only basic improvements and not major construc-tion
such as amphitheatres, dock facilities, etc.
Also qualifying under
mined to have special hist
for determining the histor
eluded in the app 1 icat ion
Title VII are sites deter-oric
qualities. The basis
ic significance must be in-
Although the Open Space Land Program primarily
promotes the acquisition of undeveloped land, it does
offer assistance in the acquisition and clearance of
developed land in built-up portions of an urban area
when there is a shortage of required open space Re-location
assistance is authorized for individuals,
families, and businesses displaced by the assisted
purchase of lands©
For additional information write to the Depart-ment
of the Interior, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation,
Washington, D, C, 20240 or Room 645, Peachtree Street,
Seventh Building, Atlanta, Georgia, 30323
57
Urban Beaut i f icat ion and Improvement Program
This program is also a part of Title VII and
authorizes grants to assist in carrying out programs
for the beaut i f icat ion and improvement of publicly
owned lands throughout the locality. The cost of well-designed
park furniture and landscaping would be the
type of development eligible. Grants may cover up to
50 percent of the cost of development. However, grants
of up to 90 percent are authorized to carry out proj-ects
of special value for demonstrating new and improved
methods and materials for urban beaut i f i cat ion
.
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act provides
grants to states and their units for acquisition and
development of public outdoor recreation areas and
facilities. City governments who wish to apply for
grants must present to a liaison officer the project
to be administered. This program is being processed
at the State level by the State Planning Task Force,
North Carolina Department of Administration.
Other Federal programs offer similar possibilities.
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program
(P.L. 566), The Flood Control Act of 1962, The Federal
Water Project Recreation Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-72), The
Federal Agriculture Act of 1962 can aid in converting
land and water areas into recreational uses.
Also, The Federal Aviation Authority cooperates
with the Department of Housing and Urban Development
in considering the use of land surrounding airports for
parks and recreational facilities. Federal grants by
the FAA are available for those projects essential to
safe operation of airports. The use of adjacent land
for parks and recreation is encouraged as an element
promoting a safer operation.
Although these Federal programs provide a signifi-cant
amount of revenue and technical assistance, none
are as comprehensive as the Demonstration Cities and
Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 which was recently
signed into law by the President in November, 1966.
This particular act does not pertain entirely to recre-ational
assistance; but if the City of Washington is
fortunate enough to qualify as a demonstration city
under the act, the demonstration program, coupled with
58
some of the previously mentioned programs, together
would almost eliminate the city T s capital requirements
for acquisition and development,,
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act
of 1 9 6
6
i_9 ~ '
The comprehensive city demonstration program is a
locally prepared and scheduled program for rebuilding
or restoring entire sections and neighborhoods of slum
and blighted areas by the concentrated and coordinated
use of all available Federal Aids together with local
private and governmental resourceso The program will
make it possible to treat the social needs of the
people in the slums in conjunction with physical reha-bilitation.
Although this program is primarily a resi-dential
one, any proposed physical rehabilitation would
effect the proposed recreation plan and program of
acquisition, development, and administration*
Federal funds cover up to 80 percent of the cost
of planning, developing and administering the demon-stration
programs and also cover up to 80 percent of
any local municipalities 1 matching fund requirement
for Federal development programs presently in effect.
This is where the program has its greatest asset for
the realization of the Park and Recreation Plan D For
example, if Washington was utilizing the Open Space
Land Program as authorized under Title VII of the 1961
Housing Act which provides a 50 percent grant on a
matching basis to effectuate a recreation plan; at the
same time under the Demonstration Cities Program 80
percent of the local matching requirements would be
paid by the Federal Government,, In other words, the
Federal Government would cover 90 percent of the total
cost of acquisition and development,, This condition
pertains to all Federal programs presently in effect,
such as Urban Renewal Projects, Federal Housing Projects
etc, Also, although the Federal Government is covering
up to 80 percent of the local matching fund, this does
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Develop -
ment Act of 1966 , Report of the Committee on Banking
and Currency, United States Senate, S„3708, House of
Representatives, 89th Congress, (Washington? U S
Government Printing Office), 1966o
59
not imply that a demonstration city grant will affect
the original amount of funds of existing programs in
any way.
Federal funds are to be provided only to a local
'demonstration agency' which may be the city or any
local public agency established or designated by the
local governing body, including one or more municipal-ities,
counties or other public bodies having general
governmental powers, to administer the program.
Essentially, the 'demonstration agency' must
design a program that adheres to the following criteria.
(1) It must improve the physical environ-ment,
increase the supply of adequate
housing for low and moderate income
people, and provide educational and
social services vital to the public
health and welfare.
(2) It must make a substantial impact on
the social and physical problems and
remove or arrest blight and decay in
entire sections or neighborhoods;
contribute to the sound development
of the entire city; make marked prog-ress
in reducing social and educa-tional
disadvantages, ill health,
underemployment and enforced idle-ness;
provide educational, health
and social services necessary to
serve the poor and disadvantaged in
the area and provide for widespread
citizen participation in the program.
(3) It must increase the supply of stan-dard
low and moderate cost housing
for all citizens and with adequate
public facilities.
(4) It must be a definite plan of action
approved by the local governing body,
adequately financed, with administra-tive
staff, cooperation of local agen-cies,
consistent with comprehensive
planning and local laws, regulations
and other requirements are expected to
be consistent with the objectives of
the program.
60
(5) It must meet such additional require-ments
as the Secretary may establish
to carry out the purposes of the pro-gram.
This does not intend to be used
to impose substantive criteria unre-lated
to the prescribed bill.
The Park and Recreation Plan for the City of Wash-ington
could play an important role in meeting these
object ives
.
61
Local Government Aids
Although the Federal Government may provide as
much as 90 percent of the funds, these will not totally
support any proposed open space and recreation program
the size of Washington 1 s « To supplement Federal aid,
the purchasing power of the Washington Recreation De-partment
can be increased immensely by utilizing vari-ous
methods of borrowings Through bond issues, large
tracts of land can be purchased imme d i a t e ly The land
not programmed for immediate development could be leased
temporarily back to private owners under certain re-stricted
uses and later recalled when more recreation
space is needed. This would assure, additional income
to the department and aid in alleviating the problem
of large parcels of productive land lying idle The
additional revenue also would be helpful in maturing
b onds »
Gifts and Contributions
Gifts and other similar contributions also can aid
in the realization of a recreation program,, Even though
little reliance can be placed on the amounts, these do
provide an additional source of capital for acquisition,
development, and maintenance.
Legal Methods
In some situations, public ownership and the
acquisition of development rights is not necessary.
Through various legal and fiscal means, development
can be either totally restricted or encouraged for
recreation use.
Whenever the public health, welfare and safety is
endangered, zoning can be employed to restrict develop-ment
and, in turn, promote the recreation plan e This is
often the case in flood plains and areas with undevelop-able
soil character is t ics o The city should definitely
rezone the proposed parkway area lying within the 50
year flood plain allowing only recreational development
or conservation practices,, Eventually, the city may
wish to purchase some of the land if the needs for
specific recreation activity in a specific area demands
it. However, total acquisition is not necessary of the
entire parkway but instead purchase of only those areas
indicated in sketch 11 Whenever any remaining parcels
are acquired, landscaping, park furniture, etc. can be
incorporated
»
62
SUMMARY
The proposed plan will undoubtedly conflict with
many future proposals for development in the Washington
area. Consequently, it may be pertinent to emphasize
the importance of the cooperation and coordination that
should exist between the Recreation Department, State
and Federal officials, and other departmental units of
the local government. The success or failure of the
proposal will depend largely on this relationship.
If the proper relationship does prevail and if
the city utilizes all available assistance to implement
the plan, there is good reason to believe Washington
can realize a very desirable esthetic environment and
satisfactory recreation program.
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V^Wnaten- ftnlct ftottatidru Plan
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NO. 93 CLASP
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