Chapel Hill recently heard an update on its Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will guide the department’s programs, facilities, and services for the next two decades. The October 14 meeting explored early findings from the plan’s community input phase, particularly what programs and amenities residents want to see most in town.
The Director of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Atuya Cornwell explained how that feedback is at the root of the planning document, which the town expects to see a draft plan for by early 2027.
“Through this process and building with the community with your support, and being out in the community with the engagement process, it reminded us of two hashtags that we’ve adopted this year when it comes to parks and recreation,” Cornwell said. “One is keep going and the other one is make it count. So through this process, we really, really believe this is going to give us an opportunity to keep going and make it count for quality experiences.”
Across more than 4,800 resident responses in last year’s community engagement process, Chapel Hill said they largely want more aquatic features and to continue investing in existing parks, trails, and amenities. The community input also showed a strong demand for more teen, arts, and multi-cultural programming, as well as additional space for those programs.
On behalf of the project’s consultant BerryDunn, James Mickle said the department has already seen expanded services without significant staff increases. He said meeting the community’s growing demand for new opportunities ultimately requires adding staff and facilities and space, or otherwise decommissioning popular programs. He described those as already well-attended, and with a typical cancellation rate of less than 10%.
Early findings from the community engagement process showed Chapel Hill’s parks are heavily used, and most department facilities are rated to be in good or excellent condition. But residents want to continue investing in them and add updated amenities and equipment. (Image via the Town of Chapel Hill.)
According to Mayor Jess Anderson, the goal of the master plan is to take care of what the town already offers, while also sustainably creating new experiences. The community engagement process identified the top priorities as reinvesting in existing multiuse paths and large community parks, updating both with trending amenities, features, and workout equipment. Program priorities included expanding adult fitness and wellness programs, cultural enrichment programs, and outdoor environmental programs.
“We don’t want to take away things that people are really enjoying,” Anderson said at the October meeting. “But I think we also want to feel innovative and we don’t want to get stuck offering things, even though they fill up. Like, our programs fill up so fast. My kid wanted to do the clay studio for eight years and we never got there.
“How do we balance the appreciation for the amazing classes and programs while also being willing to try new things and not necessarily [say], ‘Well, we can’t get rid of anything because people like what we do,’” she continued. “You don’t want to take away things, but also how do we try new things and how do we see if people want something new if we’re just attached to the old?”
Council Member Elizabeth Sharp added she wants to know how the town could efficiently spend its budget while also meeting the community’s strongest needs, stating how the highest community interest item for aquatic opportunities is also the most expensive. Moving forward, she said she wants to look at the comprehensive plan with a realistic lens, rather than an aspirational one.
“I would love for us to come up with a master plan that we could go back 10 years from now and be like, ‘We actually did some of this,’” Sharp said. “Instead of coming up with a master plan that we’re like, ‘You can do anything, but can’t do everything.’ I don’t want a master plan that says we can do anything. I want a master plan that says, ‘Here are things we could reasonably accomplish in the next however many years it’s meant to be.’”
Chapel Hill’s timeline for its Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. The community engagement process took place from March 2025 to January 2026, expanding in-person events and mailed surveys. (Image via the Town of Chapel Hill.)
Describing parks and recreation as a core service — especially as Chapel Hill continues to encourage growth — Anderson said she does not want the town to fall behind in its staffing numbers. When asked how it will integrate those staff increases and amenity improvements in its future budget cycle, Town Manager Ted Voorhee said that process will likely be a “give and take,” looking at how the gaps in the department compare to other community needs. He also emphasized applying for grant opportunities.
“There’s a lot of different buckets we can try to go after,” Voorhee said. “Then the big local question would be what might go toward a future bond referendum. We’re not ready to talk about what that might look like, but those are sort of the levers we’ll need to move around. And I certainly agree with [Sharp] that what we don’t want is something we can’t implement.”
Several council members suggested looking to public and community partnerships to help offset program costs and the need for additional space, like UNC, YMCA, and schools.
To hear the full discussion from the October 14 Chapel Hill Town Council meeting, click here.
Featured image via Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation
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