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Regional Recreation
A regional task force focusing on issues of open space and recreation is developing a comprehensive inventory of all outdoor opportunities in the Unifour to help in regional planning efforts.
The task force, headed by Pat Moss, grew from a strategy of the Unifour 2020 Strategic Planning project, organized and led by the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) over the past two years.
Developing a regional assessment of available outdoor and recreation resources was chosen as one of four strategies to be implemented quickly because of its high interest by the 55 members of the Unifour 2020 Task Force, according to R. Douglas Taylor, former WPCOG Executive Director.
Citizen interest in this issue has increased as regional population grows and undeveloped land becomes housing developments, roads and shopping centers. The Unifour’s total population, for example, grew by 17 percent during the decade of the 1990s to 342,000 “The group wanted to get something going quickly because of a high level of interest from citizens and policy makers alike,” Moss said. The region-wide focus of the task force is one important it will provide information to local officials and citizens, she noted.
The inventory will map all recreation/open space available across the region, whether controlled by federal, state, county or municipal authorities. The effort will include digital mapping of national forests; state parks, game lands and other lands under state control; county parks; municipal parks and recreation facilities; and privately owned and operated facilities such as Ruritan Parks or YMCAs.
“We are excited by the possibilities for ‘outside the box’ thinking on a regional level,” Moss said. “Some innovative projects can evolve when opportunities are analyzed and needs identified by a group of interested citizens working with recreation/open space professionals,” she said.
Once the mapping component is completed, the Recreation/Open Space Task Force will work with local officials to assess the need for additional recreational opportunities in the Unifour. They plan to compare the available acres in recreation and open space locally with national standards for regions of comparable size. Task Force members hope that such an assessment might stimulate additional recreational/open space options for local citizens.
Further information is available from Sam Erwin, Environmental Development Administrator at the WPCOG (828/322-9191, extension 229).
Community Development
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Sam Erwin
Environmental Development Administrator
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485-4229 Ext. 229
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Data Services / GIS
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P. Scott Miller, GISP, CGCIO
Data Services/ GIS Manager
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485-4235 Ext. 235
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Please note: Phone numbers listed are direct lines. The use of the extension is only required when dialing the main WPCOG phone number (828) 322-9191. | 
