Contract approved for next phase of Dare County Parks and Recreation needs assessment
The Dare County Board of Commissioners have approved a proposal and contract with McGill Associates—the firm tasked with developing and implementing plans to improve Dare County Parks and Recreation facilities throughout the county—for the second phase of the recently completed Dare County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment Plan.
Nearly 10% of the county’s population participated in an online survey, over 300 people attended community engagement meetings, and phase one of the assessment also included eight focus groups and tours of all county recreation facilities.
Aquatics facilities, more playgrounds, accessible spaces, and athletic fields were among the main requests by those surveyed.
Mike Norris and Nate Halubka of McGill Associates, which conducted the assessment, highlighted community desires and potential areas for improvement in the county’s recreational offerings over the next ten years that was presented to the Dare County Board of Commissioners in February.
The 237-page report on the assessment that started in August focused just on county-operated facilities and programs, and not those offered by individual towns and other groups or agencies.
Some of the key findings of the assessment included that Dare County has less park acreage compared to national benchmarks, but is above state averages.
However, that did not include federal and state lands that cover a vast amount of Dare County’s total land mass.
According to the report, Dare County’s per capita investment in parks and recreation is slightly below the median compared to similar beach communities such as Hilton Head, South Carolina, it remains well above county-to-county comparisons across the region and state.
The unique quality of life and international draw of the Outer Banks were cited as the main factors that set Dare County apart from its neighbors.
The assessment found that current facilities are well-used but strained due to continued population growth.
Commissioners approved a $47,280 contract with McGill and Associates for phase two, which will focus on developing recommendations for Dare County Parks and Recreation field and facility improvements, and it will also include exploring various funding options, including the potential for the county to apply for and receive grants to support these projects.
The second phase is expected to take four to six months, with hopes to align with federal and state grant timelines for Fiscal Year 2026.
