Latest news with #HaywoodCountyBoardofCommissioners
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rolling toward the finish line: bike park to bring new outdoor playground to Haywood County
Jun. 9—Haywood commissioners have awarded a $1.3 million contract to build facilities for phase II of the Raccoon Creek Bike Park, and the work will be done by a local contractor. Phase 1 of the county's most far-reaching recreation project yet is already complete, though the park is not yet open the public. It includes a bike pump track and skills courses for various proficiency levels. The park is near Junaluska Elementary School and on property purchased as a buffer zone for the long-closed Francis Farm landfill. At the Haywood County Board of Commissioners meeting last week, the board awarded a contract for phase II to Appalachian Sitework to build the bike park's pavilion, restrooms and playground. The company's bid was the lowest of four at just under $1.33 million The project had $767,000 on hand, and another $850,000 was added — funds that were transferred from an interest earnings account, which had exceeded budget expectations. The bid documents specify the work is to be substantially complete within 190 calendar days of the start date, which is expected to launch in June. The track was built by Velosolutions, which has built more than 800 pump tracks and bike trails all over the world. Elli Flagg, director of the Haywood County Parks and Recreation Department, said when a special event was held for the park sponsors, all were impressed with what they saw, including riders who demonstrated the track's versatility. The professional design will allow the park to be certified as a course where competitions can take place and thus bring an influx of visitors to the area, she said. While the track is mostly for bikes, skateboarders and those on scooters are welcome, too. The track is not open to motorized vehicles, with the exception of Class 1 E-bikes. In addition to the beginner skills track and the outer trails that have steep jumps, an obstacle course, a tunnel and even a bike repair station fully equipped with tools, sidewalks are in place, and the road and parking lot are graveled. What's to come The latest contract will add the water and sewer infrastructure, restroom facilities, paving for the road/parking area, and construction of pavilion where a dozen picnic tables will be under cover. A playground area will also be added, but that isn't part of the Appalachian Sitework contract. All facilities will be handicapped accessible, including the playground, Flagg said. While some have been tempted to try out the completed pump track, both Flagg and Assistant County Manager Kris Boyd said that with construction equipment moving in, that would be too dangerous. A fence has been placed around the perimeter of the area, and a locked gate is in place. The project was pushed back 90 days or so as the county dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, said Boyd, who has been handling the contract details. Given all the hurricane recovery work still needed in the region, Boys said the county felt lucky to have four bidders on the pump bike project. "This is about a $2.9 million project, and about 50% of the funds have come from the county. That's almost unheard of to have a project like this and the county had to only pay for half," he said. Here's how the Raccoon Creek Bike Park, sponsored by Mountain Credit Union, was paid for. Phase one was $679,062 and the county committed to spend another $1.4 million Monday, bringing the total project cost to $2.87 million. Grant contributions include: —Haywood Tourism Development Authority: $150,000; —Mountain Credit Union (sponsorship): $125,000; —Haywood Electric Membership Corporation: $5,000; —Haywood Health Foundation: $50,000; —ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act Covid relief money): $500,000; —PARTF (North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund: $500,000; —RTP (Recreational Trails Program): $100,000. Since work won't wrap up until near the year's end, Flagg said she's hoping for an early spring grand opening event. Commission Vice Chairman Brandon Rogers, who is a member of the county's parks and recreation committee, was delighted with the progress. "This will be a great asset to the county," said Rogers. "I know a lot of work has been put into it, and you ought to go by and see it. You hear young folks don't have a lot to do here, so this will help, and from events we can hold and bring some dollars into the county, I think it's a great thing. We're all excited to get it going."
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
To benefit all: Haywood's tourism plan focuses on quality of life
Feb. 17—The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority's 10-year master plan is not just for visitors and the tourism industry. Rather, the plan focuses on quality of life for both visitors and Haywood residents, convinced that what is good for one group will be good for all. The plan, slightly delayed by Hurricane Helene, was presented to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners earlier this month, where the board roundly praised TDA director Corrina Ruffieux's thoroughness, balanced approach, and attention to quality of life for Haywood County residents. The master plan, which will go into effect in 2026, is designed to address Haywood's tourism challenges: Low occupancy rates in traditional hotels, overuse of outdoor resources, lack of recreational access to the Pigeon River, and visitation periods heavily weighted toward summer and fall, among other things. "One of the questions I've been asked a lot is, 'Why did you do this?' And the reason is, because change is coming whether we're ready for it or not," Ruffieux told commissioners. "And so, if we can do our best to have a plan, we can hopefully manage that change so that Haywood County can keep what makes Haywood County so special." Breaking down the plan The plan is broken up into four pillars. Pillar one aims to focus on launching the "Visit Haywood" brand while strengthening the external awareness of Haywood County as a destination. This segment of the plan also zeroes in on attracting visitors who have the "flexibility and interest in traveling mid-week and/or off-season." "I'm sure all of you have heard this — a lot of people say 'no more visitors, there's too many visitors. 'It isn't always about quantity; it's about quality," Ruffieux said. "So, one of the things we want to do is target high-quality visitors. If we can do a good job getting the right visitors to come here and get them to come year-round, it keeps our small businesses up and running year-round and our people working." The year-round aspect of the plan is particularly noteworthy following an extraordinarily slack fall in the wake of Hurricane Helene. In 2023, October occupancy tax peaked at slightly over $400,000. In 2024, that number reached just under $250,000. In the long term, not relying on a peak tourism season will make the overall economy of Haywood County more durable. To that end, the TDA proposes improving recreational infrastructure within Haywood County — with a focus on upgrading access to water-based activities, particularly around the Pigeon River. These initiatives fall under the plan's second pillar: Product development. "Our visitors and our locals said they want to get out on the river. So how do we help make that happen in a safe, effective way?" Ruffieux said. "Agritourism is a bigger part of the picture now than it's ever been. I really hate that we lost the paper mill. That has been kind of a blue-collar bread and butter staple income for our county. But things change. I've heard of people catching trout in downtown Clyde, and I've never heard of that much in my lifetime. That's a draw," Commissioner Tommy Long agreed. Ruffieux also pointed to the state of Haywood's aging traditional hotels, noting that upgrades and improvements there are priorities. The goal is to attract visitors who might otherwise stay in short-term rentals, hopefully freeing up future housing for Haywood residents. Quality of life For Ruffieux and the plan's designers, developing recreational infrastructure is a case of two birds, one stone — many of the improvements that will draw new visitors to the county will also improve the lot of Haywood residents. "To me, it's about elevating quality of life in Haywood County, and my favorite thing to say is, if we make Haywood County a better place to visit, we make it a better place to live," Ruffieux said. The TDA director pointed out other gaps in Haywood's tourism opportunities, namely a lack of indoor or family-friendly activities, the kinds of things that will attract the younger audiences Ruffieux is hoping to see in the county. The mill site predictably came up, with Ruffieux saying she hopes to work with the new owners to develop the property in a way that benefits all stakeholders — including Haywood locals. "I visited the river walk in San Antonio, and they had hotels, motels, restaurants, and tours on boats, and they told about the culture and the history of the town and what all had happened, and I could see something possibly like that along the Pigeon River at the old mill site," vice-chairman Brandon C. Rogers said. Rogers also floated the idea of a museum showcasing the mill's history and impact on the county, referencing the Hershey Story Museum in Pennsylvania as an example of an industry site pivoting to tourism. The master plan's third pillar is outdoor recreation, specifically supporting and promoting the stewardship of the outdoor spaces that make Haywood County such a draw. Planned actions include establishing a destination stewardship committee, developing ways to monitor outdoor resources for overuse, and co-developing an emergency communications plan with Haywood County Emergency Services. This last bullet point shot to the top of the priority list in the wake of Helene, Ruffieux explained. "A living, breathing plan" The final pillar involves the continuing evolution of the TDA as a force for business development and the welfare of the county. The TDA 10-year master plan was a year in the making. It was developed with the input of a 17-person steering committee, the TDA board, 130 community members who attended two input sessions, public land officials, emergency response managers, outdoor recreation stakeholders, and TDA marketing committee members. Originally slated for launch in late September, the TDA postponed the unveiling due to Helene. The final plan was adopted in December. The 10-year master plan is available on but take note: "It's a living, breathing plan, so there will be changes as we go," Ruffieux said.
