Money shortage placing NK 100-acre park well into future

New Kent officials are not even close to finding the estimated $4.5-$6.5 million needed to build out what is for now a conceptual plan for the county’s 100-acre Criss Cross Park. And the $125,000 for the project appearing in the budget proposal for next year’s Capital Improvement Plan will not go very far.

Financing decisions surrounding the park are many months and perhaps years away, County Administrator John Budesky indicated during supervisors’ May 27 work session.

“We’re not in a position to recommend taking on the amount of debt to pay for a project of this nature,” he told board members.

Earlier CIP proposals pegged $250,000 for Criss Cross Park in fiscal 2008-09. That amount, however, slipped to $185,000 and now stands at $125,000.

“With budgets ahead of us, it may continue at this level,” Budesky said.

Already, the administrator said, private citizens have been stepping forward, offering to donate services for the park’s construction.

“But we can’t accept donations until we have a plan on what to do,” he said.

County parks and recreation staff along with the supervisor-appointed New Kent Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission are studying a preliminary plan that was unveiled to the public in mid-April. Of the 100 acres, located just north of the westbound Interstate 64 rest area and donated by developers of New Kent Vineyards, just over 64 can support intensive recreational uses. The remaining acres are wetlands or protected under Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act provisions.

The conceptual plan shows six softball/baseball diamonds (four for youth, two for adults) along with seven fields (four for youth, three for adults) labeled for football/soccer. One adult football field is to be outfitted with bleachers and a concession stand.

Also in the plan are competition and practice rings for equestrian use, two basketball courts, one tennis court, two playgrounds, a picnic shelter, and a nature area. A lengthy trail for walking/jogging winds around the park’s perimeter. There is also an amphitheater for special events and parking for 600-650 vehicles.

Parks and recreation manager Kim Turner told supervisors that public reaction to the conceptual plan has been positive. The advisory commission is reviewing the plan and considering options while staff is exploring grant money opportunities for the project, she said. Any approved plan will have to be built in phases, she added.

“We know the people want it,” supervisors’ chairman Jimmy Burrell said. “We just have to find a way to pay for it.”

Budesky said a working design could be ready for supervisors’ perusal in the next few months.

“We want to make sure this is master-planned appropriately,” he said. “We don’t want to have a situation like Quinton Park where the design changed six or seven times.”