Town of Snow Hill in Greene County, North Carolina

A study found that approximately 90 percent of Town residents annually visited Town places for recreation (Community Needs Assessment, 2004). With limited resources and aging facilities, recreation has become a growing concern for the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners, Office of the Mayor and Snow Hill Recreation Commission (Retreat, 2006). Prior to 2001, Snow Hill residents primarily relied on the Greene County Department of Parks and Recreation to fulfill its recreational needs. Identifying the need to shift from County-centric, traditional recreational foci to multi-dimensional collaborative approaches integrating nontraditional recreational activities into community life, Town officials have supported several new recreational initiatives including: (a) the construction of the Genesis Hills Park, (b) leasing the South Greene Park, (c) improvements to the Community Center and (d) community activities such as the Independence Day Parade, Youth Easter Extravaganza, Greene Central Homecoming Parade and Christmas Extravaganza within the last five years. In spite of some recent progress a recreational needs assessment was conducted to devise specific strategies for further recreational growth.

Between October 10, 2006 and November 15, 2006, the Snow Hill Recreation Commission conducted a survey to access the recreational needs of community residents. Recreation for the purpose of this study was defined as any activity done mainly for pleasure or enjoyment, away from the private home, in a park area or recreational facility including: (a) cultural, (b) entertainment, (c) social groups, (d) civic groups, (e) crafts, and (f) athletic-oriented activities.

The Southeast regional recreation consultant provided to the Town an instrument administered in other North Carolina communities. The Snow Hill Recreation Commission reviewed and validated the instrument. A news release was generated and posted on the Town’s website notifying residents that the survey would be administered. The survey was distributed to residents, who visited the Town Hall to conduct official business such as making payments, attending meetings, and etc. Town officials randomly asked residents to complete the 2006 Snow Hill Parks and Recreation Survey (Attachment A). The representative sample included 63 of the 550 occupied households in Snow Hill. Only Snow Hill residents were included in the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The margin of error was +/_ 12 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.

The study found that 98 percent of the respondents believed recreation needed to be improved in Snow Hill and 78 percent of the respondents believed that existing Town recreational facilities were inadequate. These facts suggested that more organized programs, activities and adequate (new and renovated) facilities were needed. The most frequently visited places in Snow Hill for recreation included: (a) local churches, (b) the Community Center, (c) the Greene County Museum, and (d) Snow Hill Primary School. The most likely mode of travel to a Town park or recreational facility for recreation included: (a) an automobile (67 percent), (b) walking (26 percent), (c) bicycle (6 percent), and (d) skateboard (1 percent). Approximately 64 percent of the respondents indicated that they did not participate in any Greene County recreational program.

All factors held constant, the recreational activities respondents indicated that they would like to see in Snow Hill ranking from the most desired to the least desired included: (a) swimming; (b) nature walking; (c) playing at a (children) playground; (d) fitness walking, arts & crafts, and bicycling; and (e) baseball. Thus, respondents reported a strong demand for outdoor recreational activities.

When asked about attitudes regarding specific recreational activities, the respondents reported that the following would improve recreation in Snow Hill: (a) Boys & Girls Club (97 percent), (b) bicycle trail/path (91 percent), (c) swimming pool (85 percent) and (d) skateboard park (80 percent). All respondents (100 percent) reported that a community center was important for recreation in Snow Hill. These findings were consistent with a previous study (Community Needs Assessment, 2004).

Several recommendations are offered to address recreational needs in Snow Hill. It is recommended that the Snow Hill Recreation Commission study how to best capitalize on existing facilities and eventually, examine the feasibility of constructing new ones. For example, an expansion to the Community Center (Attachment B) and programs (e.g. aerobics and martial arts) associated with such an initiative could prove to be quite beneficial to community residents. The Community Center was originally constructed in the early 1970s, and has not been renovated since. Likewise, it is recommended that the Town continue supporting the Greene County Museum. Although less square footage than the Community Center, the Greene County Museum was last renovated in the early 2000s, and could be a place for administering programs such as arts & crafts.

As outlined in the Snow Hill Master Recreation Plan, it is recommended that the Snow Hill Recreation Commission continue pursuing a bicycle/pedestrian planning grant, improvements to Lion’s Park, enhancements to Genesis Hills Park and the construction of a skateboard park. It is also recommended that the Snow Hill Board of Commissioners continue executing its sidewalk plan with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and collaborating with the Snow Hill Recreation Commission to identify and connect a Town walking/trail system. A further recommendation is that Snow Hill officials provide critical support for the Greene County Recreation Complex, while maintaining the South Greene Park. In addition, it is recommended that the Snow Hill Recreation Commission explore the feasibility of establishing indoor recreational programs including: (a) arts & crafts, (b) music listening, (c) dance, (d) martial arts, (e) aerobics, (f) card playing or (g) a combination thereof. Currently, there are no organized, Town-facilitated public programs.

When the Snow Hill Recreation Commission began to examine new recreational facilities, it is recommended that a feasibility study be conducted examining the possibility of constructing a public swimming pool or alternative water activity.

Results of the study suggested that stakeholders should continue exploring new ways to expand recreation in Snow Hill. While some Snow Hill residents have benefited from County recreational services in previous years, the study revealed the need for the Snow Hill Recreation Commission to strategically develop recreational objectives using a multi-dimensional approach that targets nontraditional programs and activities in response to the demand of Snow Hill residents.