{"id":9119,"date":"2023-02-16T19:29:35","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T19:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/?p=9119"},"modified":"2023-03-27T15:59:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T15:59:31","slug":"dreams-of-wheels-and-water-at-the-recreation-advisory-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/2023\/02\/16\/dreams-of-wheels-and-water-at-the-recreation-advisory-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Dreams of Wheels and water at the Recreation Advisory Commission"},"content":{"rendered":"
With a roller rink and a go-kart track, Wheels Fun Park in East Durham used to be the happy site of birthday parties, <\/span>food truck rodeos<\/span><\/a>, and even a<\/span> Labor Day luau<\/span><\/a>. But since it closed in 2020, visitors now are more likely to find rusted gates, trampled banners, and peeling paint. Some maps still list it as a COVID-19 vaccination center.<\/span><\/p>\n But there are new signs of life for the dilapidated site, purchased by the city soon after it closed. The chain-link fence on the front of the property is covered with a blue and green banner that declares, \u201cPARK IN PROGRESS.\u201d This former landmark of fun is the proposed site of a \u201c<\/span>Splash and Play Project<\/span><\/a>\u201d by Durham Parks and Recreation to meet the aquatic needs of a rapidly growing city.<\/span><\/p>\n The proposed water park was the main topic at the Feb. 8 meeting of the Recreation Advisory Commission, a nine-member citizen group that advises city officials about parks and sporting facilities. The discussion sparked some fond memories. \u201cI think everybody in Durham at some point has been to Wheels and half of Durham has grown up in Wheels,\u201d said Jason Jones, assistant director of the parks department.<\/span><\/p>\n The Splash and Play Project, while certainly the most significant, was just one of the items covered at the crack-of-dawn commission meeting (7:30 a.m.!). The group, <\/span>per its bylaws<\/span><\/a>, is on a mission \u201cto advocate for the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Durham Community.\u201d Lately this has meant trying to raise the quality of amenities to match the city\u2019s rapid growth.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a different world when I moved to Durham 18 years ago,\u201d Jill Thomas, a commission member, said in an interview with The 9<\/span>th<\/span> Street Journal. She cited the booming population and the cash flow that has come with it, but said \u201cour recreational facilities have not kept pace with our growth.\u201d She said the aquatics project is part of the solution, but that the parks department needs the support of the public to get \u201can infusion of cash. So it’s time for us to start beating the drum to do that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The commission acts as a bridge between the parks department and the public. Lesley Stracks-Mullem, the newly reelected commission chair, said the commission is a sounding board for city parks officials and \u201cprovides direct feedback, open and honest feedback to them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n