Survey on Polk recreation facilities, services available
The Polk County Recreation Advisory Board will hold the first of four public meetings to gain input from the public on recreational facilities and activities in Polk County on Tuesday, July 26. The meeting will be held at the Green Creek Community Center at 7 p.m.
Additional meetings will be held in other parts of the county. The second meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Isothermal Community College in Columbus, the third will be Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Polk County Middle School and the last will be Tuesday, Aug. 16 at Saluda Elementary School. All meetings will be at 7 p.m.
These meetings are part of the recreation staff’s efforts to create a new master plan for the department. The purpose of the plan is to provide the county with a guide to use as decisions are made concerning parks and recreation through the year 2021 with regard to facility and programming needs. The plan also makes recommendations for meeting those needs.
In addition to the meetings, the board has developed a survey for residents to complete. The survey will be strictly confidential, Polk recreation officials said. There will be no way for anyone to know who filled out a particular survey.
“We need your honest input to help us provide direction for the recreation of Polk County for the next few years,” Polk recreation officials said in a letter to residents.
Surveys can be obtained at the county offices in the Womack Building in Columbus and online at www.polknc.org. They can be dropped off at Stearns Gym in Columbus or mailed to Polk County Recreation, P.O. Box 308, Columbus, N.C. 28722.
Surveys are due to be turned in by Sept. 15.
For more information, call Polk County Recreation Director Patty Aldred at 828-894-8199 or Jim Patterson, chairman of the Polk County Recreation Board, at 828-817-4407.
Below are some of the questions from the survey:
Stearns Gym
• Does anyone in your household use Stearns Gym?
• Check all activities your household utilized at Stearns Gym in the last year.
  Free basketball play
  Youth basketball league
  Volleyball
  Yoga
  Dance lessons
  After School
  Summer Camp for kids
  Other (please list)
• Are there any improvements or organized activities you would like to see at Stearns Gym? (Describe)
Gibson Park Pool
• Does anyone in your household use Gibson Park Pool?
• Approximately how many times does your household use the pool each year?
• Which of the following activities has your household participated in at Gibson Park Pool during the past year?
 Swim lessons
 Pool rental
 Open swimming
• Are there any improvements or organized activities you would like to see at Gibson Park Pool? (Describe)
Polk County Recreation
Complex Park
• Does anyone in your household use Polk County Recreation Complex Park? (next to Polk County Middle School)
• Which of the following activities has your household participated in at the Polk County Recreation Complex Park during the past year? (Check all that apply)
  Picnic shelter
  Ball fields
  Playground
  Spectator
  PCMS ball games
  Walking trail
  Tennis courts
  Fishing pond
 Little League baseball/softball
• Are there any improvements or organized activities you would like to see at the Polk County Recreation Complex Park? (Describe)
Stearns Park
• Does anyone in your household utilize Stearns Park?
• Which of the following activities has your household participated in at Stearns Park? (Check all that apply)
  Walking
  Playground
  Picnic tables
• Are there any improvements you would like to see at Stearns Park? (Describe)
Harmon Field
• Does anyone in your household use Harmon Field?
• Which of the following activities has your household utilized at Harmon Field during the past year?  (Check all that apply)
  Tennis
  Recreational play
  Recreational play softball fields
  Babe Ruth baseball/softball
  Soccer
  Picnic area
  Fishing
  Walking trails
  Horse shows
  Cabin rental
  Basketball
  Playground
• Are there any improvements or organized activities you would like to see at Harmon Field? (Describe).