The first round of public input meetings for development of a Macon County Recreation Master Place wrapped up Thursday (Feb. 10) as about 50 local residents dropped-in to discuss topics including park expansion, Little League practices and swim team schedules.

The meeting was the last of three designed to involve community members in sketching out a plan for the future of recreation in Macon County. Charlotte-based planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering firm Haden Stanziale — which is the same firm that authored Jackson County’s recently adopted recreation master plan — is leading the process.

Macon County residents are supportive of current recreation department efforts but are elbowing for room against the county’s rapidly expanding population base, which has overburdened the system

“These guys do a great job with what they’ve got to do with so far,” said Boe Stockton.

Stockton stresses the words “so far.” Too many kids and too few ball fields has resulted in not enough time spent practicing and marathon trips around the county trying to make his three sons’ games, Stockton said. Recreation opportunities, those that help keep kids focused, working hard, and off drugs should be encouraged, Stockton said. Consequently, he would like to see new fields built and current fields upgraded.

“Anything we can do for the kids,” he said

Stockton is not alone. Of the recreation facilities residents said they used most, parks and playgrounds topped the list. Also, child/family oriented facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, all-encompassing recreational facility, linkage of existing bike and walking trails, and a more walkable downtown ranked high on the list of desired facilities.

An indoor swimming facility also topped residents’ priority list in Jackson County, where residents urged commissioners to push an indoor pool to the top their funding list as well.

“There’s a real need not in 10 years, but right now for a 24-seven, year-round pool,” said one-time competitive swimmer and YMCA employee Jim Manning.

Jackson County is fortunate enough to have an outdoor swimming pool that is open in the summer and its swim team traditionally has been permitted use of the indoor swimming facilities at Western Carolina University.

One time coach turned assistant principal at Franklin High School, Scot Maslin, said a multi-faceted approach should be taken toward improving Macon County’s recreation system.

Maslin, father of three, said that while he and his wife spend a majority of their free time carting their kids around to ball fields all over the county, he recognizes that another ball field may not be a hot issue for others. A child’s teen-age brother or sister may not actually use a new ball field, but may come along to watch the game. Such activities encourage family togetherness and bonding, Maslin said.

“It’s good for the community,” he said.

Over the next couple months the data collected at the three Macon community meetings will be compiled and local maps updated for a more formal presentation by Haden Stanziale planners in April.