Pittsboro, NC – On August 1, Chatham County Parks & Recreation Department will open the new Park at Briar Chapel to the public, but residents should know that the park has limited amenities at this time. The park is on the corner of Andrews Store Road and Parker Herndon Road and the park opens at 8 am Monday to Friday, except on major holidays.
An official grand opening will be held on Sept. 18, 2015, with a movie night and other activities. More information on this event will be announced in August.
“We are opening to the public on August 1, but this really is a work in progress. The park currently has soft ball fields, a soccer field, a multipurpose/football field, and a building with restrooms and concessions,” said Tracy Burnett, director of the county’s Parks & Recreation Department. “You will see some final field prep work going on, so we appreciate your patience.”
Burnett said that other amenities will be added when funds are available. A next phase would include a picnic shelter, playground, walking trail and lighting for two ball fields and dugouts.
Residents can begin making reservations for the park starting Sept. 19. Existing organized sports providers and the schools that already have an agreement in place to use the park will continue to use the park, but other group and individual agreements will not be considered until Sept. 19.
Park visitors can use the existing completed facilities after August 1 as long as the facilities are not rented out. If a facility is reserved, signage is posted at that field. To access online park reservations, visit http://recreation.chathamnc.org .
“We know that the demand for all types of athletic fields in this part of the county is high and we will schedule as many as we can squeeze in,” Burnett said. Her office has received requests from schools, youth baseball, adult softball, lacrosse, adult flag football, adult soccer and many others.
Burnett said that residents also have asked for more passive amenities like the picnic shelter, walking trails and playground. “I hope that we can continue to secure funding to add more and more things to the park that we know will be well used.”