The Oxford Parks and Recreation Department developed a strategic plan with the vision to provide excellent community services through quality parks and recreation opportunities. The plan identifies goals in five elements: staffing, youth programs, adult programs, facilities/parks, and natural resources. It recommends hiring additional staff, expanding programming for all ages, developing new facilities like playgrounds and athletic fields, and improving maintenance and education around natural areas. The estimated cost to implement the plan is over $1 million.

1. Oxford Parks and Recreation Department
System-Wide Strategic Plan
VISION:
To provide excellent services that benefit the Greater Oxford Community with
quality, continuously improving Parks and Recreation opportunities.
MISSION:
Provide safe, attractive, and modern grounds and facilities, offer quality
recreational opportunities for citizens of all ages and interests, improve the quality
of life in our community, promote healthy living and a healthy population, and
preserve our natural resources.
VALUES:
QUALITY, FAIRNESS, TRUST, CARING, EQUALITY, INTEGRITY, DIVERSITY,
FUN, CHARACTER
Submitted By:
Oxford Parks and Recreation Department Staff
Oxford Parks and Recreation Department’s Advisory Committee
Mike Fedewa – Chairman Paul White
Wayne Richmond John Norris
Frankie Wilkins James Lloyd
2005

2. Introduction & Methodology
The City of Oxford parks and recreation master planning process came as a result of public demand for
improved and expanded parks and recreation programming and facilities. In 1999 a needs assessment was
completed by the Department to determine immediate maintenance, programming, and development needs.
Over the span of 5 years, maintenance needs have been the focus in order to bring present facilities to an
acceptable standard of repair, programming was restructured to better serve the youth population, and several
capitol improvement projects were completed in an effort to address immediate needs.
In 2002, the Recreation Advisory Committee began work on a strategic plan that could serve as a master plan
for creating system wide improvements in programming, maintenance, and capitol development. A mission and
vision were adopted and all recommendations made are as a result of efforts to meet the identified goals.
In 2004, the City Board of Commissioners directed that the Manager, Parks and Recreation Director, City Staff,
and Advisory Committee develop a plan for capital improvements to be considered in order to prepare the City
for growth and demand.
This Master Plan is the culmination of efforts of the Parks and Recreation Department’s Staff and Director, the
Parks and Recreation Committee, and the Recreation Advisory Committee. Feedback from the public over a
period of 5 years was collected through one-on-one questioning, day-to-day contact and operations, public
service surveys, two public forums, and a Recreation Needs Assessment Survey. Specific data provided by the
state of North Carolina and the U.S. Government was used in order to identify standards for development in
similarly populated areas. The data collected from the public and staff, coupled with the specific standards as
set by State and National parks and recreation agencies and Granville County was used to help determine
present and future needs for capitol development.
Department Overview
The Oxford Parks and Recreation Department provides services to not only the citizens within the City limits of
Oxford, but also to the citizens in six of the nine townships in Granville County. Reference to those participants
that are routinely served is made as the “Greater Oxford Community”. Parks and Recreation services in
Granville County are uniquely structured with the City of Oxford providing the only Parks and Recreation
Department within the County. As a result, multiple agencies such as churches, industries, private individuals,
and non-profit organizations provide recreational programming throughout the County in order to meet the
needs of the public.
The Department uses facilities that are owned and operated by the City of Oxford as well as multiple facilities
owned by the Granville County Board of Education and the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. It is the
availability of the outside agency facilities that makes it possible to provide programming. As population and
demand grows, availability of facilities becomes less accessible. It has been the policy of the City of Oxford to
assist the Board of Education in maintenance and improvements of facilities with shared use in mind.
Expanded use by the schools and increased volume in participation in all athletic programming has made the
availability of facilities limited. Limited availability has resulted in the inability to serve all citizens.
The policy of the Parks and Recreation Department is to provide services to all citizens. Participation is not
refused due to inability to pay. Fees are minimal and are charged for participation in all athletic programming
and most recreational programming. The annual budget is less than $500,000 and approximately $70,000 is
supplemented by Granville County annually to support programming. An additional $10.00 fee for
programming is assessed to all non-resident participants.
Quality services would not be possible without the participation of individuals from outside of the City limits.
The “Greater Oxford Community” is the lifeline of the City. The Parks and Recreation Department is the only
City agency that serves outside of its limits. Demands are great and expenses increasing in direct response with
community growth and trends.

3. Element One - Staffing
It is the goal of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department to have a professional, adequately compensated,
well-trained staff to insure safe and quality programming for the citizens in the greater Oxford area.
Objective One: Identify staffing needs necessary to maintain existing programs
• Athletic/Recreation Programming Supervisor/Trainer/Risk Management Coordinator
• Maintenance Worker
• Provide appropriate training for full and part time staff.
Objective Two: Identify staffing needs necessary to increase programming options.
• Athletic/Recreation Programmer
Objective Three: Identify staffing needs necessary to increase facilities.
• Maintenance Worker
Objective Four: Identify salary and compensation necessary to staff existing programs at a high level.
• Compete reclassification study and implement for present and future staff to place salary ranges in line
with Departments with similar workloads and with similar job responsibilities, to represent more closely
actual job responsibilities, and required tasks.
• Implement a pay for certification plan for the Department as would apply to specific employees with
specific required functions and in response to risk management issues.
Estimated cost for Items in Element One:
• $163,000

4. Element Two - Youth
It is the goal of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department to provide the youth of the greater Oxford area
with quality, safe, entertaining, and instructional recreational opportunities
Objective One: Identify exiting programs
• Youth Sports – basketball, baseball, softball, football, flag football, volleyball, tennis
• Youth Camps – basketball, baseball, softball, football, volleyball, tennis, fitness, summer
• Special Events – car show, road race, tennis tournaments, Easter egg hunt, fishing events, Cookies and
milk with Santa, Fall Festival, Hershey Track and Field Event, NFL Punt Pass and Kick Event, Dog
shows, Relay for Life Events, Multiple Athletic Tournaments
• Parks/facilities Available – Skateboarding, tennis, soccer, football, playgrounds, volleyball (outdoor
and indoor), basketball (outdoor and indoor), swimming, baseball/softball, batting cage, fishing, nature
trails, picnicking, open space.
Objective Two: Identify programs that need to be added.
• After school programming
• Lifetime and non-athletic programming: arts, swimming, tennis, nature, board games, clubs, life skills,
etc.)
• Fitness
• Educational programming for fitness, wellness, nutrition to combat obesity.
• Expanded programming in football to increase underserved age groups
• Expanded programming for teens (teens are offered tennis, basketball, baseball/softball, and swimming)
All programming for teens ends at age 15. Ages 16 to 19 are eliminated from services. Additional
staffing and restructuring of programming to serve this population would require additional staff for
coordination of such, supplies, contract labor, insurance, and research of outside sources of funding.
• Toddlers/Pre-school Children - Limited programming is available for this group. Accessibility to play
areas would provide for additional services. It is not the intention of the Department to create a Day
Care situation.
• Programming for special needs populations – Youth in this group are not presently served.
• Programming for At-Risk youth.
• Expanded programming in skills development.
*Most activities cannot be offered without facility expansions (Playground, gym)
Objective Three: Identify underserved populations and determine what would be required to engage this
group.
• Special Needs Populations – Would require staffing and supplies. Grants and resources available.
Facilities and staff inadequate for service to this population. A staff person to coordinate efforts
between local and state agencies would be required.
• Hispanic – Would require staffing to coordinate and communicate with the population in order to
mainstream that population into regular programming components.
• Underprivileged – Would require staffing to coordinate efforts to identify these youth and provide
services to them. Funding for financial assistance for those not able to pay fees for services would be
necessary. Staff would identify funding sources through other government programs for this population.
• Citizens not aware of services – would require a quality marketing plan to be developed.
Estimated cost for Items in Element Two:
• $219,500.00

5. Element Three - Adults
It is the goal of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department to provide the adult population of the greater
Oxford area with quality, safe, and entertaining opportunities for recreational and leisure activity.
Objective One: Identify existing programs.
• Walking
• Tennis
• Men’s & Women’s volleyball
• Aerobics
• Fishing
Objective Two: Identify programs that need to be added.
• Softball
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Fitness/Aerobics
• Leisure activities – (arts, dance, board games, cards, bocce, sewing, nature, flowers etc.)
• Walking
• Swimming
• Horseshoes
• Senior Activities – (specific activities designed for the aged would benefit the senior community by
serving to increase their ability to be productive and healthy. A staff person could coordinate with
outside agencies to enhance present services and create a more healthy senior population)
Estimated cost for Items in Element Three:
• $110,000 *Most activities cannot be added without additional facilities.

6. Element Four – Facilities and Parks
It is the goal of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department to provide the people of the greater Oxford area
with quality, safe, adequate, and appropriate recreational and leisure facilities and parks.
Objective One: Identify existing facilities and parks
• Hix – One baseball field (modified in size, suitable up to age 13)
- One softball field (not for men)
- One gym floor
- One aerobics room
- Two tennis courts
- One play ground
- One batting cage
- One skate park
- One shelter
• Granville Street Park
- One tennis court
- One paved play area
- One sand volleyball court
- Picnic tables
- Small playground area
• Rucker Park-
- Two paved basketball courts
- One lane pool
- One softball field (not sized for men)
- One shelter
• Red Barn – Presently closed
• Lake Devin Boat Ramp Area
- One shelter
- One small boat ramp
- One small tackle loaner building
- Nature trails (approximately 2 miles with picnic sites)

7. Objective Two: Identify new facilities and parks that will be required to address present and future
programming needs.
Facility Presently Owned by other Recommended by Additional
Owned by agencies but NCPR and GC for Facilities
City given limited similar size Needed
access for use. community
Playgrounds 2 1 8 6
Softball 2 3 12 10
Baseball 1 4 12 11
Football 1 0 3 2
Soccer 1 2 6 4
Basketball 1 2 7 6
Volleyball 1 1 6 5
Tennis 2 4 12 10
Walking(indoor) 1 0 4 3
Walking(outdoor) 0 2 6 6
Pools (outdoor) 1 0 2 1
Pools (indoor) 0 0 1 1
Exercise/Fitness 1 0 4 3
Aerobics 1 0 4 3
Horseshoes 0 0 10 10
Classroom/leisure 0 0 3 3
Objective Three: Identify maintenance needs that are required to assure existing facilities and parks
operating at a high level.
• Additional Maintenance Staff Person
• Additional Maintenance Vehicle
• Hix Gym
- Plumbing repairs: Old copper pipes leaking throughout building
- Air Conditioning: Old unit not operating, inadequate for space served
- Air Conditioning in office: Replace window unit
- Replace gutters: Downspouts crushed
- Repaint parking area: Lines faded. Fire/emergency lanes not identified.
- Repair roof
• Hix Playground
- Replace existing fence and extend around parking area to separate play area from
traffic.
• Hix Field
- Restore soil on hills to secure fence and plant vegetation to prevent wash.
• Rucker Park
- Replace basketball goals
- Repair shelter
- Repair fence around softball field
• Rucker Pool
- Purchase backup pump and pump motor
- Install generator backup for power outages

8. • Granville Street Park
- Add shelter
- Add additional playground equipment
• Lake Devin
- Fireproof and install fire escapes to Red Barn (OR)
- Take bids and sell barn as salvage and replace with one story building
- Replace signage around lake and trails
- Repair footbridges, rail fences, and picnic areas around lake nature trails
Objective Four: Identify maintenance needs that additional facilities and parks will require in order to
operate at a high level.
• Additional Maintenance Staff as facilities are expanded (both full and part time)
• Additional Mower and mowing tools, field groomers as facilities are expanded.
• Floor cleaning equipment (buffers, cleaning machines)
Estimated cost:
• Full Time Maintenance Staff: $30,000 per employee
• Part Time Maintenance Staff: $15,000 annually
• Mowers: $8,000 each
• Tools (push mowers, weed eaters) – $100 to $300 each
• Buffer - $1,200
• Court Cleaning machine: $2,000
Estimated cost for Items in Element Four:
• $274,200.00 (if Red Barn replaced)

9. Element Five – Natural Resources and Wildlife
It is the goal of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department to encourage the preservation of natural
resources and to help build within the population of the greater Oxford area a capacity to appreciate and
protect those natural resources.
Objective One: Identify existing programs that are used to educate and encourage the preservation of
natural resources and/or develop an appreciation for nature.
• Community Fishing Program
• Nature trail access on Lake Devin with wildlife identification signage.
• Fishing events for youth in cooperation with NC Wildlife Resources Commission
• Lake Devin Fishing
• Lake Devin Preservation program through strict preservation guidelines to assure Lake remains
pristeen.
• Hunter safety programs in cooperation with NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Objective Two: Identify future programming needs that would serve to educate the public, preserve natural
resources, and develop an appreciation for nature.
• Tackle Loaner Program
• Wildlife education center at Tackle Loaner Building (Lake Devin)
• Preservation information shared through the web page and publications
• Program to encourage setting aside of land for green space by developers and appropriate planting of
trees, grasses, and foliage in the City as development occurs.
• Boating on Lake Devin
• Educational programs on wildlife, foliage, natural waterways.
• Leisure activities around Lake Devin
Objective Three: Identify existing passive parks and green areas that are currently under the auspices of the
Oxford Parks and Recreation Department.
• The City of Oxford has no greenways, or green space areas opened to the public for leisure activity with
the exception of Lake Devin. Nature Trails and wooded areas are opened to the public in season.
• Oxford Community Park (Spring Street) includes a shelter and children’s play area. It is the only
relatively large park in the City and is extremely busy due this and due to its proximity to town and other
recreational activities offered by the City.
• Granville Street Park is a more passive park that has been renovated in the past 4 years. It includes a
large area for leisure activity, running, non-organized sports etc., sand volleyball, a paved play area,
and one unlighted tennis court. It also includes moderate playground equipment for small children as
well as picnic tables and benches. This park is buried in a neighborhood and is moderately used, being
mostly used by those who live in the neighborhood.
• The Red Barn is located on Lake Devin and is an old stable that was transformed into a community
center for small group activities. It’s location and rustic charm made it extremely popular with the
public. Concern that it could become a fire hazard prompted its closing in 2004. Its kitchen and bath
area continue to be used for special events hosted by the department.
• Rucker Park Shelter and trails – A deteriorating shelter exists within a park which includes a pool,
basketball, and softball areas. Roughly designed trails surround the area but have grown over with
vegetation due to neglect.

10. Objective Four: Identify new parks and green space areas that will be required to address present and
future programming.
• Additional playgrounds for public use.
• Setting aside of green space by developers would be recommended by the Department to provide
citizens space for leisure activities as well as to provide for wildlife habitats.
• Renovation or the replacement of the Red Barn is encouraged in order to promote the use of Lake Devin
to enhance public awareness and appreciation for this natural resource as identified in Element Four.
• Develop further facilities at Lake Devin
• Coordinate and partner with the County to encourage the completion of the County Greenway System.
Estimated cost for Items in Element Four:
• Playgrounds - <$60K + each- recommend 3@ total $180,000
• Green space – No cost. It is not the recommendation of this Department that developers set aside land
within communities/developments for parks for the City to maintain. Pocket parks would create
difficulties in maintenance and monitoring if turned over to the City for management. It is
recommended that green space be maintained by homeowners associations and cared for by the
neighborhoods. This process further enhances an appreciation for natural resources as well as
encourging community involvement in the care of the property.
• Seek outside funding for development around Lake Devin

11. Element Six – Communication and Marketing
It is the goal of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department to communicate and market all available
programming in order for the people of the greater Oxford area to fully access and utilize the programs and
leisure facilities that are currently available.
Objective One: Identify present methods of communication and marketing of the programs and facilities
offered by the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department.
• Word of Mouth
• Delivering notices to schools to be carried home in book bags by children
• Public service information in newspaper
• Radio announcements
• Web page
• Emails to previous participants who have current email addresses on file.
• Mailing of post card reminders for athletic programming to previous participants.
• Hand delivered flyers to public places
• Signage/banners
• Bulletin board
Objective Two: Identify new methods for communication and marketing of the programs offered by the
Oxford Parks and Recreation Department.
• Publish Informational pamphlet
• Publish Newsletter
• Implement process to distribute newsletter
• Increased emphasis placed on web page use.
• Advertise web page address to public.
• Place billboard signs in all parks with up to date information posted.
• Schedule public speaking engagements
• Increase use of radio and news media.
• Distribute information to outside agencies such as Chamber of Commerce, School System, Industries
• Create a desire within local industries to become involved.
• Continue to improve services and facilities
Objective Three: Develop a plan to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the communication and
marketing efforts of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department.
• Develop a public awareness survey to be distributed periodically
• Measure use of programming and facilities to determine increases or decreases of use.
Objective Four: Develop a plan to continuously evaluate and respond to public satisfaction as pertains to
quality of programming, public service, and facilities.
• Develop a survey to be distributed to participants at the conclusion of all activities or programs.
• Develop a plan to immediately correct deficiencies and to promote continued quality service.
Estimated cost for all Items in Element Six:
• $10,000 for all objectives (initially processes can be accomplished if staff is available without additional
costs)

12. Priorities for Implementation
1. Add Additional Staff
2. Purchase of additional property that would be used for a City Recreation Center. Plans
should be developed for the construction of the Recreation Center.
3. Repair of present facilities
4. Utilize the Oxford Park property and add additional playing fields
5. Expand Greenways and hiking trails in coordination with the County
6. Expand playgrounds throughout the City
7. Develop more programming for underserved populations
8. Expand leisure activity programming
9. Develop a public relations, marketing, and communications strategy
10. Renovate the Hix property
11. Add a more accessible outdoor pool.

13. Time Line for Development
2006-2009
1. Add Additional Staff
2. Purchase of additional property that would be used for a City Recreation Center. Plans
should be developed for the construction of the Recreation Center.
3. Repair of present facilities
4. Utilize the Oxford Park property and add additional playing fields
2007-2010
1. Expand Greenways and hiking trails in coordination with the County
2. Expand playgrounds throughout the City
3. Develop more programming for underserved populations
4. Expand leisure activity programming
2008-2011
1. Develop a public relations, marketing, and communications strategy
2. Renovate the Hix property
3. Add a more accessible outdoor pool.