Government

A new indoor pool and jogging trail for the North Fork?

Southold Town is hosting two public meetings this week to discuss the draft of the third chapter of the town’s new comprehensive plan.

The chapter, which focuses on parks & recreation needs, is available on the town’s website and at libraries throughout town. You can also check it out by scrolling below this story.

The chapter includes the results of a survey conducted by the town this summer that shows an indoor swimming pool and bicycle, walking and jogging trails top residents’ wishes for recreational facilities that the town does not yet have.

Bowling lanes, performing arts and an indoor sports complex rounded out the top requests.

Those needs have long been priorities for Southold residents. According to the draft chapter, an indoor pool/sports complex and parks and trails topped requests in a survey of Southolders conducted by the League of Women Voters in 1981.

The draft calls for the town to “seek out a collaboration of partnerships with the town to develop and operate a year-round facility. The multi-purpose complex would include a gymnasium with exercise equipment, weights, an indoor heated swimming pool to permit lap swimming, indoor basketball court, bowling lanes, lockers, etc.”

The chapter lists goals ranging from providing a diversity of programming to enhancing utilization of existing park land and recreational facilities to obtaining new land.

The chapter also calls for the town to expand online services, allowing residents to register for programs online and to utilize a Facebook page dedicated to the Parks & Rec department.

The plan would also see the town develop cultural programming at the newly opened Peconic Lane Community Center at the former Peconic School.

The chapter calls for installing bathrooms at Jean Cochran park in Peconic and Strawberry Fields in Mattituck, expanding the dog park behind the Peconic Recreation Center, and restoring the pavilion at Laurel Lake and the old school house at Downs Farm.

The chapter also suggests the creation of a town-wide wellness campaign, developing a “fit pass” that allows residents to use school facilities in the evening, helping to tailor programs to seniors and sponsoring monthly contests to help residents develop healthy lifestyles.

The first meeting to discuss the proposals will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Human Resource Center on Pacific Street in Mattituck. The second meeting will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Peconic Lane Community Center.

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Southold Draft Comprehensive Plan, Parks and Rec chapter