Hendersonville City Council spent a combined six hours on Thursday and Friday discussing finances and established their values as well as goals for this year.
In a proposed park swap, the city would give up about half of the 60-acre Berkeley Park, which Kimberly Clark donated to the city in 2008 on the condition that it would be used for public recreation. In return, the School Board would cede Edwards Park to the city.
On the surface, the deal seemed to tilt in favor of the county: The School Board would get around 25 acres while shedding two acres it didn’t need. But for a variety of reasons location, location, location among them the deal worked in the city’s long-range interest too. In negotiations, School Board representatives and school administrators had tentatively committed to improving the historic Berkeley Mills Stadium for use by Hendersonville High School’s baseball team and building a diamond for the women’s softball team plus six lighted tennis courts for Bearcat varsity squads. The value for city and county residents alike is that the ballfields and tennis courts would be open to the public. What’s more, ove
Hendersonville Times-News
Hendersonville City Council is confident, with only a couple of concerns and suggestions voiced, in moving forward with trading a portion of Berkeley Mills Park to Henderson County Public Schools in exchange for Edwards Park.
City Manager John Connet presented a conceptual plan to council at a meeting Wednesday that shows HCPS plans for its future portion of Berkeley Park, which would be nearly 26 acres, if the trade is approved.
Council and the School Board have to approve the trade.
HCPS wants to renovate the baseball field already in Berkeley Park and add a softball field as well as six tennis courts as an extension of the Hendersonville High campus.
The plant is seen as the anchor facility in the 1,000-acre Biltmore West industrial park what Cecil called a “lighthouse of innovation” shining the way for more business and more high-paying jobs. “This is the largest industrial economic development project in Western North Carolina that we are aware of,” David Rhoades, communications director of the state Department of Commerce, told the Lightning. “Due to the multiplier effect, our economists have projected that the project will grow to a $7.4 billion economic impact in 12 years.” The Golden Leaf Foundation and community colleges in Hendersonville and Asheville also were partners on the team that landed one of the region’s biggest economic development catches in recent decades. The partnership’s incentives add up to $62 million and include a bridge over the French Broad River. We predict years from now, everyone will recognize the largesse as a wise investment.
Hendersonville City Council Thursday unanimously approved giving Hands On! Children’s Museum $120,000 to help fund an expansion that will house an African American history museum and the city’s Walk of Fame.
The museum, located on Main Street, will be expanded by 6,000 square feet into an empty space next door. The expansion will be called The People’s Museum.
Plans include an artifact display area, story panels, story kiosk, art and the Walk of Fame. Admission to The People’s Museum will be free.
Council committed to contributing $78,000 this fiscal year and $42,000 next year to the project. Half of the funds this year will cover construction. The other half will help cover the lease cost for the new space.