Jackson County park system review shows strength, needs
A McGill & Associates consultant commended Jackson County’s park system.
File photo
Jackson County’s parks and recreation system is in solid condition overall but faces notable shortfalls in land, staffing and key recreational offerings, according to a recent report by McGill Associates.
Framing local park systems on a spectrum between “expense” and “investment,” the report shows that communities treating recreation as an investment tend to enjoy economic dividends through higher property values, visitor spending and improved quality of life.
“I will regularly refer to parks and recreation as an investment,” said Nate Halubka, a McGill project consultant focusing on land planning and recreation who presented the report to Jackson County commissioners Oct. 7.
The report places the county’s system slightly below national averages in both acreage per capita and per-person spending. National research cited in the report shows homes near parks command 8% to 20% higher values, while 87% of business leaders rank community amenities as a deciding factor when choosing new locations. Visitor spending is also closely tied to recreational offerings, Halubka said.
Despite Jackson County’s relatively healthy operations and maintenance record, its total park/green space area of 5.1 acres per 1,000 residents is well below the national median of 9.2 acres. Spending on recreation came in at just over $105 per person compared to the national median of $112.
Even so, most county facilities fall within or above national benchmarks for quality and condition. Only two of 15 county-owned facilities, Cashiers Community Park and the Ralph J. Andrews campground, were flagged as being “poor,” and Cashiers missed the mark only because a certain section of the park remains in need of updates.
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“We get to see a lot of park systems. Your system is very well kept up. It’s in very good shape,” Halubka said. “It also speaks to how well you have interdepartmental collaboration within the county. You should be proud of the park system you have.”
Although planning is underway for improvements to the Cashiers park, Commissioner Keith Jennings posed a question about the disparity of services some property owners receive in proportion to the amount of taxes they pay. Jennings represents the Jackson County district that contains Cashiers.
“How many other counties do you see that the highest cost-of-living area of the county has the poorest marks on their community parks?” Jennings asked Halubka.
Halubka said that usually, governments look at their park systems as a whole.
“Especially in areas when you have high income levels, high value of properties, the expectation is that they’re going to have a high quality of living, and certainly the parks, if they don’t reflect that — you’re going to hear about it,” Halubka said. “Most local governments want to try and avoid having discrepancies to where there’s a certain part or a different part in the county that does not meet those standards.”
While general quality remains high, the study did note some problems with quantity. The county has five rectangular multi-purpose fields, but for its population should have at least 11. There’s no nature center, no pickleball courts, no stadium, no golf course and no teen center. There are nine playgrounds — including one accessible playground — but there should be at least 13, including two or three accessible playgrounds.
Halubka’s presentation did mention that it is “atypical” for a community to be in benchmark range for every type of facility, but at least some of those facility deficiencies are already being addressed: planning is underway for pickleball, tennis courts and more playgrounds.
The only amenity where the county ranked above the suggested metrics was in fitness equipment; however, the county does meet the mark with aquatic facilities, community centers and gardens, disc golf courses, dog parks, multi-use courts, rec centers, sand volleyball courts and splashpads.
Trail access remains a major issue. The county currently sits below the national lower quartile in trail mileage, underscoring the need for additional greenway development, for which planning is currently underway. Flat land availability has also emerged as a limiting factor for recreation expansion, particularly for athletic fields and event spaces.
Commissioner Todd Bryson asked for clarification of how McGill arrived at the benchmarks; like in many counties in Western North Carolina, mountainous terrain can be both an asset and a liability in terms of provisioning recreational services for residents. Halubka told Bryson that the benchmarks were based solely on population and did not incorporate terrain into the equation.
Halubka also noted that the report does not include the recreational offerings of incorporated municipalities in the county, like Sylva, nor does it include the vast potential of the Nantahala National Forest, which offers world-class recreational opportunities far beyond the scope of county government.
Public engagement was central to the plan’s development. Five community input sessions held across the county drew around 300 participants.
The top requests from residents included an adventure playground, greenways, more restrooms and additional pickleball and dog parks. Visitors prioritized similar amenities, citing outdoor recreation and entertainment as primary draws.
Four focus groups reinforced these findings, highlighting strong community pride in existing facilities but emphasizing challenges with staffing, land constraints and the availability of lifeguards for aquatic programs.
Survey data showed that many households feel their recreational needs are only partly met. The most significant unmet needs include paved walking trails, outdoor event spaces and fitness facilities.
Demand is also high for nature-based and water-based programs, especially swimming lessons and environmental education. Participation in organized recreation programs has been rising steadily since 2016, even as capacity constraints at certain fields and facilities have limited enrollment growth.
Overall, the findings suggest Jackson County’s park system is broadly appreciated but poised for strategic expansion.
Residents generally perceive current investment levels as “a little low” and express strong interest in steady, continued growth.
“This is great information to move forward [with],” said Chair Mark Letson.
Halubka explained that McGill would soon be moving into the recommendation phase, the cost estimating phase and the action steps phase over the next month or two, and that it’s likely a draft of those steps would be complete by the end of the year.
