During a recent presentation about future capital needs to the Cornelius Town Board of Commissioners, Cornelius PARC Director Troy Fitzsimmons pointed to a $2.2 million cost for Phase IV development of Robbins Park and said, "Keep in mind that $2.2 million moving forward is for options in lieu of developing this portion."

That "portion" of the park is comprised of athletic field space, necessary for a town with a growing population and increasing popularity of youth sports organizations that need field time for games and practices.

So why tell commissioners there are options to building more field capacity? Because more capacity, he said during a presentation Feb. 6, can be found on existing fields at Bailey Road Park by replacing the natural bermuda turf with artificial turf at a cost of about $2.5 million.

"We have a lot of untapped capacity at Bailey Road Park that we can't program now because it would wear the turf down too far," Fitzsimmons said. He told commissioners that the ravages of winter weather on the grass at two soccer fields and the football field at Bailey Middle School require extensive seasonal "rest" periods. Even during sports seasons, the fields can't be programmed to capacity because of wear and tear.

The artificial turf, he said, would allow the fields to be used 365 days a year, and even during rain and shortly after heavy downpours, and they can last upwards of 15 years. That's more than enough capacity, he said, to allow the town to postpone or even forego planned field space at Robbins Park, and without the normal maintenance costs of natural turf plus potential contributions from athletic league partners, the town can see payback for the five years earlier than they wear out.

"We are working with our athletic league partners," Fitzsimmons said. "All three have said if you can keep fields open we are willing to contribute more. ... We live in a transitional zone for turf areas, and Bermuda is the best athletic turf, but we spend tens of thousands of dollars each year to keep the turf viable."

Organizations that use the fields are North Meck Soccer Club, Lake Norman Giants and Xtreme Lacrosse. Turf fields would allow these organizations to expand their own capacity with more available field time for practices and games.

Sports turf is one item on Fitzsimmons' fiscal wish list. The total capital improvement plan (CIP) calls for $15.26 million beyond 2017, which in actuality is more because several of the line items contained "placeholder" dollar amounts.

In 2013, Fitzsimmons requested $4.33 million, the bulk of that in one item — $2.89 million for Caldwell Station Greenway construction from U.S. 21 just north of Home Depot through Bailey Road Park and on to Hough High School. Currently under study are three different alignments for the greenway between U.S. 21 and N.C. 115. That line item is contingent on a $2.15 million reimbursement grant, which is anticipated from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The town would have to cover the remaining $740,000.

Fiscal year 2013 also includes $1.1 million for Phase II Robbins Park development, which includes construction of a bike and pedestrian connection to the Westmoreland Athletic Complex on the northeast corner of the site, and the restoration of two existing ponds. The request of $1.1 million assumes a successful application for a $300,000 PARTF grant, which is being done by Mecklenburg County on behalf of the town. The remaining $800,000 would be funded by the town.

Fiscal year 2014 includes $878,000 for facility renovation and expansion, Lake Norman swimming access at Ramsey Creek Park, and land acquisition. The sports turf falls in the 2015 request, the $2.78 million total including $281,000 for more facility renovation and improvement. The $1.375 million request for 2017 includes more facility renovation, Antiquity Greenway construction and a splash pad for youth. Beyond 2017 is the $2.2 million for the expansion of athletic facilities at Robbins Park, which could disappear should the field turf be approved for 2015.

While the capital plan is ambitious, Fitzsimmons told the board he also needs to spend another $60,000 in 2013 to update the town's Parks and Greenway Master Plan. The current plan is out of date, he said, to the extent that proposed park locations in the plan have since been developed for other uses.

"Another reason for a master plan update is we go for a lot of grants," Fitzsimmons said. "In order to get the maximum number of points, you have to have an updated master plan. The older the plan is, the fewer the points."

Commissioners will consider Fitzsimmons' CIP request along with those from the rest of the town's departments during upcoming budget discussions. The town will set its budget by July 1.