By Chandler Inions

CHINA GROVE — The China Grove Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has several positions open and is seeking applicants that wish to have an impact on the future of the town.

China Grove Parks and Recreation Director Jill Sellers said that the terms for four of the nine board members expired in December. Those seats were held by Alan Corriher, Jodie Campbell, Adriane Leach and Barbara Heim.

Sellers indicated on Monday that Heim and Leach had resubmitted applications for another term and that it appeared likely, especially if more applications are not submitted, they will be reappointed to the board.

“We are hoping to get some fresh faces, too,” Sellers said.

With a big year ahead, Sellers said that now is as important as ever to be a part of China Grove’s future.

“We called a special parks and recreation meeting for Jan. 21,” Sellers said. “The hope when we started advertising for these open positions was to get it filled and people appointed by the January council meeting and have a full board going into the Jan. 21 meeting.

“That meeting will set a tone for the rest of the year with us talking about upcoming events and feedback for 2024.”

While that won’t be possible with the China Grove Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Sellers is optimistic that they can get enough applications to have the board vacancies filled by the regularly-scheduled February meeting. Regular meetings of the parks advisory board are held on the third Tuesday of February, May, August and November at 6 p.m. at China Grove Town Hall. Those meetings are open to the public.

Sellers mentioned that the current board schedule was created to make it easy for the team of volunteers to get together.

“The commitment we ask from board members is to attend those meetings and we try to get them to volunteer at two events per year,” Sellers said.

Sellers added that department staff will review the applications, which features room to express an interest in why they wish to join the board.

“We would look through the applications on a staff basis and review who is applying,” she said. “Someone who may seem a better fit, here at staff, we would recommend the best fit (to the council).”
Sellers hopes that some China Grove residents will feel a call to join the board.

“There are so many big things on the horizon for town and parks and recreation,” she said. “We have a big grant with the community park and tons of things coming up. This is a great opportunity for people to contribute.”

Those people do have to live inside China Grove town limits or the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

“Individuals who are passionate about parks, special events and recreational opportunities that live in town limits or the ETJ are invited to apply,” said a post on the town’s Facebook page. “… A small commitment can go a long way.”

The parks and recreation advisory board was established by the China Grove Town Council in 2005.

The role of the board is to serve as an advisory body to the council on all matters related to parks that are maintained by the town.

The board reviews policies and procedures that encompass parks and make recommendations as determined to be “pertinent and appropriate.”

The board reviews the utilization of facilities and makes recommendations regarding lease, acquisition, sale, design, improvement, maintenance, operations and scheduling of parks and equipment provided. It also reviews policies and makes recommendations regarding fees, service charges, scholarships and fines related to facilities, equipment and programs provided China Grove.

On a more general basis, the board is intended to keep the council and general public informed and advised to those matter and be ready to perform other duties as instructed by the council.

The board consists of nine voting members, each appointed by the town council for three-year terms. Those terms are staggered.

Applications can be found online at chinagrovenc.gov. (https://www.chinagrovenc.gov/…/boards_and…/index.php)

Paper applications are also available in person at China Grove Town Hall, located at 333 N Main St. Anyone with questions can call 704-857-2466 or email jsellers@chinagrovenc.gov.