Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Roughly 20 people were in attendance for Stanfield’s recent meeting regarding improvement and expansions to Pete Henkel Park.

The town is seeking a grant from N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to help fund the park’s expansion and renovations.

Pete Henkel Park, at 100 Park Dr., is 14.5 acres. The town purchased an additional nine acres last year. One aspect of the meeting was to talk with residents about what to do with the additional land.

Town Administrator Bridgette Helms presented the public with a preliminary plan for the park which includes adding disc golf, cornhole and horseshoe games, new playgrounds and adult fitness equipment. The plan also calls for updating the bathrooms and making them more handicap accessible and building another single stall restroom. The town also wants to pave around the concession stands and Outfield Circle.

One person said safety should be the most important thing to consider when looking at expanding walking trails. Several people suggested adding biking trails to the park.

Helms said adding disc golf to the park was a popular choice for many residents in attendance.

“I thought it went really well,” Helms said about the meeting.

People that didn’t attend the public meeting can stop by Town Hall to view the preliminary park plans.

After the public meeting, the town conducted its regular town council meeting.

The council is going to send a request to NCDOT to reduce the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph for a small portion of West Stanly Street.

Cheryl Dunlap’s application to become an inside alternate planning and zoning board member was approved.

The council reduced water and sewer tap fees for potential developers that will be extending the town’s system. The sewer tap fee decreased from $2,450 to 1,750, while the water fee decreased from $1,400 to $900. The developers would be installing the infrastructure and the town would be taking it over afterwards.

The budget was amended to purchase 50 more recycling carts.

The council will hold a public hearing to consider amending a zoning ordinance to allow conditional zoning for developments.

The next regular town council meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 5.