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Cabarrus County School Parks In 1993-94, the Cabarrus County Parks and Recreation Commission spearheaded the formation of a thirty member task force to study the details of School Parks for Cabarrus County and City of Kannapolis Schools. This special task force was established to assist Cabarms County and City of Kannapolis Boards of Education and Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners in developing a plan of action for the community use of school campuses and to determine if the School Park concept is a valid program in Cabarrus County. The Task Force quickly resolved that the School Park Concept has many positive advantages for the citizens of Cabarrus County, Because school campuses generally have facilities already in place that are needed for public parks (open play fields, parking lots, water and sewer connections. electricity, and road systems to the campuses), the School Park concept is a cost-effective approach to providing public recreational facilities to the residents of Cabarrus County. Also, the school park relationship saves the taxpayers many thousands of dollars because the purchase of additional park land is not required. Since a school campus with a park typically has more facilities for its students and the commu- nity to use than what the school system alone can afford, the school system benefits from the school park concept as well. In January, 1994, the School Park Task Force unant- mously approved the School Park Concept for Cabarrus County. In February, 1994, the Cabarrus County Board of Education. City of Kannapolis Board of Education and the Cabarrus CountyBoard of Commissioners unanimously en- dorsed the School Park Concept for Cabarrus County. More school parks are urgently needed to meet Cabarrus County's existing and future population demands, and will be con- structed as funds become available. The following resolution was endorsed by the [hree governmental bodies: · The school park concept is a valid program for Cabarrus County. It builds on existing cooperative relationships and establishes a foundation for joint planning, joint administration and joint financingofrecreation facil~tie~ that will serve both the schools and the community. Of utmost importance in the school park program is the implementation of joint planning, joint administration. and joint funding by schools, the Parks and Recreation Department, and the community. · All school campuses, both new and existing, should be evaluated for potential school parks. Because school campuse~aredistfibuted throughout the county, a school park network would provide a network of recreation facilities in every community. · Existing campuses should be evaluated for the suitabil- ity of designing improvements to create school parks where possible.