Town of Franklin Skatepark Soft Open

A soft opening for the Town of Franklin Skatepark took place earlier today. The Town Manager, and Councilmen Stacy Guffey and Michael Lewis, town employees, and members of the public were in attendance. Reporters from The Franklin Press and Macon Media were present. The skatepark will have a more formal opening in late September.

Town of Franklin Skatepark Soft Open | Macon Media

The skatepark will be an unsupervised park open from daylight to dark. Rules for the park and references to local ordinances and state law are posted below:

Town of Franklin Skate Park

NOTICE TO ALL: This is an UNSUPERVISED skate park. Skating and riding is permitted during park hours only. Park is open from daylight until dark. Any use of this facility is at your own risk. Use of this facility may result in serious injury. The following rules and regulations have been established for the use of skate park participants in order to ensure everyone's safety.

PLEASE OBEY THE FOLLOWING RULES:

• This is an unsupervised skate park and its use is free of charge.   

• No motorized equipment is allowed on the skating surface.   

• Bicycles without pegs are allowed; in-ine skates, scooters and one-wheels are allowed.   

 • Strollers or wagons are not allowed on the skate surface.   

 • No one under the age of 8 is allowed without adult supervision.   

 • No other items such as portable ramps or equipment or tables may be used in the skate park.   

 • No modifications may be made to the skating surface.   

 • Avoid skating when skate park surfaces are wet or icy.   

 • Every person riding a skateboard or skating in the facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads per Town Ordinance Chapter 72 section 72.12.   

 • Drugs, alcohol, glass containers, tobacco products, profanity, fighting and destroying or defacing public property are prohibited. Vandalism, including graffiti, stickers and tagging are illegal. If this occurs, it may require the park to be temporarily closed.   

 • Food and beverages are not allowed on the skating surface area.   

 • Spectators should not be on the skating surface area.   

 • Show respect to others using the skate park and to spectators.   

 • Under North Carolina law, no governmental entity or public employee who has complied with NCGS § 99E-23 shall be liable to any person who voluntarily participates in hazardous recreational activities for any damage or injury to property or persons that arise out of a person's participation in the activity and that takes place in an area designated for the activity.   

 • Please use the trash containers and keep the skate park clean.   

 • Contests or events are prohibited unless approved through the Town's special events process.

If you have questions or need additional information, contact the Town of Franklin at 828.524.2516.

Ordinance references:


Town of Franklin § 72.12 HAZARDOUS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
    (A) The town has provided recreational areas for the enjoyment of hazardous recreational activities, including but not limited to skateboarding, inline skating, and freestyle bicycling. Any person who participates in or assists in hazardous recreational activities assumes the known and unknown inherent risks in these activities, irrespective of age, and is legally responsible for all damages, injury, or death to himself or other persons or property that result from these activities.
    (B) The town does not provide regular supervision of hazardous recreational activity facilities.
    (C) Any person riding a skateboard at a municipal skatepark facility shall wear all of the following safety equipment:
      (1) Helmet;
      (2) Elbow pads; and
      (3) Kneepads.
  (D) Signs shall be posted at the facility, affording reasonable notice that any person riding a skateboard in the facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads.
  (E) In addition to the penalties provided for in § 10.99 of this Code, any person who violates the provisions of the article may be subject to sanctions imposed by the town including, but not limited to temporary suspension or permanent revocation of the privilege to skate anywhere within any town parks or recreation areas.       (Ord. 2022-002, passed 1-3-23)

State of North Carolina NCGS § 99E-23 Duties of operators of skateboard parks. 

 (a) No operator of a skateboard park shall permit any person to ride a skateboard therein, unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads. 

(b) For any facility owned or operated by a governmental entity that is designed and maintained for the purpose of recreational skateboard use, and that is not supervised on a regular basis, the requirements under subsection (a) of this section are satisfied when all of the following occur: 

(1) The governmental entity adopted an ordinance requiring any person riding a skateboard at the facility to wear a helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads. 

(2) Signs are posted at the facility affording reasonable notice that any person riding a skateboard in the facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads and that any person failing to do so will be subject to citation under the ordinance under subdivision (1) of this subsection. (2003-334, s. 1.)

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Published at 7:15pm on Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Soft Open for New Skatepark Scheduled for Wednesday, August 23, 2023

PRESS RELEASE (08-17-2023)
TOWN OF FRANKLIN

 SOFT OPENING OF SKATEPARK - AUGUST 23

The Town of Franklin is pleased to announce that the construction of the skatepark located at the Whitmire Property has been completed.  There will be a formal ribbon cutting and a celebratory grand opening event in late September.   Currently, the park is still closed until the rules sign is installed – it has been ordered and shipped and it is anticipated that it will be received by Wednesday, August 23.  

Once the rules sign has been installed, the Town will allow a “soft-opening” for individuals to begin using the skatepark.   “We are working with LBJ Job Corp to install benches and the graffiti wall at the site; however, due to their busy schedule, it will be September before work can commence.  We did not want to delay use of the skatepark until then,” said Town Manager Amie Owens.  

Users are reminded that this is an unsupervised park and no one under age 8 is allowed without adult supervision.  Tagging or graffiti is prohibited on the skate surface; there will be a graffiti wall built and made available in the future.  The Artisan Skateparks crew who constructed the park, and are skaters themselves, have taken much pride in creating a beautiful place to skate and would like to see it kept in good condition for all to use now and into the future. They were impressed by the number of individuals who came during construction to offer assistance and to the commitment of the skate community to raise funds.    

Owens added, “As we continue to make improvements to the Whitmire Property, we are very proud that the skatepark is the first item completed and serves as its cornerstone, and that the skate community and all of their supporters now have the park they have been requesting for so long.”     

The skatepark address is 15 First Street, Franklin.  The park hours are from daylight until dark.

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National Forests in North Carolina Launch Digital Passes

United States Department of Agriculture

PRESS RELEASE
National Forests in North Carolina
160A Zillicoa St.
Asheville, N.C. 28801


Asheville, NC - July 14, 2020 - Visitors to Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests will have a convenient new way to pay day use fees at several recreation sites starting this summer.

A new online platform allows visitors to pay day use fees using their personal computer or mobile device through Recreation.gov. There is no additional cost to pay fees online.

To purchase a pass, go directly to www.recreation.gov/sitepass/72611, search "National Forests in North Carolina Digital Passes" at the Recreation.gov homepage, or scan the QR code below. Some sites may have limited cell phone reception, so users should purchase passes before heading to the destination. Passes can be printed and placed on the dashboard though this is not required since rangers can validate license plates of passholders. Where cell service is good, passes can be purchased at recreation sites using a smartphone.

Digital Passes are available through Recreation.gov for the following sites:

•Cheoah Point Beach: $5, open through 10/31
•Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and Whitewater Falls*: $3, open year round
•Jackrabbit Mountain Beach: $5, open through 9/30
•Roan Mountain: $3, open through 9/30
*A pass purchased for Dry Falls, Whiteside Mountain, or Whitewater Falls are honored at all three locations.

Recreation fee revenue helps protect natural resources and enhance recreation opportunities. These fees are critical to the operation and maintenance of recreation sites, including but not limited to cleaning, maintaining, and updating bathroom facilities, replacing sand at beaches, removing trash, mowing and maintaining grounds and parking lots, and replacing picnic tables and other amenities.

For more information on digital passes please visit www.recreation.gov/pass.


DAY SPONSOR

Frogtown Market Deli & Seafood is underwriting Macon Media for today. Call 369-9001 for free in-town delivery between 11am and 2pm Monday through Friday or visit their location at 61 South Patton Avenue in Franklin, The restaurant is currently only open for curbside service at this time.

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Wednesday from 10am to 7pm
Thursday and Friday from 10am to 8pm
Closed Saturday and Sunday

For more information and to see a menu, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FrogtownMarket or their website at frogtownmarket.com



Published at 11:30am on Tuesday, July 14, 2020

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The National Forests of North Carolina will sponsor a series of "Kids Fishing Days" this spring Cliffside Lake Event on June 2nd at 9 am

Asheville, NC, April 5, 2018- The National Forests of North Carolina will sponsor a series of "Kids Fishing Days" on each ranger district to teach kids about fishing. The first event open to the public is on May 19.

These annual events allow children ages 15 years and younger to fish for free, although some events are extremely popular and may adjust age and creel limits or stagger fishing time to insure participant safety. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No experience is needed to participate.

Volunteers and employees from the U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will provide free fishing assistance and loaned equipment. Kids will be educated on how to use a rod and reel, as well as how to bait a hook. No fishing license is required at this event. A free lunch will be provided to all participants.

This fishing event allows families and friends to share fun, quality time together while learning about one of our nation's favorite pastimes - fishing.

Kids Fishing Events:

May 19 at 10:00 am - Boone Fork Pond on the Grandfather District, Contact: Greg Philipp (828-652-2144 or gphilipp@fs.fed.us)
June 2 at 9:00 am - Carolina Hemlocks on the Appalachian District (registration begins at 8 am), Contact: Brandon Jones (828-682-6146 or brandonjones@fs.fed.us)
June 2 at 9:00 am - Rattler Ford on the Cheoah District, Contact: Jason Farmer (828-479-6431 or jfarmer@fs.fed.us)
June 2 at 9:00 am - Cliffside Lake on the Nantahala District, Contact: Richard McClure (828-526-3765 or rmcclure02@fs.fed.us)
June 2 at 9:00 am - Lake Powhatan on the Pisgah District, Contact: Lorie Stroup (828-877-3265 or loriestroup@fs.fed.us). Due to expected crowds, additional age and creel limits may be in place at this event.
June 2 at 7:30 am - Cherokee Lake on the Tusquitee District, Contact: Todd Sharkey (828-837-5152 or tasharkey@fs.fed.us)
June 9 at 9:00 am - Max Patch Pond on the Appalachian District (registration begins at 8 am), Contact: Brandon Jones (828-682-6146 or brandonjones@fs.fed.us)
June 9 at 8:00 am - Cedar Swamp Pond on the Croatan District (hybrid sunfish or catfish), Contact: Hugo Cobos (252-638-5628 or hcobos@fs.fed.us)
June 9 at 9:00 am - King's Mt. Point on the Uwharrie District, Contact: Theresa Savery (910-576-6391 or tsavery@fs.fed.us)



Follow the National Forests in North Carolina
on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nfsnc/) and Twitter (twitter.com/NFsNCarolina)
for more news and information.

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USFS Press Release Hanging Dog Campground will not re-open

Murphy, NC, April 4, 2018- U.S.Forest Service officials announced they will not re-open Hanging Dog Campground located on the Nantahala National Forest.

The campground was initially closed in 2014 due to declining use and increased management costs as part of a comprehensive analysis of recreation sites across the national forests.

It then reopened in 2016 and 2017 on a trial basis in partnership with Cherokee County. Both the Forest Service and Cherokee County agreed to meet at the end of each year to evaluate the viability of continuing to operate. In both years the fees collected were well below the operating and maintenance costs with an occupancy rate in 2017 of just 11 percent, down from 16 percent in 2016. Furthermore the aging facility has over $160,000 in deferred maintenance needs.

"This has been a difficult decision because we know many families and friends have fond memories of camping there," said Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas. "But the reality is fewer people camp there each season, and we need to focus our efforts on areas and activities where public use reflects higher demand to ensure that we are making the best use of our budget."

Given the financial realities, the Forest Service with the public's help must determine the most suitable activities, investments, and locations and how they complement other offerings on public and private land. Within 50 miles of Hanging Dog, there are at least nine other Forest Service and six private campgrounds that offer similar or better facilities, including Jackrabbit Mountain Campground on Lake Chatuge near Murphy, NC.

The Hanging Dog day-use area will remain open with picnic tables overlooking the lake and nearby mountain biking and hiking trails. Year-round access is available to Hiwassee Lake for boating and fishing including an accessible fishing pier. The parking lot at the boat launch is scheduled for reconstruction in the fall of 2018. The Panther Top Shooting Range is just a few miles away and will be upgraded in the near future in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

For more information on recreation opportunities on the Nantahala National Forest see https://go.usa.gov/xQrP8.

Follow the National Forests in North Carolina 

on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nfsnc/) and Twitter (twitter.com/NFsNCarolina)  

for more news and information. 

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NC Wildlife Commission Seeks Public Comment for Periodic Review of 10F and 10H Rules

PRESS RELEASE
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
1701 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1701

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking public comment on classifications of its existing rules for the periodic review process, as required by the General Assembly (150B-21.3A). On April 21, 2016, the Commission approved initial determinations classifying each of its Motorboats and Water Safety rules (15A NCAC 10F) and Regulated Activities rules (15A NCAC 10H) into one of three classifications: (1) unnecessary; (2) necessary with substantive public interest; or (3) necessary without substantive public interest. The initial determination reports for 10F and 10H rules are posted on the agency’s Periodic Rules Review page.   Public comments on these classifications may be submitted from May 16, 2016-August 1, 2016.  Public comments may be submitted online or in writing via the US Postal Service to the following address: Erica Garner NCWRC Periodic Review 1701 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1701   For more information on the periodic review process for the Wildlife Commission or to comment on a rule, visit the agency’s Periodic Rules Review page. A “public comment” is defined by G.S. 150B-21.3A(a)(5) as a written objection to all or part of a rule. Additionally, pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A(c)(2), in order for the Rules Review Commission to determine whether the public comment has merit, the public comment must address the specific content of the rule.

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Sustainable trail work to start on the Upper Chattooga Wild and Scenic River

PRESS RELEASE
National Forests in North Carolina
160A Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Mike Wilkins (828) 524-6441
January 8, 2016

Gainesville, Ga. (January 8, 2016) - Beginning in December 2015, forest visitors may notice new signage and trail work at some access sites on the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River. These improvements are part of the continuing implementation of the 2012 Chattooga River final decisions.

"Boaters, hikers and fisherman alike will now have designated and safe access to this incredible resource" said Nantahala District Ranger, Mike Wilkins. "We are pleased to protect the wild and scenic values of the river while providing sustainable trails, put-ins and take-outs."

Within the river corridor, the agency will implement sustainable river access trails for boaters and other forest visitors at the following locations:

North Carolina: Nantahala Ranger District

• Greens Creek trail (put-in only), construct 0.28 miles of trail with access at the Greens Creek trail and Chattooga intersection.
• County Line trail (put-in and take out), designate and reconstruct 1.2 miles of an old road bed as a trail with access just downstream of Norton Mill Creek.
• Bullpen Bridge (put-in and take out), designate a river put-in less than 100 feet upstream of the bridge and construct and designate a short trail below the bridge.

Georgia: Chattooga RiverRanger District

• Burrell Ford Bridge(put-in and take-out), designate and reconstruct about 200 feet of trail,decommission two user-created trails and conduct maintenance work at the parking areato reduce sediment impacts on the river.

South Carolina: Andrew Pickens Ranger District

• Lick Log Creek (take-out only), construct and designate about 500 feet of new trail.

 "Work through out the river corridor  may take several seasons to complete" added Wilkins."Currently existing interim access points will remain open for use until work at the approved access sites is completed."

The final decisions do not reopen the 2012 final decision allowing boating in the upper segment ofthe Chattooga Wild and Scenic River, and boating in this corridor will still require a permit withregulations in place for seasons and flow. Additionally, all put-ins, take-outs and other access workis strictly limited to National Forest System lands.

For specific details on district final decisions, please contact the following individuals:

• North Carolina, Mike Wilkins at (828) 524-6441
• Georgia, Holly Krake at (770) 297-3095
• South Carolina, Gwyn Ingramat (803) 561-4007

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