ROCKY MOUNT -- The surveys are in, Franklin County's first 15-year comprehensive county plan for parks and recreation is drafted, and now residents can have their say.

Three meetings will be held this month in Rocky Mount, Ferrum and Westlake to solicit more community input on the plan that will be presented to the board of supervisors for approval in November.

Franklin County was the only county in the Roanoke Valley that didn't have a parks and recreation plan, said Scott Martin, director of commerce and leisure services. The result was a "hodgepodge approach to planning," he said.

The plan lays out $81 million in improvements over the 15-year period, including:

-- New neighborhood and community parks in Windy Gap, Ferrum and Hales Ford.

-- A new regional park in Penn Hall.

-- Development of Smith Farm in Burnt Chimney.

-- A new intergenerational center.

-- Construction of a trail between Rocky Mount and Ferrum.

If approved, the plan would begin in fiscal year 2010-11 and would start with a new well and volleyball court at Franklin County Recreation Park, initial planning and permitting for Penn Hall Regional Park, and sign and trail improvements at Waid Recreation area near Rocky Mount.

A full outline of the plan is available on the department's Web site, www.franklincountyva.org/parks.

Through the survey, residents were able to contribute to the direction and content of the plan, Martin said.

A concern among a majority of respondents was public water access. Another concern was an "intergenerational center" with flexible indoor space for indoor sports, meetings and senior activities.

Though the county's population is aging faster than other areas, "our seniors don't want to sit on a porch in a rocking chair," Martin said. "They want to be active."

Research for the plan revealed deficiencies in county facilities. Staff also determined that larger regional and district parks work better for the county than smaller neighborhood parks, Martin said.

Martin acknowledged that the county and the country are facing tough economic times, "but other national parks were built in equally challenging times."

WANT TO GO?

Franklin County will hold public meetings on its first proposed Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Rocky Mount

When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: The Franklin Center, multipurpose room

Westlake

When: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 28

Where: Westlake Library, community meeting room

Ferrum

When: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29

Where: Franklin Hall, Ferrum College