By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

Mike Garner has been recreation director in Mocksville for 33 years.
When he started, soccer was a blip on the radar.
Recreation needs change with the community, and the Mocksville-Davie Recreation is seeking your opinion on what recreation facilities are needed in Davie County. There’s a survey available at the rec department, Mocksville, Cooleemee and Bermuda Run town halls.
And there are three meetings from 6-7:30 p.m. scheduled to get input:
• Monday, Sept. 10 at the Cooleemee VFW building at 7722 NC 801;
• Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the BB&T Soccer Park fieldhouse on 428 Twins Way, Advance; and
• Thursday, Sept. 13 at the Davie County Public Library, 371 N. Main St., Mocksville.
Survey and meeting results will be used by Miller Landscape Architecture to come up with a long-range plan for recreation facilities in Davie County.
The possibilities are endless, but Garner admits that funding isn’t. It has to be a priority, and the master plan is necessary not only to know what’s wanted, but to apply for grants. “This is one of the most critical times for the people to let the commissioners know what they want – what we need,” Garner said. “This comprehensive master plan is an instrument we have to have.”
Most grants, he said, require a 50 percent match of local funds. That can be government or private money – even a donation of land.
“There are ways to make this happen, maybe a donation from an industry. We need to all step up to the plate and provide these things. There are a huge amount of benefits to recreation …