The Town of Hope Mills Board of Commissioners held a public meeting with the County’s State Legislative Delegation on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. The meeting was held to present key funding priorities for Hope Mills which were focused on Parks and Recreation initiatives. Held in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the John W. Hodges Public Safety Center, members of the NC delegation in attendance included Senator Val Applewhite, Katie Smith Senior Advisor for Congressman David Rouzer, Representatives Charles Smith, Mike Colvin, Frances Jackson and Diane Wheatley.

Mayor Jessie Bellflowers opened the meeting welcoming the Cumberland County

Delegation and Town of Hope Mills staff for their commitment to excellence. 

“We are here to talk about the funding priorities to improve the quality of life of Hope Mills while we continue efforts to improve our community,” said Bellflowers.

Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin also welcomed the legislative leaders while introducing Ashley Anderson with Sands Anderson Law who was recently hired by the town to conduct their strategic plan as well as Justin Hembree with Mid-Carolina Regional Council.

McLaughlin thanked the Hope Mills elected for their continued support as the manager and introduced town staff stating “this is a team effort and there is nothing that we do that isn’t conducted as a collective unit”. Binders that included a message from the Mayor, a resolution outlining the funding requests, the presentation, and legislative fact sheets were also distributed to each member of the delegation. As the meeting began Mayor Bellflowers recognized the first responders from Hope Mills that were deployed to western North Carolina during Hurricane Helene and stated “Our hearts go out the citizens of western North Carolina. When we deployed our first responders, we did that as a community. Thats who we are, that’s what we do, we take care of each other”.

The Towns’ 2025 State Legislative Agenda included requests specific to the needs of Hope Mills and focused on 3 main projects tied to the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Department. Town Manager McLaughlin began the presentation highlighting the 2024 funded projects that were completed with contributions from the delegation as well as funds from the Town of Hope Mills.

2024 Funded and Completed Projects included:

• Heritage Park Phase 1

$240,000: Congressman David Rouzer NC 7th Congressional District

$300,000: Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)

$560,000: Town of Hope Mills
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$1,300,000 total project costs

• Reid’s Journey All Inclusive Playground Phase 1 & 2

$320,000: State Legislature

$145,000: Town of Hope Mills

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$465,000 total project costs

• Hope Mills Splash Pad

$320,000: State Legislature

$190,000: Town of Hope Mills

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$510,000 total project costs

The delegation was then presented with the top three priorities identified by the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners tied to goals of regional and multipurpose utilization:

2025 Delegation Priority Funding Requests:

Priority #1: Hope Mills Senior Center: The request included $3,430,500 for the

internal and complete renovation of the existing Town of Hope Mills Recreation

Center. The Town also proposes to partner with Mid Carolina Area Agency on

Aging for a full Senior Center designation. Program elements include:

•  Spa with hot tub, steam room and sauna
•  Low impact flooring
•  Meet-up café and game room
•  Large exercise classroom
•  Fitness room
•  Gymnasium conversion to half courts with striped pickleball
•  Multipurpose classrooms
•  Serving commercial kitchen
•  Locker rooms
•  Multipurpose classrooms

Priority #2: Hope Mills Community Center: With the proposed renovation of

the existing Recreation Center into a Senior Center, there will be a need for the

construction of a new facility. The request included $13,134,000 for a new

community center at the Golfview Greenway site. Program elements include:

•  New 27,000 square foot facility
•  Constructed as a level 4 facility to be utilized as a shelter during crisis
• events
•  Gymnasium with a full-sized court and four half sized courts marked for two
• interior pickleball courts
•  Three multipurpose rooms for classes and reservations
•  Administrative offices
•  Serving commercial kitchen
•  Locker rooms/restrooms
•  Will serve as a warming and cooling center
•  White flag designation
•  Computer lab
•  Eight outdoor pickleball courts

Priority #3: Heritage Park Phase 2: With the success and opening of Heritage

Park Phase 1, staff is poised to proceed with the completion of the Heritage Park

Master Plan. Staff is currently in the process of the submission of another

PARTF Grant for $1,000,000 for Phase 2 with the request to the delegation

including $773,883. Program elements include:

•  Floating boat launch
•  Outdoor classroom
•  Natural trails
•  New shelter
•  Way finding signs and additional historical markers
•  Extension of existing parking lot

The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners concluded the meeting by adopting Resolution #R2025-005 of the Town of Hope Mills Board of Commissioners Adopting Legislative Priorities for the 2025/2026 Long Session of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Board of Commissioners also adopted Resolution #R2025-006 for $26,375,000 for Infrastructure funding from the United States Federal Government tied to residential roadway construction. Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Kenjuana McCray thanked the delegation stating “You all are a constant presence in our town as you regularly attend the ribbon cuttings for all of the businesses opening here and I would like to thank you for your continued support”.