Parks & Recreation

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation activities are made available to youth and adults to enjoy fun and wholesome recreational programming that teaches character and sportsmanship. FCPR supports the belief that all recreational programming and experiences should be positive and safe with sportsmanship and enjoyment the primary goal.

To achieve this goal, FCPR strives to provide a safe environment for participants of these programs and to protect them from harm to the best of our abilities. To that end, all participants and spectators must be held accountable for their behavior and zero tolerance given for intentional violation of this Code of Conduct.

Expectations

• Treat all parties involved with dignity and respect.
• Use appropriate language, tones, and volume when communicating. When in doubt, remain silent.
• Become knowledgeable, understanding, and supportive of all established guidelines, rules, policies, and procedures applicable to related programming.
• Recognize/acknowledge FCPR programming as a privilege that can be rescinded for the greater good.

Unfortunately, aggressive behavior is on the rise in recreational programming. Negative attitudes, verbal abuse of officials, poor sportsmanship, profanity, child predators, and violence are casting a negative light in our arena. It is for that reason penalties have been assessed and will be enforced for acts perceived by FCPR as intentional violations.

Procedures

• When an incident occurs at an FCPR activity/event, FCPR officials have the authority to institute immediate suspensions. FCPR officials will offer to escort the offending individual(s) from the facility. If the offending individual(s) refuses to leave the premises, local authorities will be contacted immediately and asked to enforce the ruling.
• Individual(s) removed from the facility in this manner will be sent a registered letter stating the violation of policy and the penalty in effect. The individual(s) will then have forty-eight (48) hours from receipt of the letter to respond to FCPR with a written appeal.
• If a written appeal is received, an investigation will be conducted and FCPR will render a final decision within ten (10) working days from receipt of the appeal. The purpose of the appeal is not to review, summarize, or dispute the incident in question but is to give an opportunity for facts to be presented as to why the suspension should not be enforced.
• A panel consisting of the facility supervisor, program supervisor, immediate supervisory staff, and a department superintendent will conduct the investigation. During the investigation, the individual(s) will be suspended from all FCPR activities/events/facilities. Individual(s) requesting the appeal may be asked to appear before an appeal review committee led by the FCPR Director. This decision will be final.
• Suspensions of less than ten (10) days cannot be appealed.

It is FCPR's sincere desire that situations never warrant the removal of an individual from any activity, event, or facility. However, it is our obligation to maintain a controlled, safe, and healthy atmosphere for everyone. Recreational activities are designed to foster qualities such as character building, social interaction, enjoyment, and relaxation while educating the general public and promoting healthy lifestyles. These activities are not designed to be overly competitive, and FCPR does not promote this contention.

Offense & Penalty

(to include but not limited to the following)

Level 1 - Standard

• Offense: Failure to follow departmental established guidelines, rules, policies, and procedures as applicable to related programming; failure to comply with an FCPR official's decision; taunting/mocking/harassment of players; disgruntled expressions such as rude gestures or comments, screaming and loudly disagreeing with others or obscene/profane/vulgar language; throwing/kicking/striking of bats, balls, and other miscellaneous equipment; unnecessary roughness among participants.
• Penalty: Not necessarily preceded by a warning. Immediate ejection and removal from the premises and a minimum ten (10) day suspension.

Level 2 - Verbal

• Offense: Malicious obscene/profane/vulgar verbal abuse directed towards another individual; verbal epithets related to race, color, religion, creed, gender, or sexual orientation; verbal communication of threats, physical violence, or acts of insulting another with intention to offend, defame, or embarrass.
• Penalty: Not necessarily preceded by a warning. Immediate ejection and removal from the premises and a minimum thirty (30) day suspension.

Level 3 - Physical

• Offense: Physical aggression towards another; pushing, shoving, striking or touching another individual with the perceived intent to incite, inflict or cause harm; invading another individual's personal space during a dispute.
• Penalty: Not necessarily preceded by a warning. Immediate ejection and removal from the premises and a minimum one hundred eighty (180) day suspension.

Level 4 - Unlawful

Offense: Any violation of North Carolina law; possession of firearms, knives, explosive devices, weapons or under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, controlled substances, chemical or drug paraphernalia; assault with or without a weapon.

Penalty: Not necessarily preceded by a warning. Immediate ejection and removal from the premises and a minimum one (1) year suspension.

Additional Information

Please note: Suspensions will be tracked and monitored. Individuals who have been suspended will be immediately placed on probationary status for a period of one (1) year from the date of the offense. A second offense by the same individual within one (1) year, regardless of nature, will result in double the term of the penalty and an extension of the probationary period from the date of the second offense. A third violation by the same individual within one (1) year, regardless of nature, will void all FCPR privileges indefinitely. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in legal action. *

Effective Implementation: January 2007, FCPR Advisory Board

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation offers a variety of activities where food and drink for participants and spectators are available for purchase. Examples include 6–8-week seasonal sports leagues, one-day special events, and weekend/special tournaments.

As a service to the public, Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department provides opportunities for concessions at various activities such as youth and adult regular season/tournament games, weekend tournaments, special events, and recreation center programs or rentals.

All vendors must be contracted by the City of Fayetteville before providing concessions to the public.

Before a new vendor is contracted, the following steps should be taken:

• A letter of interest and formal bid must be submitted to the City of Fayetteville's Purchasing Department in response to a bid posting.
• Vendor must be able to provide insurance in the amounts listed in the Concession and Vendor Guidelines.
• Vendor must meet all Cumberland County Health Department guidelines, including any necessary health permits. 

Bid Opportunities

Concessions

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Department has sixteen (16) concession buildings located on park and school-park property that may be leased by vendors.  If a vendor is interested in operating a concession building, a letter of interest should be submitted in response to a bid posting, along with a formal bid.

Standard percentages are:

• For-Profit Organizations:  20%       
• Non-Profit Organizations:  10%
• Non-Profit Youth Associations:  0%
• Non-profit organizations must show proof of their non-profit status

Payment of fees are due to FCPR by the 10th of each month While these percentages are the minimum, a higher amount can be bid.  It may be necessary to re-bid a facility should more than one vendor submit an identical amount.  All letters of interest and formal bids are to be in writing and mailed to: 

City of Fayetteville 

Attn:  Purchasing Department (Concession Bid) 

433 Hay Street Fayetteville, NC  28301  

Vendors

Vendors must provide proof of insurance in the following amounts: 

• Bodily Injury: $1,000,000
• Property Damage: $1,000,000
• Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage from owned, non-owned and hired automobiles 

The insurance policy must also name the City of Fayetteville as an additional insured.  No vendor may begin concession sales until a certificate of insurance is issued and on file with the City of Fayetteville. 

Vendors must meet Cumberland Co. Health Department guidelines to include health permits, are required to follow all City as well as FCPR policies, rules and regulations, and must keep the concession building and grounds clean and free of litter.  Vendors must also obtain a “Privilege License” if required by the City of Fayetteville. 

Type A Concession Buildings

*Chewing/Bubble Gum, Skittles and Starburst are not permitted at Aquatic Facilities

• A “Limited Food Service Establishment”
• Can sell pre-packaged foods only; examples include chips, candy, crackers, chewing gum, bubblegum, sunflower seeds, and chocolate bars. Popcorn makers are allowed provided it is cleaned after each use.

Type B Concession Buildings

*Chewing/Bubble Gum, Skittles and Starburst are not permitted at Aquatic Facilities

• A “Limited Food Service Establishment”
• Can sell pre-packaged and prepared foods such as hotdogs, nachos, sno-cones and popcorn. Rolling hotdog machines, crock-pots and microwaves are acceptable ways to prepare these foods.

There is no location that is designed to cook foods such as hamburgers, french fries, fried chicken or ribs. Packaged ice cream bars, or a variation of such, can be sold at all locations as long as there is a commercial freezer to store the ice cream.   

No vendor may bring any type of grill (gas or charcoal), deep fryer or any other type of appliance to cook inside or outside the concession building; this includes vendors with a trailer. Failure to follow this requirement will result in termination of the vendor agreement and a possible Health Department fine.

Additional School Park Facilities

Not all school-parks have a concession building on-site. When the department uses a Cumberland County Schools property for a seasonal athletic program the on-site school will be afforded the first opportunity to sell concessions. If no school organization is interested, it will be open to outside vendors to sell from a Health Department approved cart or trailer. All City of Fayetteville policies and procedures apply, including letter of interest, bid amount and insurance requirements. These locations include, but are not limited to: 

• Douglas Byrd Middle School 
• Nick Jeralds Middle School 
• Reid Ross Classical/Tokay 
• Westover High School 

Indoor Facilities

Recreation centers that have gymnasiums may sell concessions in the lobby or from the kitchen if a caterer has not been previously contracted. Concession rights will offered in the following order:

• youth organizations associated with the recreation center
• recreation center teams (if more than one team is interested in selling concessions the time will be split evenly between the teams
• outside vendors

If a Cumberland County Schools gym is used, the school will be offered the first opportunity to sell concessions.

All City policies and procedures apply, including letter of interest, bid amount and insurance requirements.

NOTE: organizations selling concessions will be responsible to ensure no food/drinks are taken into the gymnasium and will clean trash and debris generated by concession sales both inside and outside the recreation center.

Rentals

Often an individual or group will rent a facility to conduct a youth or adult athletic tournament. The renter will be given the opportunity to sell concessions at that location, regardless of any agreement with a vendor, as long as vendor requirements outlined are met, ie insurance, business license, facility clean-up, foods that can/cannot be served.

Concession fee for rentals is $50.00 per field/facility per day. If the renter has no interest, an approved vendor will be allowed to sell during that activity and current agreements will continue to be enforced.

Anyone who rents a facility can provide concessions at their activity, even if a vendor is under contract for that location.

The renter's concession fee is $50 per field/facility per day and must be collected at the same time as the rental fee is paid. All requirements remain the same as a contracted vendor and include:

• The same amount of insurance.
• Following health department guidelines and health permits, including types of foods sold.
• Responsibility for collecting litter generated by concessions.

Bid Opportunities

The Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission advises the City Council on policies and plans to provide adequate parks and recreational facilities for the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. [Please be aware that City Ordinance Sec. 2-35 requires City Council appointed members reside within the city limits.]

Boards & Commissions

Purpose and Functions

1. To advise, encourage, counsel, solicit, inform and promote the dedication and establishment of parks and recreation areas of all sizes and descriptions in all Sections of Cumberland County  and, in particular, those areas where development is taking place, with the ultimate aim of making neighborhood playgrounds and parks accessible to all residents of the County through donations or dedication of property either perpetually or for a limited term.
2. To promote studies and plans of parks and recreational needs of Cumberland County, and inform and advise the Fayetteville City Council and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and conduct public information programs to develop public awareness of the need for such facilities.
3. To advise the Parks & Recreation Director in planning recreational programs and activities and encourage voluntary sponsorship and participation in the same clubs, societies, social and business organizations neighborhood groups and individuals.
4. To coordinate and liaise with  other organizations in the full development of their programs and functions as they relate to parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas.
5. To advise the Parks & Recreation Director in acquiring land and water areas and accepting any grant, gift, bequest or donation and any personal or real properties offered or made available for recreational purposes.
6. To encourage a program for the establishment of memorial parks and Playgrounds.
7. To assist and encourage the Parks & Recreation Director in the conservation and development of the natural beauty of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

And further, to advise and comment on:

1. A Master Plan for Parks and Recreation;
2. A Capital Improvement Plan;
3. Programming to maintain and increase program participation
4. Establish and maintain appeals process of staff decisions on programming issues;
5. Establish and maintain Program Standards;
6. Standards for facility usage and charges; and
7. Preservation of historical sites and conservation of green space

Composition of Members

• The membership of the Advisory Commission shall not exceed fifteen (15) persons, eighteen years of age or over, residents of Cumberland County, with seven (7) members appointed by the Fayetteville City Council; seven (7) members appointed by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners; and one (1) member appointed by the Cumberland County Schools Superintendent.
• After the initial terms, all appointments by both the Fayetteville City Council and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners will be for three (3) year terms.  
• The member appointed by the Cumberland County Schools Superintendent will serve at the pleasure of the Superintendent.  
• Members may serve a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms, with at least one (1) year off after the completion of the two consecutive terms, before being eligible for re-appointment to the Commission.  
• Upon the death, resignation, or disqualification of a member of the Commission, the Fayetteville City Council or the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, as appropriate, may fill the vacancy.  
• If an individual is filling an unexpired term, any unexpired term is not considered a term if the period served is eighteen (18) months or less.  
• If more than eighteen (18) months is served, it will be considered a full term.

Meeting Schedule

Commission meetings are open to citizens. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm at 725 West Rowan Street, Parks & Recreation Youth Council Facility.

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission By-laws(PDF, 21KB)

Board Members

• Harold Smelcer, Chair
• Vickie Mullins, Vice-Chair
• Stacy Bolton
• Brenda Gordon
• Crystal Moore-Williams
• Lynnie Guzman
• Emily Schaefer
• Thomas Hatch
• Helen Stovall-Brockett
• Amanda Mitchell
• Louis Wood
• Lynne Greene, Liaison, City Council
• Chad Barbour, Liaison, Cumberland County Schools
• Brian Haney, Liaison, Cumberland County
• Maghen Walterman, Liaison, DistiNCtly Fayetteville
• Michael Gibson, Director, FCPR

The cold of winter will soon break for warmer days of the spring and summer seasons. Your Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation department is preparing for the 2025 swim season. Our FCPR Aquatics Coordinator is actively recruiting lifeguards to ensure a safe and fun time for all. A Lifeguard Certification Course will be offered in April with employment opportunities available for those who successfully pass the course. You can find more information on our Pools & Aquatics webpage.

I would like to personally invite you to stop by the Fayetteville History Museum to check out the history of Fayetteville, register for a class at one of our recreation centers and attend the upcoming events at Festival Park in Downtown. Big things continue to happen at FCPR and we want you to be a part of it!

Visit our website and see all that FCPR has to offer.

Michael Gibson
Director, Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation