Recreation Services

"You'd like to be able to do things on the weekend without traveling an hour."
-Resident

Robbins residents frequently mentioned the issue of availability of recreation and services, such as restaurants and shopping. During our interviews, we asked community members to talk about what they like to do for entertainment and recreation, and where they go to shop for food, dine out, and buy clothes. Community members varied in their responses. Most residents spoke of a need for more restaurants and shopping in town. Some residents recalled a time when there was more recreation and entertainment available in Robbins. Many community members spoke proudly of Milliken Park, the Robbins library, and the northern Moore athletic teams. The majority of the residents agreed that the town would benefit from some additional services and recreation.

When discussing recreation opportunities available for town residents, community members were quick to mention the recent additions of Milliken Park and the Robbins library. Milliken Park opened in the spring of 1999, and is a place where residents can exercise, hold organized team sports, and enjoy the outdoors. One community member emphasized the role of the community in building the park, citing the many letters written and the lobbying for funding done by Robbins residents. He stated, "the park has filled a great need. Before there was not much recreation in town." The library is another product of community initiative; town members sought funding to bring the library to the town. The library offers a variety of activities for children and adults, such as reading groups, internet access, and guest lecturers. Residents were also proud of the Northern Moore High School athletic teams. Another activity frequently mentioned as recreation for children and adults were the various youth athletic teams that are sponsored by the Moore County Parks and Recreation and the Northern Moore Family Resource Center. As one community member said, "…sports are… fun for the children, and also a time for the parents to socialize with each other." Churches were also frequently mentioned as places for recreation. One resident stated that, "the whole town centers around churches." Other residents spoke of efforts of churches in the community to sponsor ecumenical social events, such as dinner and entertainment evenings.

While most residents were pleased with the recreation available in Robbins, there was a sense among community members that there should be more things available to do in the town. Residents spoke with frustration about driving to Greensboro, Southern Pines, and Asheboro to see a movie or go bowling. As one resident simply stated, "you just have to get used to traveling when you live here to do anything." Another community member stressed the need for more cultural activities in the town. Several community members mentioned the lack of recreational activities for youth, citing the need for a YMCA, a boys and girls club, and other entertainment activities, such as a skating rink. Others expressed concern about the lack of recreation for youth in the summer. Residents lamented about the lack of activities for teenagers, saying, "teenagers don't have a place to go." Many older residents recalled a time when Robbins had two movie theatres and a bowling alley, and stated that they would like to see activities, such as those, return to the town. As one community member said, "I think the town has reached a place where they could bring entertainment places back and they would succeed."

In addition to more recreation available in Robbins, residents also expressed the need for more services such as restaurants and shopping. One community member spoke of her continued frustration about the lack of restaurants available, explaining that often her children will come home straight from school with little time before their evening activities. She stated that since there is no time to cook, even a fast food chain restaurant would help because it would at least provide more options for the residents. In addition, some residents complained that among the restaurants they have to choose from, many are not healthy. One resident stated, "there's still a lot of country cooking around here." Another resident remarked that there are a limited number of "nice restaurants" available. For their home cooking needs, most residents grocery shop in town, and many were pleased with the addition of a new grocery store. Residents do travel outside of Robbins to Asheboro or Southern Pines for other shopping needs, such as clothing and household items. Many community members remarked that they would like to have a shopping center or mall closer.

The availability of recreation and services is an issue of importance to community members. Even though the recent additions of Milliken park and the Robbins library have been welcomed and celebrated by the town, the majority of residents expressed that they would like to see more recreation and services in the area. Residents acknowledged that bringing in new services would change the town; as one resident said, "if you encourage growth, you lose that small town feeling." However, overall community members felt very positive about creating change. The future challenge for Robbins is deciding what types of services and recreation will benefit the community, and how the community can work together to bring in the services and recreation that are needed.

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