HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-16-2016-13-2 - Information Item - Memorandum - Hollow Rock Nature Park Update INFORMATION ITEM 1
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Department of Environment,
Agriculture, Parks &Recreation
MEMORANDUM
To: Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager
From: David Stancil, DEAPR Director
Date: February 16, 2016
Re: Hollow Rock Nature Park Update
Construction of the Hollow Rock Nature Park (formerly Hollow Rock Access
Area) continues this winter. Despite several major rainfall events and one ice
event that has slowed and complicated the work, the project is generally on
schedule and plans are underway for an opening of Phase I later this spring.
Hollow Rock Nature Park is a 75-acre site comprised of multiple land parcels
owned separately by Orange County, Durham County, and the Town of Chapel
Hill. The site straddles the Orange-Durham county line and New Hope Creek
forms the western boundary. Portions of the site are protected with conservation
easements held by the State of NC. Plans for a nature preserve styled park date
back to the early 1990's, when Orange County, Chapel Hill, Durham County and
the City of Durham adopted the New Hope Creek Corridor Master Plan, which
called for preservation of lands along the New Hope Creek corridor, from central
Orange County to Jordan Lake. The master plan envisioned a public trail
network with a number of "access areas" at strategic locations, including the
"Hollow Rock Access Area" at the intersection of Erwin Road and Pickett Road. A
Master Plan for the 75-acre Hollow Rock site was developed by an
interjurisdictional master plan committee and adopted in 2010.
Orange County and Durham County, under an interlocal agreement signed in
2015 (with the Town of Chapel Hill as an additional signatory), will jointly manage
and operate the park, with Durham County managing the area east of Pickett
Road, and Orange County the portion west of Pickett Road.
Construction of the initial public amenities outlined in Phase 1a (Exhibit B) for the
Hollow Rock site is well underway and with anticipated opening mid spring of
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation (DEAPR)
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510; Fax: (919) 644-3351
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2016 (date TBA). These amenities are being constructed with help from a
$200,000 North Carolina Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant awarded to
Durham County in collaboration with Orange County. Orange County's share of
this Phase 1 a construction is $50,000 appropriated in FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-
16.
These amenities include a gravel 15-car parking area and turn around, overflow
parking area, natural surface trails, four pedestrian bridges, information kiosks, a
park entrance sign, and a cleared area for the "old" Hollow Rock Store, which is
planned to be relocated to this site by a non-profit organization working with the
Friends of Hollow Rock Store.
Despite the weather delays, construction is well underway and within budget.
Orange County staff is currently working with the NC Department of
Transportation in providing addition wayfinding and safety signage. DEAPR is
also developing a pre-application for a potential 2017 RTP grant to help fund
Phase 1 b construction. A phasing plan for development of Phase 1 b of the site is
provided as Exhibit B. The adopted CIP identifies additional funds from both
Orange and Durham counties for Phase 1 b construction in 2016-17.
We hope to be in touch with plans for an opening event in the spring, possibly
late-April or early-May.
Attachments
Copies: Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager
Marabeth Carr, Landscape Architect
Dan Derby, Parks Superintendent
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation (DEAPR)
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510; Fax: (919) 644-3351
Exhibit A o faa V ■
Proposed Master Plan o _ i r IN
Hollow Rock Access Area VI/ � -
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Exhibit B
Phasing Plan for Hollow Rock Nature Park
Phase 1a- Infrastructure, amenities, and site work already completed or
allowable under RTP Grant.
• Additional Survey work- Cultural &Archaeological (Completed)
• Land Acquisition (TLC Parcel in Orange County) (Completed)
• Bridge Engineering Design Work for Pedestrian Bridges (4) (Completed)
• Preliminary Design Work for Parking Lot(Site Plan, Engineering,Approvals, Topo Survey)
(Completed)
• Entrance Driveway and Parking(Gravel/HC Paved/Wheel Stops) (Underway)
• Entrance and Directional Signage (Underway)
• Pedestrian Bridges (4)for nature trails on east side of Pickett Road (Completed)
• Information kiosks and trail maps (Completed)
• Site clearing for future Hollow Rock Store (Completed)
Phase 1 b -Additional Amenities
• Site Amenities- Picnic Tables, Waste/Recycling Receptacles, and Dog Waste Receptacles
• Interpretative Signage
• Restroom (vault type) and engineering
• Platform Overlooks for nature observation
• Nature Trail Bridges (2) on west side of Pickett Road
• Barn Renovation for Educational Use
• Accessible trail loop
Phase 2 (Timeframe TBD)
• Additional Survey work- Cultural &Archaeological and/or Topographic
• Hollow Rock Store relocation (by Friends of Hollow Rock Store)
If Pickett Road were ever closed:
• Entrance Gates
• Parking (Gravel/HC paved/Wheel Stops)
• Top-dress gravel - Pickett Road
• New Entrance Sign/Directional Signage
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Hollow Rock Nature Park — Under Development Exhibit C
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Parking area and turn around under construction
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Bridge and Kiosk at trail head