HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-12-2017-12-3 - Information Item - Memorandum - Blackwood Farm Park Status Report 1
INFORMATION ITEM
ORANGE COUNTY
1\\! 010010 40,,,104,,
" \AV
Department of Environment,
Agriculture, Parks Recreation
MEMORANDUM
To: Bonnie M. Hammersley, County Manager
From: David Stancil, Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director
Date: December 12, 2017
RE: Blackwood Farm Park Status Report
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on progress toward
scheduled improvements at Blackwood Farm Park. As you know, Blackwood
Farm Park opened on a limited basis (and limited facilities) in June 2015. Since
that time, the park has been open Friday-Sunday and has seen a growing
number of patrons who hike the trails, visit the farm outbuildings, and casually
use the open mowed area of the park for low-impact recreation that were created
in what we have called Phase 1 of the park. The adopted park master plan may
be found as Attachment 1.
This year, the Board approved funding for the next step in Blackwood Farm
Park's maturation — funds to construct the needed infrastructure that will be
required for the park to be open on a more regular basis and have the capability
to support the amenities planned for the facility. This infrastructure improvement
project, titled Phase 2-A of the park, includes:
• Turn lanes on NC 86 for the new park entrance, to be located north of the
current narrow driveway;
• A new entrance road for the park;
• A parking area with approximately 60 spaces;
• Lighting and stormwater measures needed for these improvements; and
• In a different vein, completion of the "Discovery Trail," a child-friendly trail
with environmental signage. (This is included here based on
implementation ability and timing)
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
2
Completion of these components, estimated to cost around $1.2 million (with
previously-appropriated funds), will enable the County to be in position to move
sequentially ahead with the planned park amenities that would be in Phase 2-B
of the park. This park construction phase, estimated at just under $1.8 million, is
slated for FY 2018-19 in the approved FY 2017-2022 Capital Investment Plan
(CIP). Those amenities are envisioned to include (as funding permits):
• A nature center with exhibits and classroom/learning space
• Amphitheatre site for concerts and special events
• Disc golf course
• Additional picnic shelter(s) with restrooms
• Historically-correct restoration of the Blackwood Farmhouse (parts of
which date to 1827)
• Agricultural exhibits and gardens
• Park office and garage
Before the above listed park amenities can be constructed, the infrastructure
needs must be addressed to ensure that the park can accommodate the increase
in visitors and hours. It is anticipated that the infrastructure and planned park
improvements would enable Blackwood Farm Park to open daily (assuming
planned upgrades in personnel and operating expenses) in FY 2019-20.
The following five subsections provide updates on the planned infrastructure
improvements and on some components or questions that were raised
previously.
1. Hiring of a Design and Engineering Firm for Construction Drawings and
Bid Documents
While considerable work has been done to date by our Landscape Architect, the
design and construction of the new driveway, turn lanes and parking areas will
require engineering services. The firm that performs this work could also create
the needed construction documents for the components of the park construction
in FY 2018-19, assuming that construction plans stay on that schedule.
Staff has prepared a new layout for the driveway and parking area, taking into
consideration the approved location of the new entrance by NCDOT and the
relocation of the Parks Operations Base to another site. A draft layout of the new
driveway and parking area is shown below.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been developed by staff and is ready to
be placed for submittals by qualified firms. Staff plans to have a recommended
firm for this work to the Board for approval of a design contract in
January/February. Staff will also provide a courtesy update to park neighbors to
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
3
let them know that the previously discussed work will be proceeding in coming
months.
%p'w;it /, die; i//, /O%%%�%'"'''//ifs///!'%iii�i 'x''r/ //% .
/% ,✓' , y,-,,G�///Oii , /7,,,,0,;//o;4,y(i /ipj////, // ra w Dark Entrance
t/Y /4?"„/ /, / ” �9,/,', ' 1,+'' +/!%%/%/ / %% %';' Y a,.,,.and NC86 Turning Lanes
/%/I/! >,iil / �/7 ,,''//%/1 I,O/O'i% i 4,1,/i//,o%, �/ t
a%// // 1 %�// ir// ;;
r�// �,'///,/% �,i/,air///�,/'%iii!,/ rrr�// 04;10,7 i ///, , � ti
/1/r /1i 1,/ /i i�, ', '// A i \
/,,//„r/,�� lir #/y4 ��%e =/ry � , %//x74/AA,/,//,;;, /��,W rrr
e?// , ,47,4010/14000401!1 i /' %1�i%,4;,,, ' ii/i;,i*
li/i rk%���.,; / / r %/.? 1/j'/P'''''///7�'/^� -/� ' G �,
// %/ it jr Grass ,7t4 r i / `e.
,���,,,/�� % � learning. r Picnic //�/,W,���j/ /'/r�/iir/��,% '' 'rdJr t
ii//,// Center ,j, ///%r' i;r`i)0 �/, n% %; '�
i /iiiiiiiiiii/%a r alter /i1# if i i/"rf \
i / Site %/°f%% i� %/i /l //%' r ,
/%�/l % r %r�%' fir, / ///r//// /i // ,
//� J,;'� /%iii,,,, � f/f,, r,e,?N''���/ v-. i//%r1 %i%��iii//,;
r r// � '" ///� "Yk*/,/vv7///�i�i// /o hlo/,/jai i,/i �i7/,il����� �
,iai/i �%/apiii�i r//,/�j �{a✓�,"�� Re-es rd lis //,,/, //./// �/i ,,/0 0i,i/ ,/, ,,,,,,e0/(y),,
-7/ _" r ,;' Il "` %,7 pj/ g,,7ii/i/o�//L.l� ',t/ / /
j Teat '„w, / %%/'jo----' .w / „9t w,!9./ /°/#1"
/�%%iiiiii% �ar(7pstear/%rr��.�d a /r��„ t� �/Q�j/% //r�/�%% �%
iir Agricultural Exhitr is li %// Sp / r' r j i
i/�/ Garden Area �%//�/ rai der ✓rl/,
/- n%//,1%74);/ - ad Large Event ,�r,�� ,p///%0 F/
%' Over Flaw Parkin Area %y!/ % %
*' Grassed / i/ ///i
Proposed Parking and Infrastructure Improvements
2. Master Plan Revisions / Disc Golf Course Planning
In the decade since the creation of the master plan by the Blackwood Farm Park
Master Plan Committee and its adoption by the Board a few changes have
become necessary that will require recommended revisions to the master plan.
These changes would be brought back for Board approval in early-2018.
In summary, the changes that will be reflected in the master plan include
a) Changes to the entrance and parking areas (as discussed in Section 1
above);
b) The location of a disc golf course as a new amenity for the park, to be
located in the north-central and northwestern areas of the park;
c) Addition of the Children's Discovery Trail as a new amenity;
d) Refinement of the amphitheatre location;
e) Refinement of the planned Nature/Learning Center concept (please see
Section 4 below); and
f) Elimination of a planned road and parking area along the northern park
boundary, to help buffer adjoining homes.
Disc Golf Course
As discussed in previous CIP's and included in the adopted FY 2017-22 CIP, a
disc golf course is proposed for Blackwood Farm Park. The Landscape Architect
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
4
and staff recommend that this new amenity be located in the wooded area in the
northwestern corner of the park, and in the open meadow that adjoins it to the
east. The Master Plan revision in early 2018 would reflect the course boundaries.
The exact layout of the course would be created by an informal working group of
staff and disc golf organization representatives in the winter and spring of 2018.
Discovery Trail
Over the past two years, the Assistant Parks Superintendent and the Resource
Program Support Coordinator with Soil and Water Conservation have worked on
a Discovery Trail to be located near the current trailhead on the eastern edge of
the property. Grant funds and other donations have enabled a local high school
artist to develop a series of signs on environmental education for this trail, with
an orientation toward K-8 grades. The trail will offer learning opportunity stations
and signage will help children explore the many and varied wildlife of the N.C.
Piedmont. A mockup of one of the planned signs is provided as Attachment 2.
3. Investigation of Maintenance and Management of Former Hay Fields
As instructed by the Board, staff met with representatives of the agricultural
community and the staffs from Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water
Conservation to explore whether there is a viable alternative to using a tractor
and attachment (included in the current year capital project funding) to
periodically clear the former hay fields — including the scenic vista portion of the
property from New Hope Church Road north toward the farmstead. Staff was
asked to explore the possibility of animal / livestock in this capacity.
After several meetings and discussions, it is staff's recommendation that one of
two options (or a combination of the two) be pursued:
a) Putting the fields not used by the park (including the vista) back into hay
production; and/or
b) Using prescribed burns in certain portions of the park to create wildflower
meadows or"Piedmont Prairie."
Staff looked at both goats and cattle grazing as an option for maintaining the hay
fields. While the use of goats in parks is becoming a viable and popular option for
eliminating unwanted vegetation, goats are better suited to shrubs and vegetative
cover as opposed to grasslands. Goats also tend to be used most often for
smaller areas, such as clearing old playground areas (as recently done in
Durham).
Grazing of beef cattle was another option explored, and the County has an
existing arrangement with an adjoining farmer on the future Northeast District
Park site for grazing of beef cattle. However, that site is an expansion of grazing
land for existing cattle located on adjoining land, which already has adequate
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
5
animal housing and animal waste disposal on the farm. To introduce beef cattle
at Blackwood Farm would require a farmer to move and rotate the cattle off and
on the fields. The animals would need to have housing, and an animal waste
system would need to be constructed and installed. If there is no local farmer to
take on these duties, someone would need to be hired to manage the animals.
There is also the potential for cattle and human interaction, which brings public
health concerns. In summary, the introduction of beef cattle was found to create
significant increases in cost and create the potential for public health issues at
the park. Having animals from other locations demonstrated at the park for short
periods of time was noted by the staffs as a possible alternative.
Within a few growing seasons, the former hay fields could be put back into grass
production with the needed soil amendments (typically, the addition of lime and
fertilizer). Agricultural staff feels that this is the most practical use of these fields
and one that will reinvigorate the scenic vista on the property. One local farmer
has expressed interest in managing the fields for hay if this option is selected,
although other farmers would be solicited as well.
Staff remains interested in creating a wildflower meadow and perhaps a
"Piedmont Prairie" in a portion of the former fields, both as a pilot project and
another park amenity. Information on Piedmont Prairies is provided as
Attachment 3. Organizations with strong conservation backgrounds and ethics,
such as Duke Forest, Triangle Land Conservancy and the NC Botanical Garden,
all use prescribed burns that are carefully managed and well-planned as a forest
and field management technique. Staff in the County's Parks Division have been
trained in the proper techniques and the County Forest Ranger has also
indicated a willingness to help with a prescribed burn. Staff would propose to
begin with a small area on the interior of the park as a pilot project in 2018.
4. Farmhouse Renovations
The historic farmhouse, now known as the Strayhorn-Blackwood House, is a
vernacular frame dwelling built in 1827, enlarged in 1840 and again ca. 1910. It
has a present floor area of approximately 1,800 square feet of heated space on
two floors. The house is currently in stable condition but has undergone
numerous exterior and interior alterations between the 1950s and 1980s that
have marred its historic character. Significant work is now required to prevent
deterioration that will be costly to repair in the future. Existing mechanical and
electrical systems are outdated and inadequate.
Staff has assessed the structure and developed an RFQ to restore the house to
return the exterior and interior appearance to the period of about 1920-1930.
Current plans call for it to be used as a historic house museum and history
exhibit facility, to complement the numerous historic farm buildings restored
between 2007 and 2010. Proposals will be obtained from qualified architectural
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
6
teams with special background and experience in historic preservation and
restoration of comparable structures. This is a significant historic property that is
eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Planning and design work will take place in early-mid 2018, with actual
restoration work planned for late 2018/early 2019. All work on the house will be
carefully coordinated with the proposed site work and facility improvements
elsewhere in the park.
5. Nature/Learning Center
The master plan for Blackwood Farm Park has, from the beginning, envisioned a
"Learning Center" or "Nature Center" where nature programs could be held and
exhibits displayed.
However, the scope and size of the structure was left for future determination by
the Master Plan Committee. There is a wide variety of styles that fall into this
category of facility, ranging from small rustic wooden structures with a few fixed
exhibits and an indoor/outdoor classroom, to much more elaborate buildings with
classrooms, large exhibits and hands- on demonstration areas (such as at Reedy
Creek Nature Preserve in Mecklenburg County and Blue Jay Point in Wake
County).
It is expected that the park construction and design team will develop alternatives
for this facility for future decision as a part of their work. It is important to note
that a larger indoor facility will almost certainly exceed the park construction
budget in the CIP, which was based on a smaller, rustic facility that might include
a classroom and perhaps restrooms.
If there is interest in pursuing a more-comprehensive type of nature center, the
potential may exist for partnerships with other non-profit or private entities. Staff
has already been approached by two organizations about the potential for
participating in the center's construction and programming, and there may be
other organizations which have needs that could be met in partnership with the
County for a larger nature center at the park.
Staff proposes to explore these possibilities in the next several months and have
possible options for partnership ready when the design alternatives are
completed and ready for Board consideration. It should also be noted that, if a
more-comprehensive center is found desirable, that this component of the park
could be pulled out and made a stand-alone future project.
Please let me know if you have any questions, or I may provide more information
prior to the next planned review in January/February.
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
.
I I Attachment 1 7
/ I I I I
/ / I I I I I I
/ / I
/ \ I I I � � � Possible
I I I I I I Parks Operations Base
/////VZ , ' '// 71 4
// - ,) ,,, ,/// /4
Footprint
/� V // f
■
i/�®C \ , r,' %/ ` Possible Parks
I/rj�i / Picnic �� \\office Footprint
/ / Sheltep
/ / ///,;,,r#7
. .. .. �/� Community /I�� ��
/ ( �If '""""""""/'„ Gardens /%//
��r / Possible JO /i !� (t.7 nc) j �/ // ��
1,j� j/ / � o �i/i/r �j' %///� // �
{1l / Plcnplc Shelter or ! / // �% %%i� /�\Z�
// r/ / Am hltheater a ////,t r/rrrrr /j Q old ".. \
�� �� / Location //////�'�� Roadbed■%/� �� j / // // ej earn Trail �' r,.
✓/���Rest.Rm. ���� Center Service
�4 Facility /--V �� � // Playgrou r d — _ i Vehicles
' �� \l�„ ' ���� rr, � /i ' 'r
Only
Y \ Multi-Purpose\ / / r
\ Field \ /jid %/%/ • '
Possible uses- r
\ultimate Frisbee, \ . i �//4 °r -�� /®, / , A
Dog Park \, /J/" /� �`/r// .. //�, . a' A Open Field / / � , \
/„/ �� ,///GG, 1/ Poss�nle use r���,�� ®
f /� r;�W OverFlow Parking, �� �/ ®�
��� �i �� ��^" — — — c°mm°°nvcame°In %l�� �� 'e�
L /�//� �///� o w j\ Demo Area 9. / A, `;,/,W��
t'''
�r �
i
I if %f» `/ /
i
/ /
%fi ,r''j� Oltl— ®r Roadbed \\f Z'/#' i/,..� Trail 2°
r.; p,� Preserve� / ,-.-Iter Vista. AI 1
IjShelter / / °II I
/�
Overlook I /
oo"Are
� Shelter wl
Rest Room/
M-CAFE
ry "Future" Blackwood Farm Park
Departti ent rEatr6r au it nt,. ✓ti$
���' Adopted Master Plan ,,
A�r�c�u➢Rr�a Pub it a.pY R.r+atrarrv�w;
March 3, 2011
Attachment 2 8
LF
t � ,, �wrraZ��r�����ar�r�� f,�a cw�^e*u���a�� n�a �rr �����%%O,i� ��/ /,III/ ", sec rrxrz r home ra iarir i �
.
w
to / �� ��
! Vii, UGTet1a p ovi e a safe tome
a gy p e s. Flu la.hs it l
II (1111111 III II I J I
", �1 c w dli£ xi� p b m3 [ meters at c.11 P aPt wrd `' PI
, '''111'''''` v %/
,y
�$ E uc eli ai e�laa / / �i -Netted C .' h If b .
Ji rl Slavd�rs(Fall) {,1 j -mac1,1,a, arn l _� wr -F at Feet,(Chain-r da''E- s ,�a J ( s d TL,ralle day.-- e�'"a .r. ti r,•",P O'4�4 m - ,� rsey1 F =g�'u l i I l a a /I � �// �1��ad �T�l�e � l/�t /7)(///' - ' r I II 1 111111,
/
r/ i t �,� y , v 1 '4v iY/w' w (✓ Drofo �Ji�1 , 1�
f
�� � yG ��,�+ � /✓�a,,yi " i'����� �1�//U�arra,%�/�y '� �r a/
U",,,� � rn d h tnru�t, �
,,A 4, awr r.�.a'oH- RwrvaV°h i�er%x «,yaY aeY na�a,m e,�.hry 8 .w.
a „
� � Y� vy �� ai, �4
aM
I f//{ m /wog Yin a /
�'n,,/,,n,luw..,...
II
Pollinator paintings will be placed into the wooden 18 inch "honeycombs"below.
9
111,111 I, � IIIIII 1111 1 1 111011111 0110,1100001,00010,11,11 01,11 100,111 ill 00 0 0010 1000000000010000011111011100 00000000000000o0000 0,1, Hilo IIIIIIIIII000000000000001000000000m00000000000000IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII01 110
0101011 1 1101010 0 0000000,1
/
�
Ie„,,, r le„,',„ 111(7
% ; - II�% � �/f /ii ill III(
111' �. r,, iN �°11111 BU"" mfr I° J 00 �'/ I( , 111111 Hi 10011
1 11011 1000111 111111011101 ,,0 00 r``,
0101011 1000000 1111100001100 Hi 1 1110111 1111100011 11 111101011 101110'4 %- i, HI
11 111 111 1100111 11 VV0011111110010011011111111111111111111111111110111110111111110111110011111111111111111 01110 I° Ill 01011101111101111111 III 1
01001011°1111110 111
010001111011 1111 1 010 1111111 0111 I .„„•0 •00
0110 1 00010 111111111111111111 1114 1111111 0 /, /4 / 1
�1aLlldN a�f �i 111 ���
11111111 1
i 111114 itINO11111111gi III I)1 1 1111111 111 HI
1111110111001 0 ji 110 pill 11 00 11011 pi
00001111 000000100011011101111100 00000000001u0001 1 1/M" � I b�
1101 1 II 00111011 100010111 11111 01
lN II 10 N5 ) 1° ,
The following provides information on progress toward the"Discovery Trail” at Blackwood
Farm Park. In the late Nannie Blackwood's honor, visitors will be greeted by "Nannie", the
mascot frog. A local artist created "Nannie" and the original artwork that will guide visitors
and students along the trail with thought provoking questions or comments about each
' ,' :' station. Whimsical signage and activities at the stations will teach visitors about wetlands
/��� - `"" and aquatic animal habitat, river basins, soils, water quality and pollinators. Trail visitors 4 4'
' 44000
can check out a self-guided tour brochure that will correlate with the nine trail stations using
readymade lessons to follow.
The Plan of Action is to provide environmental education for youth by creating a child-friendly trail in the park.
The Orange Soil and Water Conservation Board approved $5,000 for this environmental educational trail. The
NC Foundation of Soil and Water has donated $2,500. The Piedmont Conservation Council (PCC) is
continuously seeking grant funds for this worthwhile project.
10
loitu
1,111,1111,,,,,
...,1,11,,,,,,)1,,,,i,t,,,,,itoolirlDil,,,,,,,,I,,,.
P''','M Y,,1','',,',,'f,I,,,,,00101 40,,,,'0,1,,,,,;(,,A,""Ilt,i11111'11,ic
10',0),_,,,111:, 1,,Y■,',.,,,.1,00110 '.1 CE kl,C,, ,,"1,11k,'",-,k.1.'11,,'(II,41 I,,",,,'1(..r,.,',..i N N4).'.I'.(;.....4..dir'll'Iff 1 l'o4 1,Ilk'."I'llill''')" ,)1101111,1!.$1,1,,1(1'41'4,'',;,:,,,,111,11,1,1)1(1,111,1,1,1,,,11,11,,Ii',,,,,',1,i,',,,"'",„'ll',1',1!11,1,',1;,:',,,,,,:1111111,111)11:',,;441,ji)/1) 1,)1,,,
1,l'ire; IL,,.11.„R,,ik lo:".411 1,,,,r',,,-Isi1 ,,1 II'',,,,,,,,,,,,'y, Pk,,,.1.-.,,,,,,kod ,II,,,i.',„i-i .11.'4,,v irlf.)
',4.1.'..',..i ," '1,„1,,,,,,,,.,,,,„„,,,,,' ,„.. '111':'..4.1.)4,l'1 icl,„cr., "II.11,,■,,,,c-I,,c1.1 ik"1, S1 1'.,',II./d 4' '..rt'Ailt 1U 1[1
',':,';',',',',!,:::,1;,,:„k,i'il'ii(iii,er,-'k''''''/' „,, izI',',!'il!hilloolion■"'. 1
'V lilt' L;Hi-,IkL,i,,Lki. 1 ,111,,I Ilie,u r,L ,,in.,, iisik'' ,'11'.`,'',',..',.;','ili i,,,;I-t'.',,,'',' ' .'".'4:,,,r,,,,„,,,,,,,,,1/,,,,k"--
''''' 1'1,1I'',111‘''''1'1'111'11‘111'11'1'''''''''I'l''ll':I'C'I''!1'':111'1111'1111lll,11l::''''1' ,"pH 'II=,“11)
''',:r„;,%',,,11'1:::',1,1,' ,,l't;'''1):''11,1'''''"I'.u."“ ,...,,,.,..:',.'s'' ,, ,?.",;;;.1.1'..'1',i,I1'11111111111111111):,1',1!::,1:1":::'1',I,''■',6hil,111,104",,,',1,1,11',:!'"'„ :','....„ 1",1,1, 1 11,11.1,gil..1,,, rwi,,,,,,,,,,,, iftlt,,,,,tt.',,,.1 .,',[ri, ,,111, i-1,g t,1 k..)'r-■Ill l'I',1i.(1"1 I
i. ,,III/1,Ip'''''','„'111;11;11.1!1:':: '''''',',' '' ;Iii,,.„1,11,1.,.''''“ii„lk!,!:,'",:,',,',,',,,1,11111"',''' i.,r.:;,,,,,,,.;:z;;, .,),,, 1,;,,,,,k, ,,,,,, 1,,.,z ik,k,,,'I.Lik,4,,,1 ,,111,..I.,i,sk l',,,,,,,,,,,,I-,,1 ik k,,,,L,,,,,,Liiikkki'ki'sk t fi,i',,i 1.1 t i)1 ii"t',-,,,1(1 t, '''',,,,iti,',',,,,',„,,'Nt,11,111),,,,11,,'''':',1,„„,,),1/,,,',,,,',,,,',,:,:':,;',,,1!11,11)1,11,1,11,11,,I,1,1,,,i,,',,,i,,„1,11'1,,',11,';',,,',■:;';',,,',1,1',,,„,.
,., ,,,, 1,„,,A,1,01,1,1111111,1,,,toilln1(■;1'1'1'111,, '-',,''',';',.,:',,':,,',' ,7-"-- ,j(, ., , - ,,,,,,,t ,15,1 1..,, ,,,u 0'1,1 1[,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 1 i.,'...-,,,, 1",',,J,1■,1()11,4, it'll t,,I l't't.s ils
.1.„,,,',...t,,,,'itl„',.,,,:',VII II&''L i IF II 11,-).:i., ));■re10:t)),),)) 11 l',C(.1,...,:..r,, 11,, 1,,
I l't 4,.'t,)III.i,t.`,,,l'II 1 IA)I,,ur ii-cli,,
;- ,, ,, ,„,11, . ,,, ,,,
I k kkIg.”Ill I....-1 r nil 0,I).). -,,),,,,),,,,,,/),)11,,,, ,,si 1 t,,,,r,,,, •,(„,,(;11 511"1,C t'ILI'. lilt.).),11
v,„,,,,,,,,11,ti
, '0f101` '„))1111,111,!!!),),,,, , - . .
'■,0' '.,),',0 A111P ''),,. ))',I101'' "Ilh'11!!'1111,))1:1' ),-.°-
1 , 1 ,,)1):: /-,111'11)1;■0 ,,
Ii II ,n,.,„,„,1,i rd,„ii),t,,,,,,,I,,,, 44 I/I,'II k4',III IIIIIIII I.I.4AIIIII IIIIIIII),II II RI
q,,,,11111,,1,11111111:1,111,,,,,
''',:,),1„,,,,1,1j,1,■,g,l,p',1,1,1,1,11111,,IIIIIIii1111,11111111■1111,11 ,,,,,5,"' ,.,i,,,,,.,,,,,,,„„,,,,,,,,,,,,,,n,,, Hir
l'Illl''1',11'1''1,',''''',',''I'',',1';'11!1'1'1/,',,'"'''''‘1' , ,,,'''''';,,"''',.', 11:11111111111111'1111111111, ■,"!',;;I'll',11111E,,,,11'1111,11,',1„''',1',',',",'1':'1\''1"3"':(V,, „,"'"'" "„,,„,„„„,,,,, j„„u,,
•,i III'Ii 1 1,2 I,',i'L,,,,,')..Jr,. 4..).co.,'11,'1‘..,',,,, ".,,V,,,,,P(41 INCI,CII"N 11:=',',",. t,.,,tir
'1,1111,1g{,';'''''' ,,,p,„ "",f, !,1111111,"'",11P,":,"";,"Rd111,"1:111,,,I;1,,,111111111,y,'„1,;,",',',",""11""?1,1,1,1111111;,1,;;;,'"„IIIIIIIIP„,,,,l','„„„„„,,„„,„„„' ,, 11■",','!"'ik', :::,,
1 ,if, I , 1 ,, I',, , ,, ,,,,,I,,1,,,,,,,,,,,,f,1,, ,,,I it,,,,,,,,,11,.' 11.111AitirL,,
11"11',,1,1,1,11;,:',1,111:111011,1!„1,111,',11'il!!:!'(1111'11'"I'llh!11111111111111,1,1,1„1,1,1,111,11:,1„,1„1,1,0::1111::111111"''0 0000011110Vill,I,.1, n',,y r,,,,,,.,„, ,,I'll',A rI'Lk ' '''''''''''. ''''' ''''°' '1' '""" ''''
"1(4,i,
,, ,,,,i,,,,i,,,,1,erlif,„..;.r,i-,p 0:11,2..).:),a(11(.,), -.)-iii III',).',I1.01.0,11,1.1,1.0))
,),,,,1111,..-IF ht.y ligtiri incl., I iii,,,i,11,iikI I;ii a ik s'siii zi,,,,,,L,„',11,,,-1,;,,,,, NIIAll'IL,","
W.,,i',■■•,'I l',t'u IF c i' .ib',..I 1,,i 4,' l fik,"111C.,I RI I i l'^,:.111'Ile lin,'4,,'I PdILC it ri-....),'..154"r.44 ,,,''l ,),',',.,'I,, 1,....i:4',','''46".„..,,
II-...... ...444...4...4.1-rut,,,,,,ii.,,. 11i,11,,,,,,,,pitr,-,IN wr 1;11,,,!:»r r,,,,,,,E,,:!.,111rt.
i,, 7,it r,,r,'''
' '„1,11:11',11)R1:1:1;l1111,1': p/i; ,, ,si.j,;,;,,,,,,,,,,_A(4,,,„,,,,,,err r 4 0.-t imorfet.....S,/..,...'4.0.4. 02,,,,,00 llioto,,,,p,,,,6:,, ,",„,,..,i,'Y ,,,,,,,,,,
,i ' '1'''''', '', Ir.10'..',Igr(444.1 k41II if" ,,;,,,.0,,,,,,,I et"?11,;,tlr e i./.1et,0;drr4,,,,,y trri,;.S.;:,, 01(,,Y4I4 01,11,,,is II ,/,
.:,,,/, ,,;,'Illi'lli '' ''',11'1'i''''.,, 2I,/'': '''''ll''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ..----'m''''' . ''' ''':■,''"fL',.,,,,,..—,,, 1, ::''''''''.;;,,,",, „,;,,,, ,...,•''
,,, ;:".',A,;', ,:ii,';',1:1;1'1'111111,1'i,i,:i,1111111,11,1,,,,i1,),16;ni,,, ,,,,,,,,,i,',1,,,,,,,,,,,,:1,,,,,,
.5;d:,,,,,k, ■ ,,,,„ ,1! ' 1,11, ,,14,,r,r,,,,, 1,11„„gii,,,,,,,,,,,,....,14,4..1,,,,,,,„,„ginano„,,tort,,,,j„,„1„,„,,,,,,),,,,j,,,,,,,,,,, .i,,,,,,,„ro.,,„44,,,,,,,.", ,,,,,„,,,,,,,, ,_„,,..„; ,,,'
Attachment 3 11
1 99 /
i[iiiiii i0iiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiii� (�. P f 1111111� i ������� f
Where the Buffalo Used to Roam
Historical
landscapes accounts explorers found open
n th the region of the Carolinas, long , �S, ,, ' �f
with bison and elk. These open landscapes may have been primarily .rr f ;„ °°t �� �„
maintained through fire by Native Americans in order to drive game, '°"'°°° �°,w'A,,'P"^' ""�
records indicate t at these maintain
assadomin td o eninepeweret historical � � " ' '7 T 74
openings ro ' :' 1' l "d �'�
important part of the Carolina Piedmont region. Many of the plant and ,e i„,/„„1„/,, ? ,47,4,aR , o
animal species indicative of this ecosystem are considered ,, 1' ;";11 da"°,�/r,t ^,,, ,,e / ,' °' ' ,
"disturbance dependent,"requiring periodic fire or grazing to maintain "1,A , "�t
the health of the overall ecosystem. By the 1800's,Europeans had � � - � � ",
displaced the Native Americans and settled into the Piedmont, ,,q n , ,.oA4
�h d , p -:M ', rr °•
converting prairies into pastures or allowing the open land to succeed \,,,,,,,, 1 4 q �
qrk wti ,'rt°' " }. \ rt"� , ,
into forest. Today,as a natural community,the Piedmont Prairie
ecosystem has almost disappeared from our landscape. C. 1718 map showing"Grand Savane"of Piedmont
�� % ', „ ; ,Y From Roadsides to Prairies ono,
oo 110,4, ilir„„ ,lo
viii �, ��ou!i"�� �� � Since 1994,Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
�' y�� ''/'r� 7� '' , e� Department's Division of Natural Resources(DNR)has been
�� �l t actively involved in the protection,management,and restoration 111� / of Piedmont Prairie habitat sites and the protection of rare,prairie
(,111111,0 j !i� associated plant species. The program began with a collaboration III,1111,' 1 °� Z
, � i� between the County,the USFWS' NCDOT,and Professor L.S.
/ atr f� r
� 1111 111111111 Barden of UNC3-Charlotte for a NCDOT mitigation project
ii ; ° � i ) ,,,,,, ' 1 le resulting in transplanting the federally endangered Helianthus
����'�°i �f ,! 'w' J �O �� �' schweinitzii(Schweinitz's sunflower)from a NCDOT road-
r
' i ) rf widening •site to two protected county-owned sites. These two
l�il �f i` prairie restoration sites,known as Latta Prairie and McDowell
PIODO11111' Ill 01(1111111,01Ai,1111,1101101 ill 111111.111111:21111 011 11111'111 )1/11. ; 1, 1h111111111111111111111111111111 1;11111 / Prairie,were the initial focus and foundation of the Division's
11111111111111"1111111111111"1111111111111 00001I1111S40,*;11' ''' 0i9 uioi' � ongoing Piedmont Prairie Restoration Program.
1111111111111 III 1„1, 10 IN:1;1 „1111111111111110111 ,f Schweinitz's Sunflower 0 Y" 1?1-1 ;�rd " "'r /
r
,t?'0'
More than Sunflowers and Grasses ��1 �r 7 (4,1 1 L �� ru� 0,,
The Prairie Restoration Program has since expanded to include six additional fl m
properties,and restoration activities at the first two prairie sites have expanded as well. I o, i
The six additional Piedmont Prairie sites were identified by the presence of mafic soils, J;�1, aka<� r ' .11
native grasses,and rare prairie plants including Helianthus schweinitzii, Echinacea 4 ,r' �� °�4 .II 11111.0 1111111.. ./laevigata(smooth coneflower), and Symphyotrichum georgianum(Georgia aster). ° �iq 4 1 sae
The Prairie Restoration Program later expanded from a rare and endangered plant
w , � r ",' ' y�ll„ ��'
community focus to a comprehensive,adaptive conservation strategy known as the r,�a mi� �„ ( 0, i rrr �,eA
Management of Early Successional Habitats(MESH)Program,including management � ` 1 or
goals for common native plants and target wildlife species. Agricultural fields were fit`”" � �� �''' �,,
1Q �` L C
designated for conversion to warm-season native grasslands utilizing funding from o,, , , '$1i q�� 1 ,
NRCS4 WHIP'contracts. Another warm-season native grass community restoration If. II a �Y4f vII ,, q
site,Dodge City Prairie(McDowell Nature Preserve),was created through the USFWS i t '' ���/4 p'%, , , ,
Partners Program beginning in 1999. Several of Mecklenburg County's high quality ,";,, ;)0'
'f a, »,° 1 11
prairie sites are small utility right-of-ways or roadsides that have been continuously "Y„ ', 4 7a,, i R,yi ' '
disturbed and harbor remnant rare plant populations. Mecklenburg County DNR has ,. ', ,,'';t „ ' 4 � �)�ti'
either purchased these sites or assumed their management. Smooth Coneflower
12
IIIIIIIIIII IllllllllllllllllllllllllllPIIIiii """""""""""""""""""""""'
•
• °���ir���rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrR
�e o t ' rairie Restoration Pro ram
Seeds and Beyond '. "
il,;:,`-,4 ,... , -,.. - ' ' ...1., s'.-, . k ,
One of our primary projects is collection of locally "' `<
native forb and grass seed and propagation within ,_. ,yxs
Mecklenburg County prairie restoration sites. A ?`, �',,-.,1 4,4 q , , ; -t '
greenhouse for propagation of these plants and several r1 1� "3 , ,� o,
rare species was initially funded by the USFWS Partners +" ' � ':' �' ' ''
Program in 2004. Other current and future components of i,= ". ` `1"
g p
the program include:migration and breeding season avian # - . _
point counts, avian nest success studies, breeding and
non-breeding season bird banding,reptile and amphibian •4.4.-P- '','"",,f.•,..;,• ,�`:,1•.e-.4i `
coverboard and PVC pipe refugia monitoring,rare plant ' ', ,' k' ,' r °1
population monitoring,exotic species removal,prescribed '4
,-,,...r.
f A
..�. 4�
s,z: '" '',r4r
'
4:":,. wi J' . k ��. f
..........id bu rnm g,white-tailed dee r surveys,s mall and medium-sized ' ....�=r`•;^. ,?;p,", � ;p `:,�'<p-,:'w�-:,, >v,l..f`. "1;"i`�.: 3', ':
A,
mammal surveys,invertebrate inventories,vegetation ,. ,, , :;. ;' _ ..x.0 ��.
-
composition monitoring,and research into improved _
propagation techniques. .
NC Wildflower Preservation Society at Latta Prairie
This Grassland is for the Birds
In spring 2001,fauna baseline data collection began at McDowell
Prairie,and an ambitious grassland expansion project partially funded by•
the NC Plant Conservation Program and the USFWS Partners Program was
begun to enlarge the prairie restoration area to provide a larger,
unfragmented native grassland habitat for declining grassland bird
' species. A 150-acre contiguous grassland and shrubland habitat has now
r `
evolved from the initial 15-acre prairie restoration site. Comparison of
lIIJJJJJJaJJJJJJ faunal data is now in progress and changes in avian species composition
and breeding status are already evident. Species targeted by DNR's
management of grassland habitat include grasshopper sparrow, savannah
sparrow,vesper sparrow,eastern meadowlark,northern bobwhite,
Loggerhead Shrike American woodcock,loggerhead shrike,northern harrier,wild turkey,and
11111111iiiiiiii g ���� !!!!!!a"""" white-tailed deer.
-1 � tonal
act Sheet ` ,.
For more information contact: III
Conservation Science Office ,;,,
9401 Plaza Road Extention '
Charlotte, NC 28215
704-432-4531
www.harkandrec.com '' ,,;,, -=-;-,''\'- >s,. !ti `k•
Illllllllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu ,epleer l er 2006
Prescribed burn at McDowell Prairie
Abbreviations
.e 1:1oiibur •'Co'unt `
Park ar.d ."....a.ion
'USFWS—United States Fish and Wildlife Service
2NCDOT—North Carolina Department of Transportation
3UNC°University ofNorth Carolina
R 00 fikscr,e4- 4NRCS=Natural Resource Conservation Service
'WHIP—Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program