HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda-03-08-2018 12-5 - Information Item - Memorandum - Updated Lands Public Access Table and Map Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation
PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: (919) 245-2510
Fax: (919) 644-3351
MEMORANDUM
To: Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager
From: David Stancil, DEAPR Director
Kim Livingston, Land Conservation Manager
Date: February 22, 2018
Re: Updated Lands Public Access Table and Map
As requested by a Board petition in late 2017, we have updated information on
the County’s future park, nature preserve and open space landholdings that do
not have public access. Attached is a table with several such locations, their
status, and what would be needed to accommodate public access. There is also
a map of these locations. Some of the sites are very small dedications received
(mostly in the 1980’s and 1990’s) of open space through new subdivision
development.
This table and map updates a similar report provided on September 6, 2016. As
can be seen in the final column, signage has been placed in several locations
that addresses the lack of formal public access and the fact that access is and
has been occurring on some of these properties on “volunteer” trails or paths
created by other persons in the past. One result of the September 2016 review of
this topic was the creation of “enter at your own risk” signage to alert members of
the public to the lack of managed public open space conditions.
Provision of more formal public access can be accomplished, although as noted,
this will mean making provision for parking, safety and a higher level of
monitoring and maintenance. These improvements will require funding, which in
many cases does not yet exist.
Please let us know if we may provide any additional information.
1
Orange County – Parks and Open Space Landholdings Without Public Access (February 2018)
Headwaters Tract (60 acres)
(formerly part of Greene Tract; south of
Eubanks Rd.; landlocked)
Old roadways as
informal trails, other
volunteer trails.
North & east
boundary marked;
no signage abutting
Greene Tract
• Signage (allowed uses,
directions, hazards)
• Remove known hazards
(home site, barbed wire?)
• Complete assessment of
volunteer trail system that
has been created over
the years, delete
unsuitable trail portions
and realign unsafe
sections
Posted new “at own
risk” signage at entry
points.
Develop plan for site.
Survey underway for
pedestrian access
easement from Lizzie
Lane across Greene
Tract as per prior
direction.
Seven Mile Creek Nature Park
(Upper Eno Nature Preserve - 306
acres) (between Mount Willing and
Dimmocks Mill Roads)
Loop trail and
benches in place for
eastern section of
the property only
Boundaries marked,
trail signage in place
• Parking area (to be
constructed winter/spring
2018)
• Add gate near parking
area
• Friends of Moorefields
MOA
• Trailhead sign w/ map
Complete plans
underway to allow
access near
Moorefields. Install new
signage, protective
buffers for sensitive
areas from trails.
McGowan Creek Nature Park (Upper
Eno Nature Preserve - 63 acres)
(US 70 west of Hillsborough)
Unimproved trail
roughed out for
eastern section of
the property only
Boundaries marked;
no trail signage
• US 70 access
improvements
• Parking area
• Trailhead sign w/ map
• Directional signs
• Remove known hazards
(home site, chimney)
Posted new “at-risk”
signage in advance of
construction / opening
(to occur after US 70
access improvements).
New Hope Preserve (50 acres)
(South of Hollow Rock Nature Park
along New Hope Creek)
Unimproved trail
only
Boundaries marked;
no trail signage
• Bridges and boardwalk in
flood prone areas
• Directional signs
• Coordination with Trinity
School & Durham County
Posted “at-risk” signs
and denote private
properties south of
Hollow Rock (narrow
County lands).
2
Fairview Park north (30 acres)
(Former landfill; north of the existing
County park facilities)
No existing trails No signage outside
of current park
• Site assessment of
former Town landfill,
master plan amendment
• Trash removal
• Hazards removal
Posted “at-risk”
signage. Restrict
access to northern area
(former landfill) until
mitigation. Signage
denoting landfill.
State-funded
assessment of old
landfill and what it
would take to remove
landfill trash/debris
currently underway.
Millhouse Road Park (79 acres)
(Includes interim Parks Operations
Base; temporary Eubanks SWCC. May
include future “Home Park”)
No existing trails;
portion of driveway
Boundaries marked;
no other signage
• Park master plan
• Park construction
Posted new “at-risk”
signage, until
construction and
opening.
Twin Creeks Park (95 acres)
(Old NC 86; Includes Jones Creek
Greenway section which is in use)
Jones Creek
Greenway (in use);
“volunteer” trails in
pine forest
Boundaries marked;
greenway signs only
• Park construction
• Hazards/trash removal
Posted “at-risk’ signage
at several entry
locations, note future
school facilities.
Northeast District Park (143 acres)
(Between Schley Road (N) and Mincey
Road (S); includes potential future
SWCC)
No existing trails Boundaries marked;
no other signage
• Park master plan
• Park construction
• Hazards/trash removal
Posted “at-risk’ signage
on property boundaries.
Property leased to
farmer for cattle
grazing. No access
recommended.
Dedicated Open Space (81 acres in
total)
(Within 21 subdivisions)
A few of these lands
have informal trails No
• Signage (allowed uses,
directions, hazards)
• Remove known hazards
(home site, barbed wire?)
Post “at-risk” signage
on case-by-case basis,
if property large enough
and can be accessed.
3
Northeast Park
Fairview Park
McGowan CreekNature Park
Seven Mile CreekNature Park
MillhouseRoad Park New HopePreserveTwinCreeks Park(Moniese Nomp)Headwaters Tract
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Orange County - Landholdings Without Public Access
²
Orange County DEAPR8/2/2016 (Updated 2/23/2018)OC 129Q O:\gishome\gisproj\land_resources\ParklandOpSpNotOpen.mxd
Future County Parks and Preserves
Dedicated Recreation & Open Space
Major streams
Parcel boundary
1 inch = 9,583 feet
4