Orange County NC Website
Issue Paper <br />Linear Park / Interim Trail to Morris Grove Elementary via Twin Creeks <br />February 10, 2009 <br />,Background <br />In late 2008, the Board asked staff to look into a linear park concept using some <br />of the existing funds for Twin Creeks Park from the 2001 Parks and Open Space <br />bond. In January 2009, a letter was received from the Chapel Hill Carrboro City <br />Schools (CHCCS) supporting the improvement of a "dirt trail" or path that exists <br />for walkers but not for children on bikes or in strollers. There is no trail, but staff <br />believes what is being referenced in the letter is the OWASA sewer line <br />easement, which was cleared several months back and is just now starting to <br />come back in grass. On January 22nd, several citizens spoke at the Board <br />meeting in support of a trail connecting to the school. <br />It should be noted that the two concepts above may not be the same. A linear <br />park typically connotes a more "finished" feel, with a paved trail over graded <br />subsurface base, landscaped shoulders and benches and/or picnic tables. A <br />natural surface, mulch or gravel trail may or may not involve the same <br />components. <br />The adopted Twin Creeks Master Plan [allay 2005) envisions two eventual trails <br />in this area — 1) a trail along the west side of Jones Creek that would be part of a <br />futu're Carrboro greenway system, and 2) a more formal school-to-neighborhood <br />connector trail (known as the "redline" trail), which conforms to the OWASA <br />easement in the middle of the property - but veers away from the easement at <br />both ends as it moves north to the school, and south towards to the planned park* <br />entry road. <br />The Town of Carrboro's Parks and Greenways Master Plan reflects a greenway <br />trail ' along Jones Creek. This plan was developed prior to Morris Grove <br />Elementary (and the Twin Creeks master plan), and does not reflect a connection <br />there. The Town currently has a consultant looking at connecting existing trails in <br />Lake Hogan Farms through intervening properties to Twin Creeks. <br />Approximately $1.48 million is unencumbered from the Twin Creeks project <br />budget. This includes prior appropriations for the Phase I park project design and <br />engineering, and stabilization work to the farmstead approved in June 2008. <br />Some of the remaining design and engineering funds could be redirected to a <br />trail project -(if changes to the approved project contract scope can be <br />negotiated), possibly increasing the available funds. The total amount includes <br />funds added to the Twin Creeks project budget from the Soccer Superfund. <br />Approximately $625,000 of that amount is included in the $1.48 million figure <br />above. <br />