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16 <br />such as the Orange Community Housing and Land Trust (OCHLT) or Habitat for <br />Humanity to ensure affordability in perpetuity. <br />3. Examine strategies to preserve affordability through preservation of existing <br />neighborhoods. <br />E. Parks, Recreation, and Open Space <br />Objective: Provision of adequate parks and recreation opportunities and open space <br />preservation. <br />Existing recreation facilities, both public and private, serve the planning area fairly well. Desire <br />has been expressed for a trail system in the area, including pedestrian/bicycle access to Seven <br />Mile Creek Preserve from the planning area when the preserve is opened for public use in the <br />future. Additionally, the desire for neighborhood "pocket parks" has been expressed. <br />Recommendations regarding parks, recreation, and open space are as follows: <br />1. The planning area should include small neighborhood parks with playgrounds to augment <br />Efland-Cheeks Park & Community Center and private facilities. A possible means to <br />achieve neighborhood parks and provide in-town recreation alternatives and community <br />destinations is to require their dedication when new residential development is approved. <br />Alternatively, as part of the required open space in a new residential development, <br />developers could be required to provide a small park within new subdivisions that a <br />Homeowner's Association would maintain. However, private parks would be available <br />only to residents of the particular subdivision in which they are located. <br />2. A trail system along McGowan Creek should be planned and implemented. The trail <br />might have to cross the creek in several locations due to the proximity of existing homes <br />near the creek but this could be accomplished using pedestrian bridges. The following <br />recommendations are made to encourage trail development: <br />• Indemnification of the landowner from lawsuits <br />• Provision of a small tax incentive for the landowner <br />• Prohibition of motorized vehicles on the trail <br />• Assurances that local government will maintain the trail <br />3. A greenway along the Eno River, east of the planning area, has been proposed. If the <br />greenway is implemented, any future traiUgreenway along McGowan Creek should tie in <br />to the planned Eno River greenway. <br />4. When the planned Seven Mile Creek Nature Preserve opens for regular public use, a <br />pedestrian bicycle connection from the planning area should be provided to the Preserve. <br />Planning for such a connection should occur as part of the planning process for the <br />Preserve. <br />74 <br />