Agenda - 04-13-2010 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

. 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 13, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Proposed Master Plan for Future New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm DEPARTMENT: Environment, Parks and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Recreation (working title) ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Vicinity Map David Stancil, 245-2510 2) Recommended Master Plan Lori Taft, 245-2660 • Map Marabeth Carr, 960-3880 • Report with Committee Charge Rich Shaw, 245-2510 3) Photos of Selected Site Features PURPOSE: To receive a presentation of the proposed master plan for the future New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm, as created by the appointed Master Plan Committee. BACKGROUND: In 2006, the Board of Commissioners appointed a 14-member committee to develop a proposed master plan for the 152-acre New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm (working title). The future park is located near the intersection of New Hope Church Road and NC 86 between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill (see attached vicinity map). As noted at the time of purchase, the property was acquired to be land-banked for future park use. The proposed master plan was completed in 2007 and provided to the Board as an informational item in May 2008, but it has not yet been discussed by the Board. Since the time of purchase, stewardship and management of the property have been conducted by staff. Emergency stabilization repairs to the outbuildings and farmhouse (and repairs to the pond dam) have been conducted over the years, as funding permitted. Additional stabilization to the barn and house roof was authorized in 2009, with bids to be solicited and stabilization work planned for the summer of 2010 (using previously-appropriated funds). The property is gated with signage noting it as a future park site that is not open to the public at this time. The only activities allowed at the site have been public safety training events, and two special festivals in 2003 and 2007. The Master Plan Committee included Commissioners Barry Jacobs and Alice Gordon, representatives from several County advisory boards, and other interested parties. The committee met on seven occasions in 2006-07, including site visits to other similar-themed parks and an information-gathering phase from members and staff to inform the deliberations. The charge to the committee is included in the Master Plan attachment. The proposed master plan takes a low-impact approach to address recreation and to protect the agricultural heritage, historic character of the building complex, scenic vistas and