2006 NS Contract - Legacy Research Assoc Cultural & Archaeological Survey New Hope Park Blackwood Farm

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N Roughly half of the property is wooded with pine and mixed -aged hardwoods. The land slopes from both the northern and southern boundaries (600 feet elevation) down toward the center of the tract where two streams flow at 530 feet elevation. The farmstead buildings are situated on a rise (560 feet) between the two streams. Two intermittent streams flow through the property and eventually into New Hope Creek, which runs less than one mile to the southwest. One of the streams feeds a three -acre pond. No areas of the property are within 100 -year floodplain. The property includes a number of open agricultural fields that continue to be used by a neighboring farmer for growing hay. About half of the site remains forested, including a dense 15 -acre pine stand in the northwest corner. South of the house, the land slopes down to one of the streams, then rises gradually to the southern property boundary. The southwest corner of the property is wooded, rocky and has fairly steep slopes. An important natural area (significant for plant species/ communities associated with basic soils and rock outcrops) is located in those woodlands and extends onto the adjacent undeveloped property. A Master Plan Work Group for the proposed "New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm" will convene in June 2006 to develop a master plan for the site by early 2007. The findings from the Cultural and Archaeological Survey will be provided to this work group for its use in designing the park. It is expected that the park master plan will accommodate only facilities with a "passive" or low- impact design (i.e., no active playing fields) that will enable the site to retain most, if not all, of the agricultural, historic and scenic components of the property. 11. Description of Work The County is requesting a cultural and archaeological survey for use in planning the proposed "New Hope Park at Blackwood Farm." For the purposes of this project, County staff has divided the park property into three main areas (See Figure 3 – Blackwood Farm Tract Areas for Evaluation). 1) Area 1 (approximately 24 acres) includes portions of the site that may be significantly disturbed for the construction of new facilities —one or more buildings and their associated driveways and parking areas. Work in Area 1 should include a Surface and Subsurface Investigation to locate and evaluate the probable significance and extent of any archaeological or historically significant remains in this area and to avoid any damage of cultural resources by the proposed park development. 2) Area 2 (approximately 14.5 acres) includes the sections of the site that are most likely to contain historic and /or archaeological resources. This area includes the farmstead, historic roadbed, possible cemetery, and other areas, which according to local tradition may have contained structures at one time. Work in this area should include a full Surface and Subsurface Investigation to evaluate any sites or potential sites prior to future ground disturbance and to avoid any damage of cultural resources by the proposed development 3