Agenda - 02-11-2014 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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76 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 8- Economic, Health and Environmental Impacts of Parks and Recreation 8 4. Parks, Recreation and the Environment Many of our parks also include remnants of our In addition to the important role parks and recrea- past, such as former homesteads, old roadways, or a tion programs play in public health, parks also are an burial ground. These historically and culturally sig- important part of protecting our shared natural en- nificant areas can add a great deal to the visitors' vironment. Parks and open spaces constitute an im- interest and they provide opportunities for educa- portant part of the county's "green infrastructure." tional programs and site interpretation. In some As noted above, they help protect water resources cases they can add to the heritage tourism in the by filtering pollutants from streams, protect air qual- community. Examples of parks with historically- it Y Y b offerin g g p large wooded areas that help absorb significant amenities in Orange County include the airborne pollutants, and provide important breaks in former Patterson Mill dam in Duke Forest, the Piper- impervious surfaces and built areas to lessen the Cox House within Eno River State Park, the historic effect of reflective heat and the resultant impacts on Ayr Mount property managed by Classical American air quality and climate. Homes Preservation Trust, and the historic farm- Parks can also host a variety of flora and fauna. stead at Orange County Blackwood Farm. Most parks include undeveloped areas that sur- See appendix 8-1 for Endnotes round the athletic fields, picnic shelters, parking, and other facilities.The preservation of these "green spaces" can also help protect native plant and ani- mal species that have lost their habitat in surround- ing developed areas. These areas may include na- ture trails or they may be set aside as natural areas with no trails or other recreational amenities. Many of the areas located inside our parks and nature pre- serves are recognized as significant natural heritage areas by the North Carolina Department of Environ- ment and Natural Resources. These special areas include unique and exemplary terrestrial and aquatic habitats that critical for supporting im- portant animals, plants and ecosystems. As of 2009 there were 6,206 acres of Natural Heritage Areas in parks or other protected open space in Orange County.29 R 8-10