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

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97 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 10-Goals,Objectives,and Recommendations 10 Additional opportunities may exist overtime, such as C. The Vision II — We're Not an Island — the the New Hope Creek uplands, which is near the Importance of Planning and Coordinating Blackwood Division of Duke Forest (and two county with the Towns and Schools parks). Recommendation #4: Formalize and Build Support While the primary purpose of these nature preserves Structure for Multi-Partner Capital Facilities (with is the protection of important species of flora and towns,school systems,other partners) fauna and surface water quality, there are ways to A number of opportunities appear to exist for joint accomplish this priority while still managing and efforts to acquire land and develop facilities for fu- providing for public access. Each of these nature pre- ture parks and recreation. At a planning level, the serves should have designated public access areas Intergovernmental Parks Work Group provides a for hiking, primitive camping and wildlife viewing, mechanism for the local government elected boards, designed to minimize adverse impacts on the most- staffs and advisory boards to come together quarter- sensitive portions of the preserve. These preserves ly to explore matters of mutual interest, and this has may be an excellent location for more hiking and bik- facilitated several joint ventures. The County has a ing trails, which were identified as a priority in the history with its municipal partners in the funding, Community Needs Assessment survey. Equestrian land acquisition,and construction of park and recrea- trails may also be desirable,targeted at certain spots lion facilities, from Homestead Park and the Home- meeting the special needs of this recreational use. stead Aquatics Center, to the Adams Tract in Carrboro,to Southern Community Park, and the new The County should work to complete land acquisi- artificial turf field at Cedar Falls Park in Chapel Hill. lions necessary to complete or establish these na- The County has also made a significant investment in ture preserves, develop master plans for the public facilities in and around Hillsborough, and provided access areas at each location, and plan for the open- financial assistance to Mebane for Lake Michael Park. ing of these areas for public enjoyment. These facili- Little River Regional Park and Natural Area and the ties can be accomplished at very low cost, compared Hollow Rock Access Area (part of the New Hope to active recreation facilities, and are already Creek Preserve) are examples of collaboration with planned at two of the preserves listed above (New Durham County. Orange County and Durham County Hope and Upper Eno). The County should work with have operated Little River Park (parts of which are UNC and the NC Botanical Garden to ensure public owned by each county) for 10 years, working under access at the Jordan Lake Headwaters Preserve. an interlocal agreement. A similar arrangement is 1 anticipated at Hollow Rock, and the potential for col- laboration with the Town of Chapel Hill may exist for k the proposed Millhouse Road Park. In 2000, a "Joint Capital Funding for Parks" report was created for the Assembly of Governments,which ,a proposed methods and roles for joint capital funding .. of parks facilities among the towns and counties. It is suggested that this report be reconsidered for rele- vance given the likely greater potential for joint pro- jects in the future. Memoranda of understanding p' may be a vehicle for future joint capital funding to ensure that the needs of all jurisdictions are met. 10-7