Agenda - 12-12-2017-12-3 - Information Item - Memorandum - Blackwood Farm Park Status Report

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1 INFORMATION ITEM ORANGE COUNTY 1\\! 010010 40,,,104,, " \AV Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks Recreation MEMORANDUM To: Bonnie M. Hammersley, County Manager From: David Stancil, Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director Date: December 12, 2017 RE: Blackwood Farm Park Status Report The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on progress toward scheduled improvements at Blackwood Farm Park. As you know, Blackwood Farm Park opened on a limited basis (and limited facilities) in June 2015. Since that time, the park has been open Friday-Sunday and has seen a growing number of patrons who hike the trails, visit the farm outbuildings, and casually use the open mowed area of the park for low-impact recreation that were created in what we have called Phase 1 of the park. The adopted park master plan may be found as Attachment 1. This year, the Board approved funding for the next step in Blackwood Farm Park's maturation — funds to construct the needed infrastructure that will be required for the park to be open on a more regular basis and have the capability to support the amenities planned for the facility. This infrastructure improvement project, titled Phase 2-A of the park, includes: • Turn lanes on NC 86 for the new park entrance, to be located north of the current narrow driveway; • A new entrance road for the park; • A parking area with approximately 60 spaces; • Lighting and stormwater measures needed for these improvements; and • In a different vein, completion of the "Discovery Trail," a child-friendly trail with environmental signage. (This is included here based on implementation ability and timing) Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks &Recreation PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278 Phone: (919) 245-2510 Fax: (919) 644-3351