Agenda - 8-f - Authorization for NC Recreational Trails Program Grant - Hollow Rock Nature Park

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 20, 2018 Action Agenda Item No. 8-f SUBJECT: Authorization for NC Recreational Trails Program Grant - Hollow Rock Nature Park DEPARTMENT: Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation ATTACHMENT(S): Adopted Hollow Rock Master Plan INFORMATION CONTACT: Marabeth Carr 919-245-2516 Dave Stancil 919-245-2522 PURPOSE: To consider authorizing staff to resubmit an application to the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation Recreational Trails Program (RTP) by the March 2, 2018 deadline for a 2019 grant for $100,000 to develop an ADA accessible 1/3-mile loop trail at Hollow Rock Nature Park consistent with the adopted master plan. BACKGROUND: Hollow Rock Nature Park is a 75-acre natural area that straddles the Orange- Durham county line along Erwin Road. The park serves is a trailhead for the New Hope Creek Open Space Corridor, which is a multi-jurisdictional effort of the City of Durham, Durham County, Orange County and Town of Chapel Hill. Phase 1 of the park is complete and opened in June 2016, and includes a new parking area, two miles of natural surface trails, four pedestrian bridges and relocation of the old Hollow Rock store. These amenities were completed with help from a 2013 RTP grant (applied for and administered by Durham County). Orange County and Durham County jointly operate the park. The propsed application is a resubmittal of a 2018 application that was not awarded funds. Feedback from the Program indicated the project potentially could be awarded funds in a future submission. The request is for $100,000 to develop an ADA accessible 1/3-mile loop trail consistent with the adopted master plan. The grant requires a 25% match or $25,000 (which would be shared by the two counties) and a commitment to complete the project with two years. The grant has a two part approval process. For Part “A”; due March 2, 2018, the application must verify approval from the elected board for the submission and that it will meet the obligations as stipulated. The proposed grant funds would construct a 1/3-mile ADA accessible trail loop trail. The trail would be constructed in segments of elevated wood boardwalks and compacted Chapel Hill gravel paths. It will enable access to a variety of areas representative of the site - including an environmental education station (retrofitted horse stable) and the educational wildlife overlook 1