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10-7 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 10 - Goals, Objectives, and Recommendations 10 Additfonal opportunitfes may exist over tfme, such as the New Hope Creek uplands, which is near the Blackwood Division of Duke Forest (and two county parks). While the primary purpose of these nature preserves is the protectfon of important species of flora and fauna and surface water quality, there are ways to accomplish this priority while stfll managing and providing for public access. Each of these nature preserves should have designated public access areas for hiking, primitfve camping and wildlife viewing, designed to minimize adverse impacts on the most- sensitfve portfons of the preserve. These preserves may be an excellent locatfon for more hiking and biking trails, which were identffied as a priority in the Community Needs Assessment survey. Equestrian trails may also be desirable, targeted at certain spots meetfng the special needs of this recreatfonal use. The County should work to complete land acquisi- tfons necessary to complete or establish these nature preserves, develop master plans for the public access areas at each locatfon, and plan for the opening of these areas for public enjoyment. These facilitfes can be accomplished at very low cost, compared to actfve recreatfon facilitfes, and are al- ready planned at two of the preserves listed above (New Hope and Upper Eno). The County should work with UNC and the NC Botanical Garden to ensure public access at the Jordan Lake Headwaters Preserve. 3. The Vision – We’re Not an Island – the Importance of Planning and Coordinating with the Towns and Schools Recommendation #4: Formalize and Build Support Structure for Multi-Partner Capital Facilities (with towns, school systems, other partners) A number of opportunitfes appear to exist for joint efforts to acquire land and develop facilitfes for future parks and recreatfon. At a planning level, the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group provides a mechanism for the local government elected boards, staffs and advisory boards to come together quarter- ly to explore matters of mutual interest, and this has facilitated several joint ventures. The County has a history with its municipal partners in the funding, land acquisitfon, and constructfon of park and recreatfon facilitfes, from Homestead Park and the Homestead Aquatfcs Center, to the Adams Tract in Carrboro, to Southern Community Park, and the new artfficial turf field at Cedar Falls Park in Chapel Hill. The County has also made a significant investment in facilitfes in and around Hillsborough, and provided financial assistance to Mebane for Lake Michael Park. Little River Regional Park and Natural Area and the Hollow Rock Access Area (part of the New Hope Creek Preserve) are examples of collaboratfon with Durham County. Orange County and Durham County have operated Little River Park (parts of which are owned by each county) for 10 years, working under an interlocal agreement. A similar arrangement is antfcipated at Hollow Rock, and the potentfal for collaboratfon with the Town of Chapel Hill may exist for the proposed Millhouse Road Park. In 2000, a “Joint Capital Funding for Parks” report was created for the Assembly of Governments, which proposed methods and roles for joint capital funding of parks facilitfes among the towns and countfes. It is suggested that this report be reconsidered for relevance given the likely greater potentfal for joint projects in the future. Memoranda of understanding may be a vehicle for future joint capital funding to ensure that the needs of all jurisdictfons are met. 115