Orange County NC Website
3—21 <br />Size: Land Area: 306 Acres <br /> <br />Overview: Orange County protects this large property for a future <br />nature preserve. Some of the land was acquired by the County in <br />the 1970s for water supply watershed protectfon purposes. Later <br />additfons were to establish the larger preserve for a wildlife sanctu- <br />ary and low-impact public recreatfonal uses. The property is <br />managed by DEAPR, which is working on opening the eastern por- <br />tfons of the property for use beginning in late 2013. Other portfons <br />will open pending further acquisitfons and facilitfes development. <br /> <br /> <br />Size: Land Area: 63 acres <br /> <br />Overview: Orange County acquired this property from Duke University in 2000 <br />for a future nature preserve. The planned McGowan Creek Preserve helps to <br />protect the Upper Eno watershed and preserves an area of open space between <br />Hillsborough and Efland. Located at the confluence of McGowan Creek and the <br />Eno River, the preserve will provide a natural area and low -impact recreatfonal <br />facilitfes for people to enjoy. <br />Funding for acquisition: <br />$ 148,000 from Orange County (School/Park Capital Reserve Fund) <br />$ 143,000 from NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund <br /> <br />Anticipated facilities include: The site will feature a rustfc picnic area (and possible restroom facility), along with <br />two miles of trails through a mature forest that overlooks nearby Corporatfon Lake. <br /> <br />Location and proximity to the greatest number of users: Located one mile west of Hillsborough town limits on <br />the north side of US 70; the future McGowan Creek Preserve will attract day users from central and northern <br />Orange County and occasional visitors enjoying a rest stop along US 70. <br /> <br />Types of programs anticipated: The preserve will be open to the public from dawn to dusk. Occasional guided <br />tours of the natural and cultural resource will be programmed by the DEAPR staff. <br /> <br />Anticipated Cost: Not Known <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Anticipated facilities include: Parking area, hiking trails, interpretfve areas, group camping (by reservatfon), <br />Mountains-to-Sea Trail segment. Visitors may also want to visit the adjacent Moorefields property, which is <br />owned and operated by the Historic Moorefields Foundatfon. <br /> <br />Location and proximity to the greatest number of users: Located about three miles southwest of Hillsborough <br />between Mt. Willing Road and Moorefields Road (Cheeks Township). The main entrance to the site is from his- <br />toric Moorefields located at 2201 Moorefields Road. The future Seven Mile Creek Preserve will attract day users <br />primarily from central and northern Orange County, as well as through hikers on the Mountains -to-Sea Trail. <br /> <br />Types of programs anticipated: The preserve will be open to the public from dawn to dusk. Occasional guided <br />tours of the natural and cultural resources will be programmed by the DEAPR staff. Some programs may be <br />offered in conjunctfon with the historic Moorefields site. <br /> <br />Anticipated Cost: Not Known <br />Upper Eno Preserve—Seven Mile Creek Access Area -2201 Moorefields Road, Hillsborough <br />Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 3 - Park Inventory / Assessment / Future Preserves without Master Plans 3 <br />Upper Eno Preserve -McGowan Creek Access Area - US 70 West, Hillsborough <br />51