Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation <br />PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Phone: (919) 245-2510 <br />Fax: (919) 644-3351 <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />To: Bonnie M. Hammersley, County Manager <br /> <br />From: David Stancil, Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation Director <br /> <br />Date: December 12, 2017 <br /> <br />RE: Blackwood Farm Park Status Report <br /> <br />The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an update on progress toward <br />scheduled improvements at Blackwood Farm Park. As you know, Blackwood <br />Farm Park opened on a limited basis (and limited facilities) in June 2015. Since <br />that time, the park has been open Friday-Sunday and has seen a growing <br />number of patrons who hike the trails, visit the farm outbuildings, and casually <br />use the open mowed area of the park for low-impact recreation that were created <br />in what we have called Phase 1 of the park. The adopted park master plan may <br />be found as Attachment 1. <br /> <br />This year, the Board approved funding for the next step in Blackwood Farm <br />Park’s maturation – funds to construct the needed infrastructure that will be <br />required for the park to be open on a more regular basis and have the capability <br />to support the amenities planned for the facility. This infrastructure improvement <br />project, titled Phase 2-A of the park, includes: <br /> <br />• Turn lanes on NC 86 for the new park entrance, to be located north of the <br />current narrow driveway; <br />• A new entrance road for the park; <br />• A parking area with approximately 60 spaces; <br />• Lighting and stormwater measures needed for these improvements; and <br />• In a different vein, completion of the “Discovery Trail,” a child-friendly trail <br />with environmental signage. (This is included here based on <br />implementation ability and timing) <br /> <br />7