Orange County NC Website
18 <br /> Park History and Development <br /> s , <br /> The property was not originally identified for use as a �,. t �` •-� <br /> park. Beginning in 1998,Orange County,as part of a "- <br /> multi-government organization under the name of the <br /> Landfill Owners'Group,was charged with locating a site <br /> for a new construction and demolition (C&D) landfill for � `- - - <br /> Orange County.The Landfill Owners Group identified <br /> a 178-acre parcel located on Guess Road in Orange y <br /> County(adjacent to the future Little River Park) as a po- <br /> tential site.A grass-roots volunteer group called People <br /> Opposed to the Pollution of the Little River(POPLR) <br /> mobilized against the proposed landfill location.This <br /> prompted the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> to revisit the siting of the C&D landfill,and in October with park development: $262,000 from the federal Land <br /> 1999 the board voted unanimously to reject the plan and Water Conservation Fund and $50,000 from the NC <br /> for a landfill at this location. Recreation and Trails Program. <br /> Around that same time,George Newton,a neighboring In the fall of 2000,the counties formed an advisory <br /> landowner and philanthropist,donated an adjacent committee to evaluate the property,assess appropriate <br /> 391-acre tract to the Triangle Community Foundation, uses for the park,and recommend what facilities were <br /> with the eventual proceeds of its subsequent sale to desired and appropriate for public use.The Committee <br /> be used by the Foundation for philanthropic purposes. incorporated its recommendations based on input <br /> Durham County had been long interested in protecting from citizens and potential user groups in a final report <br /> land along the Little River,which supplies high-quality that was presented to both county boards of commis- <br /> water to the Little River drinking water reservoir,and sioners.The Committee recommended allowing the <br /> is known to have high wildlife habitat and high State following uses in the park: hiking/nature trails,picnic <br /> Natural Heritage value.The Little River corridor was area/shelter, hard surface trail/picnic loop, playground, <br /> specifically identified by Durham County as a priority open play meadows,and fishing.The Committee also <br /> area for open space acquisition.With this in mind,the recommended allowing camping, horseback riding and <br /> Triangle Land Conservancy(TLC)and the Eno River mountain biking provided certain conditions were met <br /> Association (ERA) decided to join forces to help protect (Appendix B). <br /> this area and to create a potential 570-acre,two-county, <br /> regional park. The Durham—Orange Park Partnership <br /> The original 178-acre potential landfill site was pur- As described in the history, Little River Park is a jointly <br /> chased by a group of local landowners (the Little River owned and managed park. <br /> Land Company). In partnership with TLC and the ERA, <br /> Durham and Orange counties pursued negotiations Each county owns the portion of the park within its <br /> with the Triangle Community Foundation to purchase jurisdiction,with Durham County owning 256 acres, <br /> the 391 acres that would comprise the new park. In the and Orange County owning 135 acres.The counties <br /> winter of 1999-2000 the two counties applied for and contributed equally to the initial site development,and <br /> were awarded land acquisition funds from the NC Clean each county contributes equally to the park operating <br /> Water Management Trust Fund ($370,000).TLC and ERA costs. Park operations are managed by Orange Coun- <br /> raised $170,000 in private funds through a joint fund- ty.This park relationship is governed by an Interlocal <br /> raising campaign for land acquisition.An additional Agreement adopted by both counties and renewed <br /> grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund on a regular basis.The Interlocal Agreement mandates <br /> ($250,000)assisted with the cost of land acquisition. that the park is managed pursuant to a jointly adopted <br /> In July 2001 each county purchased the land within its Master Plan (this document),Management Plan and <br /> jurisdiction for a total of$1,015,000($2,600/acre).Soon Operating Guidelines.Annual priorities are determined <br /> afterwards,two more grants were awarded to assist based on the Master Plan and the Management Plan. <br /> 6 Little River Regional Park&Natural Area Master Plan <br />