Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
39 <br /> Issues For Further Study <br /> While there are several measures and improvements <br /> recommended in this Master Plan for action,a number <br /> of other topics have been identified that may be worthy c <br /> of future pursuit, but need additional research and <br /> assessment: <br /> Additional Land Protection <br /> When the park was initially proposed, it included as a <br /> possible additional purchase the 178-acre property that <br /> borders the park on the north and to create an overall <br /> 569-acre park.This adjacent property was originally <br /> proposed for an Orange County C&D landfill (before <br /> the park was initially under consideration),and it was <br /> subsequently purchased and has remained in private <br /> ownership.Development of this property into multiple Additional Cultural Studies <br /> home sites would reduce the park user experience,and There are historical and cultural resources within the <br /> reduce the size of the significantly large area of unde- park, namely the historical road bed and old home site <br /> veloped habitat.This property would be a desirable on the southern portion of the property,that have not <br /> addition to the park if it became available. been properly assessed for their significance.As fund- <br /> Potential Horse Trails ing permits, it would be desirable to conduct further <br /> assessments to better understand the history of this <br /> When the Little River Park Advisory Committee was portion of the site and for possible interpretation. <br /> gathering public input for future uses in the park,there <br /> was significant support for horse trails(the property Park Office—Assessment of Function and Future <br /> had been used by local equestrians before the property Needs <br /> was purchased by Durham and Orange counties). Horse <br /> trails were a recommended"conditional use"of the Park staff has noted the limited size of the current park <br /> park,but to date those additional conditions have not office and the inability to bring park visitors or program <br /> been met. The public surveys in 2012 and 2019 contin- participants inside to get out of the weather or to see <br /> ued to show interest in horse trails,though there were exhibits such as the herpatorium and other indoor <br /> also several comments requesting that any horse trails features.The current office has limited storage space, <br /> be separated from hiking or biking trails.Additional and it may be that its functions and uses have expand- <br /> land is needed in order to have sufficient trail length, ed over the years to the point where an expansion or <br /> and the trails would likely need to connect with other larger new facility is warranted.An initial assessment <br /> privately owned horse trails to create sufficient length. could be done to examine in what ways the park office <br /> The design and management of the horse trails would has become something more than an office,and the <br /> require the active support and maintenance of local functions and needs that it now serves,or could serve <br /> equestrian groups. Any further study on the potential in the future with additional space.From that evalua- <br /> for horse trails would need to be led in collaboration tion,decisions could be made as to what changes or <br /> with local volunteer groups. improvements are needed. <br /> October 2021 27 <br />