Wake County has added nearly 46 acres of open space to its Open Space Preservation Program, thanks to a partnership with the Town of Apex that will provide land for a future greenway/open space connector to Jordan Lake State Park and the American Tobacco Trail.
The Wake County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved the purchase of 45.77 acres known as the Holleman tract for $811,560, with Wake County paying 50% and the Town of Apex paying 50%.
In November 2000, Wake County voters approved a $15-million open space bond referendum, allowing the County to issue general obligation bonds for open space acquisition. Wake County will use $405,780 from the proceeds from this bond referendum to pay for the Apex property.
The property is adjacent to 55.5 acres currently owned by the Town of Apex and is located at the confluence of two tributaries and Beaver Creek, three miles upstream of Jordan Lake. The purchase of this property is part of the Town of Apex Parks, Recreation, Greenways and Open Space Plan and was identified as the top priority for acquisition by the Town.
The Town has designated the total 101.3 acres for a proposed natural park to provide wildlife habitat, nutrient and sediment removal, interpretative park areas and flood storage, in addition to the future greenway/open space connector to Jordan Lake State Park and the American Tobacco Trail.
Commissioners’ Chair Herb Council hailed the purchase as a major step for protection of water quality in western Wake County as well as downstream neighbors in the Cape Fear Basin.
“Preserving this land as open space will have far-reaching implications for this County for years to come,” Council said. “Besides providing land for recreational activities, it will also protect our water quality. That’s why we developed the Open Space Preservation Program, and I’m proud that we are partnering with the Town of Apex to assist in purchasing this property for that purpose.”
Phase I of the Wake County Open Space Plan adopted by the Board of Commissioners in August 2001 identified the Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, Little River and Swift Creek watersheds as priority areas within the County for potential open space acquisitions. During the planning process for the American Tobacco Trail, staff identified certain parcels of land that might accommodate public access facilities for this project, including the parcel approved for purchase Monday.
The purchase is part of the County's ongoing effort to promote partnerships for preserving open space. Through its Phase I acquisitions, the County has acquired or partnered with municipalities to acquire more than 530 acres of open space to date.
More information on Wake County’s Open Space Plan is available at www.WakeGov.com.