The master plan for the Neuse
River Corridor has two components: a Conceptual Framework and a
Corridor Master Plan. The Conceptual Framework identifies general
strategies and basic principles and outlines the broadest
spectrum of opportunity. The Corridor Master Plan builds upon the
Conceptual Framework to identify a specific strategy for linking
flood plain and key upland sites into a regional-scale park.
Together these plans identify both the range of opportunity and
the advantages of a focused strategy.
Clearly, there is no better time
than the present to develop a strategy and adopt a Master Plan to
preserve the outstanding natural resource, open space and
recreational opportunities existing in the Neuse River Corridor.
The City of Raleigh's Comprehensive Plan of 1989 envisioned a
Neuse River Corridor Regional Park. The Neuse River Corridor
Master Plan Committee worked with the planning team to develop a
master plan to implement the original vision. This Conceptual
Framework, jointly with the Corridor Master Plan, provides a
clear direction and strategy to guide the creation of this
exciting river park. Though prepared for the City of
Raleigh, this is a Regional Plan and encourages a partnership of
communities including Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wake County and
Knightdale, each implementing their respective segments to
achieve the entire vision presented by the Master Plan.
The Conceptual Framework
establishes the structural components of the Master Plan, taking
the form of a description of plan elements and principles,
instead of a site specific master plan. Rather than target
specific sites for parks, the conceptual framework describes the
nature of the regional park corridor, the trail system, the
function and characteristics of "gateways" and
"arrival parks", and a system of "parkways"
which serve to link elements within the linear park and
facilitate use of the Corridor.
These are the four essential elements that comprise the Conceptual Framework for the Neuse River Corridor:
1. Greenway Corridor
2. Greenway Trail System
3. Arrival and Gateway Parks
4. Parkway Road System
In this plan the term "greenway corridor" refers to the 100-year flood plain or 150 foot width, whichever is greater, along both sides of the Neuse River within the project area. This definition expands on the current definition in the City zoning code which includes only the lesser of the 150 feet from the river bank or the flood plain. In much of the Corridor the flood plain extends considerably further than 150 feet from the river bank. In these areas the greenway corridor should be extended to include the entire flood plain. The rationale for including the entire flood plain within the Corridor is as follows:
1. The flood plain contains an abundance of wetlands which yield varying combinations of the following values: flood storage and reduction of peak stormwater flow, refuge for species of special concern, and groundwater recharge and discharge;
2. The flood plain provides migration/travel Corridors for wildlife species;
3. The flood plain offers protection of surface water from runoff associated with adjacent uses; and
4. The flood plain functions as
a buffer from adjacent development.
In some portions of Corridor,
where banks are quite steep, the flood plain is narrower than 150
feet. In these areas the greenway width should be 150 feet. This
would entail greater easement acquisition cost since it would
involve developable property, but is greatly desirable to protect
the environmental quality of the river system and the continuity
of the recreational aspects of the Corridor.
Acquisition tools and strategies
for protection of the flood plain are described in the Inventory
section of this report. Strategies are already in place for
establishing a conservation buffer over the flood plain through
zoning, transfer of development density and other means, in
addition to the greenway easement provision within the City code.
Protection of the flood plain and acquisition of a 150 foot
minimum greenway width can be facilitated by changing the wording
of the Zoning Code to establish a greenway easement over the
100-year flood plain or within 150 feet of the river bank,
whichever is greater. The 18-mile greenway corridor,
including the entire 100-year flood plain, is therefore
realistically achievable within the City's jurisdiction.
The remaining eight miles of
Corridor on the east side of the river are in the jurisdiction of
Wake Forest, Knightdale, and Wake County. In order to complete
the Corridor as a comprehensive regional open space system, the
neighboring communities need to be involved as partners in this
process. It is not too early to work with these communities and
encourage them to recognize the value and potential of preserving
the Neuse River as a natural resource and regional park. The City
should encourage these communities to take steps to preserve the
flood plain and establish greenway easements and arrival parks
along their segments on the east side of the river as part of
their annexation process. Consistent with RaleighÕs recognition
of the current pace of development, it will be much easier for
these neighboring communities to take action now rather than wait
until development pressure reaches the east side of the Neuse
River.
The Greenway Trail system is the
backbone of the Neuse River Corridor. The 18-mile Corridor
affords a unique opportunity for long-distance, nature-oriented,
off-road travel. Opportunity also exists for a variety of trail
types and experiences which will accommodate diverse recreational
travel. The main users are expected to be pedestrians--hikers,
joggers and casual strollers, and recreational bicyclists.
Long distance bicycling is a use
which is desirable to accommodate in the Corridor but which can
conflict, potentially dangerously, with slower-moving users. The
Conceptual Framework calls for a continuous route along the
Corridor, if possible, using a combination of trail segments and
parkway roads. The City should work with the North Carolina
Department of Transportation to provide bike lanes or similar
measures on parkway roads wherever feasible.
Other uses which may be
desirable to accommodate in places along the Corridor include
horseback riding and mountain biking. Both these uses can create
severe erosion and trail damage, as well as perceptual conflict
with other users. They need to be limited to trails and terrain
which can withstand these uses. Upland areas near the Corridor,
including the quarry and landfill sites, should be considered as
possible sites. It is important to seek input from
representatives of a broad cross-section of users to aid in
determining the best way to accommodate these uses.
All forms of non-motorized
circulation may be allowed along the Primary Trail System in the
early phases of development but conflicting uses should be
separated onto secondary routes as usage increases in certain
areas.
The centerpiece of the greenway
trail system will be a single, continuous primary trail which
traverses the entire length of the 18 mile Corridor. This trail
will be called the Neuse River Trail. For practical and aesthetic
reasons, the Neuse River Trail will likely cross from one side of
the river to the other. It will be accessible from all the
Gateways and Arrival Parks and will, in turn, provide access to
the other trails in the Corridor.
The Neuse River Trail should
have the standard Capital Area Greenway width, currently 10 feet,
and should be paved in areas of high use near access points and
arrival parks. The trail could be unpaved in more remote sections
between parks and in special natural areas until increased use
indicates need for pavement. It should be connected to other
paved trails or parkway bike lanes at several points along the
Corridor to create loop trails of varying lengths and character.
It should also be connected to unpaved secondary and nature
trails to create loops which include a variety of trail types.
A second continuous trail along
the Corridor should also be developed, consisting of a network of
primarily unpaved secondary and nature trails, to provide slower,
quieter, more nature-oriented experiences along the entire length
of the Neuse River Corridor. Where possible, this trail should be
located on the opposite side of the river from the Neuse River
Trail and should be separated from it and other paved trails by
significant distance and vegetation.
There are already two locations
on the west bank where existing development at Foxcroft and
Riverbend makes it difficult to develop a trail due to the
terrain and proximity of homes. Fortunately, in both cases, the
land on the east bank is undeveloped and bridging opportunities
are nearby, so the trail can continue at least on one side.
Negotiations should begin immediately to secure at least a
150-foot greenway easement on the east bank opposite Foxcroft and
Riverbend up to the Buffaloe Road bridge and a feasibility study
should be completed for pedestrian bridges at Goat Island/Raleigh
Road and Buffaloe Road to complete this important link in the
greenway trail system. This example demonstrates the importance
of securing the remaining greenway easement on both sides of the
river as soon as possible to avoid the need for additional
free-standing pedestrian bridges. Since pedestrian bridges should
be built above the 100-year flood elevation, they will generally
require spans of 200-300 feet. These can be built most
cost-effectively if attached to an existing or proposed highway
bridge.
Trails in the Corridor should be designed to reveal the Corridor's variety of environmental aspects and scenic character. The routes of the two continuous trails should meander, sometimes passing close to the river and other times traversing higher ground near the upper edge of the flood plain. Where possible, trails should be designed to pass through the forest, with clearing of trees limited to the minimum needed for construction. Where a trail is constructed on a sewer line clearing, effort should be made to curve the alignment and shape the space along the trail by adding vegetation, managing natural recolonization and selective clearing, to reduce the linear impact of the original sewer line and to reduce the separation between the trail and the surrounding woods.
Where trails are located close
to the river, opportunities for river views should be sought and
enhanced. Access to the banks should be planned and measures
taken to protect the banks at these points to prevent degradation
of river edges. In order to preserve and enhance the
nature-oriented focus of the Corridor, trails on opposite sides
of the river should be aligned so that primary or secondary
trails are not near the river at the same location. and trails
are not visible from each other, except at river crossings.
Trails located near the outer
edge of the flood plain may be in close proximity to development
on adjacent uplands. Ideally, a buffer of at least 100 feet width
of natural woodland vegetation and a substantial change in grade
should be used to protect the natural focus of greenway trails
and provide privacy for adjoining residents. Where such a buffer
is not feasible, tree plantings and a slight elevation of the
private living space above the trail elevation can help create a
sense of separation.
Primary trails are the major arteries of the greenway system. These include the Neuse River Trail, greenway trails along major tributaries of the Neuse and main trails within Arrival Parks. These trails should 10 foot wide paved trails, built according to Capital Greenway Trail standards.
Secondary trails are trail
segments that connect the Neuse River Trail and other primary
greenway trails to secondary destinations such as adjacent
developments, secondary greenways, sensitive natural areas,
special features, etc. These trails should be four to eight feet
wide, surfaced in crushed stone, bark chips, grass or, where
necessary, asphalt, depending on site conditions and use and
should follow the natural terrain where conditions allow. Where
the Neuse River Trail is located near the outer edge of the flood
plain, a secondary or nature trail closer to the river may be
desirable.
Nature trails are used to access
the most secluded and sensitive environmental areas of the
Corridor and generally take the form of loops or spur trails off
the primary or secondary trail system. These trails should be
four feet wide with a soft surface of bark chips, turf or natural
soil. Boardwalks should be used under most circumstances along
the edges of wetlands, but care should be taken to keep them from
becoming visually obtrusive in the natural environment.
Boardwalks are generally six feet wide and do not require rails
if kept close to the ground or shallow water. Because of the cost
and potential environmental impact of boardwalks, nature trails
alongside sensitive areas should be used when possible.
There are six existing and four
proposed highway bridge crossings over the Neuse River Corridor.
Feasibility studies should be conducted by the City or NCDOT to
attach pedestrian bridges to existing bridges at Falls of Neuse
Road, US-1, Buffaloe Road, US- 64, and Poole Road; and proposed
bridges at the relocated Falls of Neuse Road, Northern Wake
Expressway (Outer Loop), Highway 401, Raleigh Boulevard, and
US-64 Bypass. These ten bridges will provide linkage and trail
loop opportunities along the 18-mile river Corridor and reduce
the need for additional free-standing pedestrian bridges.
Pedestrian crossings should be designed to provide separation
from vehicular traffic for increased safety and comfort. They
should be located underneath the road bridge if feasible. An
excellent example of a pedestrian river crossing exists in
Richmond, Virginia where a bridge suspended below a highway
provides pedestrian access to an island park in the James River.
Another major component to the
success of the Neuse River Corridor is the ability to gain access
to the Greenway Corridor and to provide land out of the flood
plain for parking, restrooms, and recreation at reasonable
intervals along the Corridor. Currently, public access to the
river is achieved on three small isolated pieces of land with a
parking lot and canoe launch or on foot from adjacent greenway
trails. This form of access is not only limited in its capacity,
but is difficult to manage from a security and maintenance
perspective. In order to avoid the isolated nature of this form
of access, the Conceptual Framework recommends that either
Arrival Parks or Gateways be established at approximately two to
three mile intervals along the Corridor to provide access from
both sides of the river. These parks could range from ten to one
hundred acres in size and should contain a critical mass of
recreational components to help ensure that there will be people
there during typical park hours. Arrival Parks are intended as
destination facilities in themselves, as well as access points to
the Corridor, with a range and scope of recreational facilities
typical of a Community or Metro Park within the Raleigh Parks
System. Gateways are typically smaller, with a primary function
of providing access to the Corridor from parkways and crossing
points.
In order for the Neuse River
Corridor to function as a regional park system rather than a
collection of conventional community parks, a variety of
recreational needs should be distributed along its entire length.
Given the wide range of environmental characteristics available
on land along the Corridor, sites should be selected that are
ideally suited for a specific use. There is a need for three
general categories of recreation facilities and parkland which
are appropriate along the Neuse River Corridor: Active, Passive,
and Nature Reserves. The river Corridor also offers unique
opportunities for Adventure Program Elements which can be
incorporated into Arrival Parks.
Active Recreation Sites
generally contain playing fields and courts for organized
athletics, recreation centers and associated support facilities.
Sites selected for active recreation should be generally flat
open land or pine woods that are reasonably well-drained and do
not have bedrock close to the surface. Sites should be buffered
from residential development and have good access to the primary
road system. There are several sites along the Corridor that have
been used for agriculture and forestry that fit this criteria.
Passive Recreation Sites
typically accommodate informal forms of recreation such as
walking, picnicking, fishing, canoeing, horseshoes, bird
watching, cultural interpretation, etc. The ideal type of site
for these activities is a rolling wooded site with creeks, rock
outcroppings, hardwood forests, ponds, and dramatic overlook
views, all contributing to the natural beauty of the park. There
are several sites along the Corridor that exhibit these
environmental characteristics and the majority of park land will
probably be of this type.
Nature Reserves are
primarily selected because they contain unique environmental
characteristics such as rare plant communities or prime habitat
for wildlife which provide secluded educational and interpretive
opportunities related to the natural ecology of the area. The
most significant environmental characteristics present in the
Neuse River Corridor are bald cypress and emergent wetlands and
large tracts of undisturbed bottomland and hardwood forests.
These areas contain a rich diversity of vegetation which provide
ideal wildlife habitats teeming with birds, animals, and aquatic
life native to the region. Large undisturbed tracts provide a
type of habitat which is fast disappearing in the City at large.
They are essential for preservation of some of the wildlife
species currently existing in the Corridor. To be successful,
these sites need to be in quiet, secluded areas away from
highways and major development. Access to these sites should be
limited to protect the value of the wildlife habitat.
Several unique sites are
identified on the Inventory and Analysis drawing. These include
Oxbow Wetlands, Horseshoe Bend Farm, Harris Creek, Beaverdam
Creek West, Bridges Lake, and Rogers Lane Wetlands. The master
plan recommends acquisition of these sites, or of greenway
easements allowing access for limited interpretive trails and
boardwalks. Since most of these sites are within the 100-year
flood plain, they should be relatively inexpensive to acquire by
one of the means described earlier in this report. At a minimum,
the City should ensure their protection through Conservation
Buffer zoning or other conservation techniques. Due to their
remote nature, these sites can be accessed from the greenway
trail and do not necessarily require vehicular access and
parking. In some cases, they may be a special zone within another
Arrival Park.
Adventure Elements are
unique features, both natural and man-made, which create
opportunities for Outdoor Adventure Programs and individual
adventure activities. The Neuse River itself is the most
significant adventure element in the Corridor providing eighteen
miles of canoe, kayak, and boat trails. To make this journey more
exciting, whitewater rapids challenge the adventurer at Falls
Rapids, Lunch Rock and north of Poole Road. Wake County prepared
a report investigating the potential of Falls Rapids to become a
regionally significant white water canoe/kayak course. An
artificial whitewater course, constructed outside the river bed,
may be possible. Other unique cultural experiences available
along the Corridor include seeing how granite is quarried at the
Nello Teer quarry, discovering the historic mill site near the
Route-401 river crossing, exploring archaeological sites, and
seeing the hydroelectric dam at Milburnie.
To make these adventure
opportunities more accessible to the general public, an
outstanding Adventure Program exists within the Parks and
Recreation Department which organizes canoe trips, provides
naturalists for nature hikes, teaches rock climbing and camping
skills, and plans adventure trips around the region. The
Adventure Program primarily operates along a three mile stretch
of river from the canoe launch at Milburnie, through the rapids
at Lunch River Rock and south of Anderson Point to the take-out
at Poole Road.
The Adventure Program and the
experience for individuals can be greatly expanded and enriched
with the addition of special facilities along the Corridor. Canoe
launch facilities at strategic locations, group camp sites, ropes
courses, rock climbing walls, canoe rental facilities, and an
Adventure Program Center would all contribute to making the Neuse
River an adventure in itself. Specific locations for these
elements should be included in future master plans for Corridor
segments, as they are in the plans for Anderson Point
Park-Milburnie Park segment.
The primary focus of Gateways is
provision of access to the Corridor. Gateways are to be located
adjacent to roadways to facilitate easy access to the Corridor.
Parking, wayfinding information and trail-associated facilities
should, at a minimum, be provided. Where feasible and desirable,
additional acreage can be acquired and developed for expanded
recreation and/or conservation purposes. Gateways, however, are
not proposed as sites for traditional active recreation
facilities. Such facilities can more efficiently and suitably be
accommodated elsewhere.
The Parkway Road System is a
network of existing and proposed streets that parallel the Neuse
River Corridor. The purpose of the parkways is to provide access
to the Corridor, and serve as scenic routes for vehicular and
bike travel. They also serve as a wayfinding system to each of
the Gateway or Arrival Parks and to increase public exposure and
awareness of the Neuse River Corridor and the Regional Park.
Bicycle lanes should be provided along all parkways so the
parkways can serve as part of the bicycle trail network for the
Corridor. Pedestrian walkways are also highly desirable along the
parkways. The Parkway system can be created with a series of
"Trail Blazer" signs similar to the ones used for
Scenic Highway routes.
Building on the Conceptual
Framework, the Corridor Master Plan weaves together guiding
principles and site specific opportunities along the Corridor
into a plan for a cohesive regional park. This regional park is
built upon the conservation of the 100-year flood plain and the
provision of trails along both sides of the river wherever
feasible. The plan uses existing park sites as core facilities
and identifies key upland sites which are suitable to
significantly expand traditional recreation facilities. Private,
quasi-public and public properties in other jurisdictions are
identified as potential partners in structuring and providing
access to this regional park. Road crossings are emphasized as
means to increase and enhance awareness of the Corridor. Two new
roads bring vehicular access closer to the river and to the park.
Parkways, as described in the Conceptual Framework, will serve as
a wayfinding system to the regional park and increase public
exposure and awareness of the Neuse River Corridor as a whole.
The Corridor Master Plan is
built on a strong foundation of existing policies and public land
holdings which support and make eminently feasible its
development. A series of plans illustrates the layers of support
on which the master plan is developed:
Plan 1: Neuse Greenway, shows the river itself, together with the 150-foot greenway Corridor on each side. This is the core layer of the plan's foundation.
Plan 2: Flood Plain, Wetlands
and Special Places, expands this greenway Corridor to include the
entire 100- year flood plain with its many wetland areas. This
map also indicates by means of colored dots a number of special
places along and near the Corridor. These special places consist
of scenic, historical or cultural resources such as rock
outcrops, unusual wetland types, historic farms, mills or other
structures and other unusual places such as the quarry and the
hydroelectric plant. These places contribute to the character and
to the potential use of the Corridor, whether within public or
private control.
Plan 3: Connecting Greenways and
Adjacent Development, adds context to the plan, showing the
connecting greenways of the Capitol Area Greenway System and the
existing development adjacent to the Corridor. This map shows
both existing opportunities and limits to the project area.
Plan 4: Existing Parks and
Opportunity Sites, shows the existing public and quasi-public
properties along the corridor including City-owned park sites,
the proposed Wake Tech campus, the Capital Area Soccer League
fields and the Wake County landfill. These all present
opportunities to develop connections between the Corridor and
adjacent upland areas, to provide access and parking, to provide
a greater range of recreational facilities, and simply to bring
more people to the river.
The final map, the Corridor
Master Plan, is structured around the layers of opportunities and
limitations presented in the preceding four maps. The Corridor
Master Plan utilizes available resources to build a regional
park, respects limitations already existing along the Corridor,
and illustrates the potential relationships between the Corridor
and properties controlled by other governing authorities or
private organizations. Most importantly, this map introduces the
features and proposed acquisition of specific upland sites that
will distinguish the Neuse River Corridor as a regional park of
extraordinary value in terms of recreational opportunity and
resource conservation.
The Corridor Master Plan has eleven major components. These components are as follows:
A more complete description of these components is provided in the following paragraphs.
The 100-year flood plain, which
includes the wetland areas shown on the Corridor Master Plan, is
the backbone of the plan. The inclusion of the 100-year flood
plain is the minimally acceptable measure of protection for the
river system. It serves as flood storage, provides refuge for
wildlife and exceptional vegetation, helps to maintain water
quality, and buffers the Corridor from adjacent land uses. The
flood plain is the true boundary of the river. Conservation of
the river and the experience of the river are both incomplete
without the continuous relationship and connection between river
and flood plain.
In some locations, the flood
plain is narrower than the City of Raleigh's 150 foot standard
greenway width for the Neuse Corridor. In these locations, the
150 foot greenway easement should be obtained by acquisition or
other voluntary means. In all other situations, the full width of
the 100-year flood plain should be conserved. Ideally, this flood
plain should come into public control. However, flood plain areas
can remain privately held. Under these circumstances, an
agreement should be sought to prohibit clearing of flood plain
areas and to provide public access via the 150 foot greenway
easement provisions currently in the codes.
The 100-year flood plain,
associated wetlands, the 150 foot greenway easement and, of
course, the river itself, when combined together, form a distinct
and substantial recreational resource. They are also the
foundation for the greater regional park planned around them.
There are ten Gateways proposed on the Corridor Master Plan. These ten Gateways are:
These Gateways could range from
ten to one hundred acres in size, depending on their specific
locations and the distance from the adjacent roadway to the
river. All of the Gateways are located adjacent to roadways so to
facilitate easy access to the Corridor. The combination of
Gateways and Arrival Parks (described below) provide access from
each side of the river at intervals of two to three miles along
the entire Corridor. This frequency of access, combined with
trails on both sides of the river, crossovers at roadway
crossings, and lesser pedestrian access points through
residential developments, establishes sufficient opportunity to
enter and logically travel along the Corridor.
There are six Arrival Parks
proposed for the Corridor. These parks are major centers of
recreational activity along the Corridor and within the regional
park. Each Arrival Park represents a unique opportunity for
recreational activity. The six Arrival Parks are described below.
Falls Park, located at the base
of the Falls Lake Dam and adjacent to the Village of Falls, is
the primary gateway to the Corridor. Falls Park encompasses the
Knobs Overlook identified in the Conceptual Framework and
suggests that a modestly urban linkage between the Village of
Falls, new development and the park could be developed to create
an integrated and exceptionally interesting relationship to the
river. It is also proposed that a whitewater kayaking facility be
developed here, taking advantage of the change in elevation from
the lake to the river and sufficient water volume to make such a
facility work.
The City of Raleigh already
leases from the Army Corps of Engineers a small parcel of land at
the falls for use as a canoe launch. The land suggested for the
greater Falls Park has excellent bluffs from which to view the
river, scenic terrain, rocky outcrops and open, flatter land
suitable for more traditional recreation activities.
Hairpin Bend Park is located
between Route 1 and mile 5 as measured downstream from Falls of
Neuse Road. The heart of this park is extensive wetlands found on
both sides of the river, in particular the Oxbow Wetlands and the
Wetland Lakes areas shown on the Corridor Master Plan. At the
hairpin turn in the river, the plan shows an observation tower
for looking out over the broad expanse of wetlands and wetland
forests.
Immediately south of the Oxbow
Wetlands is a large expanse of undeveloped uplands, relatively
flat and open or in pine woods, which are ideally suited for
intensive development of athletic fields. This expanse extends
southward until it connects with the Capital Area Soccer League
property. This land, combined with the extensive wetland areas
and areas of mature hardwoods near the river, could create an
Arrival Park and a zone within the regional park that offers
extensive and exceptional opportunities for active and passive
recreation.
Horseshoe Bend Park as shown on
this plan centers around and expands on Horseshoe Farm, a site
already owned by the City of Raleigh. A pedestrian bridge to the
Capital Area Soccer League Property and Perry Creek Greenway to
the west immediately expands recreational opportunity for users
at both sites. A historic farm site which adjoins both sides of
U.S. 401 would be a valuable addition to this park. Just
northeast of this farm site on the west side of U.S. 401 is an
excellent site for provision of access to the river. The
riverbank here has a modest slope and would serve well as a
launch/takeout point for canoes. Access via a bridge directly
into Horseshoe Farm from US-401 may also be desirable.
South of US-401 on the east bank
of the river is a site identified in the Conceptual Framework as
the Forestry Site. This site has been cleared for timber, is flat
and generally out of the flood plain. It is ideally suited for
intensive athletic field development. Across the river from this
site is the future northern campus of Wake Technical College. A
cooperative effort with the College to develop riverfront
amenities for public use should be pursued. The Forestry Site and
the Wake Tech property establish the southern limits of the
expanded Horseshoe Bend Park.
Between Buffaloe Road and the
proposed crossing point of Raleigh Boulevard, an Arrival Park is
desirable to provide access to the river and additional
recreation opportunity. There are at least two sites which are
well-suited for development as a botanic garden. It is known that
the Wake County Botanical Garden Society is searching for
approximately two hundred acres to create a new, privately funded
botanic garden, and they may be interested in the potential sites
in this search area. Otherwise, the Inventory and Analysis Plan
identifies several sites suitable for development as an Arrival
Park.
Milburnie Park consists of two
sites currently known as Neuse East Park and Neuse West Park,
along with properties in the Corridor between them and adjacent
to them. A master plan has been developed for these sites. Please
refer to the description of the Milburnie Park Master Plan for
more detail.
Anderson Point marks the
confluence of the Neuse River and Crabtree Creek. A master plan
has been developed for this site. Please refer to the description
of the Anderson Point Master Plan for more detail.
Potential Park Land is land not
in flood plain and not already owned by the City of Raleigh that
is undeveloped and particularly suitable for recreation or as a
unique amenity. Four such areas have already been described under
Arrival Parks. These include land at Falls Park, Hairpin Bend
Park, and Horseshoe Bend Park, as well as the Botanic
Garden/Arrival Park Site.
Additional lands recommended for
acquisition or joint use include the Mallinckrodt Overlook,
located just west of U.S. 1, a strip of uplands between the
proposed Parkside Drive and the Oxbow Wetlands, a strip of
uplands between the proposed Riverside Drive and the river, and
additional acreage at Anderson Point Park to accommodate
neighborhood-scale active recreation. Other areas, at least ten
acres in size, are also recommended for acquisition for Gateways
as shown on the Corridor Master Plan.
Potential Park Land sites are
the principal targets for acquisition and offer, in the main,
outstanding opportunities for the development of active
recreation facilities.
Opportunity Sites are public or
institutional properties which can be woven into the fabric of
the regional park. These properties include the Corps of
Engineers land at Falls Lake, the Nello Teer Quarry, the Wake
County landfill, the Wake Forest wastewater treatment plant, the
Capital Area Soccer League site, and the Wake Tech campus. All of
these properties have the potential to contribute to recreation
opportunity along the Corridor or, at a minimum, to retain
significant open spaces along or adjacent to the Corridor.
Cooperative efforts between the City of Raleigh and the owners of
these properties should be pursued to enhance the conservation
and use of the Neuse River Corridor.
A description of park sites
already owned by the City of Raleigh has been provided earlier in
this report. These sites are highlighted on the 1000 scale
Corridor Master Plan. These park sites, along with the flood
plain/greenway spine of the plan, constitute a significant core
for the ultimate regional park.
The proposed trail system is
described in detail under the Conceptual Framework section of
this report. A conceptual system of trails is shown on the 400
scale Corridor Master Plan drawing. Both long distance and
shorter loop trails are the most essential ingredients to the
success of the regional park.
Numerous colored dots on the
1000 scale Corridor Master Plan represent significant historic
and cultural sites, rock outcrops, high quality wetlands, level
open land and pine woods, scenic terrain, and high river
overlooks. Some of these special places fall within Flood Plains,
Arrival Parks or Potential Park Land, while others do not. As
proposals for development come before the City of Raleigh or
other jurisdictions, it is recommended that these special places
be noted and addressed in some manner. If they fall within
targeted acquisition areas, the City has the opportunity to
purchase or influence the use and/or conservation of a special
place or resource. If they fall outside targeted acquisition
areas, developers should be made aware of them and encouraged to
consider their conservation and incorporation as private or
public components adjoining the Corridor. In this manner, the
reach and richness of the Corridor as a whole is extended and the
relationship of developments and people to the river is expanded
and enhanced.
These two roadways are proposed
to bring people in vehicles closer to the park, or in the case of
the Riverside Drive, closer to the river itself. Parkside Drive
links U.S. 1 with Perry Creek Road and creates the western
boundary of the proposed park area between Hairpin Bend and
Horseshoe Bend. Riverside Drive links Southhall Road at Wake Tech
to Buffaloe Road.
These roadways should be
coordinated with the development of the Parkway System. They also
should be developed with bike lanes so that alternate high speed
and local bicycling routes can be accommodated. Sidewalks should
be included along them to increase opportunities for pedestrian
movement. Scenic turnouts should be incorporated along Riverside
Drive and along Parkside Drive near the Oxbow Wetlands. These
roadways add another dimension to accessing the Corridor and, in
a limited sense, add another dimension to recreation opportunity
along the river.
Where roadways cross the
Corridor, the plan proposes use of plantings, signage, and
physical markers to increase awareness of the Corridor, to guide
people to points of access, and to establish a distinct, bold
sense of identity for the Corridor as people pass over it. A
landmark or gateway emblem is recommended to mark the edge of the
Corridor. Within the Corridor, the natural vegetation should be
extended as close to the road as possible to enhance a sense of
continuity along the Corridor. Plantings, such as street trees,
can extend along roads crossing the Corridor for as much as
several thousand feet on both sides of the river so that people
recognize that they are entering the Corridor. This visual
extension of the Corridor beyond its obvious boundaries enhances
awareness of the Corridor and physically links the Corridor with
surrounding land uses at these points of crossing.
The purpose and design criteria for a Parkway Road System is described in the Conceptual Framework portion of this report. The Parkway route begins on the west side of the river with Neuse River Drive (proposed on the Thoroughfare Plan) at the north, connects to Perry Creek Road and then follows the Southhall Road extension all the way to Anderson Point Park. The route continues across Poole Road on the east side of the Corridor to Hodge Road and goes north along Forestville Road (SR2049) up to US-1, then back to the dam on Falls of Neuse Road. The Parkway System can be a valuable recreational resource in itself, providing a scenic route for driving and cyclists as well as connecting the Arrival and Gateway Parks.
The Conceptual Framework and
the Corridor Master Plan together comprise the Master
Plan.
The Conceptual Framework for
the Neuse River Corridor provides a comprehensive vision and
guiding principles for a Regional River Park System along
eighteen miles of Neuse River. Its full implementation will
require an intergovernmental partnership involving State, County
and Local Governments working cooperatively over the next 10-20
years, each implementing the portions of the overall plan within
their respective jurisdictions. The final vision for the plan
will incorporate a Greenway Corridor consisting of over
2,000 acres of flood plain, a Greenway Trail System containing
an extensive trail network, Gateways or Arrival Parks at
two to three mile intervals and Parkside, Riverside and
Parkway Road Systems involving many miles of existing
and proposed roads and thoroughfares. Once complete, the Neuse
River Regional Park System will contribute greatly to the open
space preservation and environmental recreation goals of Raleigh,
Wake County, Wake Forest and Knightdale, as well as to the
conservation of a critical natural resource.
The Corridor Master Plan,
built upon the Conceptual Framework, presents a more specific
vision for the Regional River Park System. Building first upon
the City of Raleigh's greenway easement initiative and the
preservation of the 100-year flood plain and associated wetlands,
this plan demonstrates how existing park sites, other public and
institutional properties, and specific acquisition sites can be
linked together to create a recreational resource of unparalleled
quality and diversity. This specific vision also demonstrates
feasibility. Many of the major land components of this Regional
River Park System can be secured through means other than direct
purchase. The plan shows that many of the major components are
outstanding in themselves. Linked together, they create a system
that is, in a true and achievable sense, spectacular.