Wake plans three new open-space projects

Plans are in the works to give Wake County residents access to some 900 acres of county-owned open space.

During a work session Monday, county staff presented three options that would open up about 900 acres for public use. The county has spent $49 million on acquiring 3,860 acres of open space, but none of that land is open to the public.

Community Services Director Frank Cope presented recommendations that would put some of that acreage to use at Robertson's Mill Pond, Proctor and Turnipseed. The $2.2 million in construction costs would be funded using money from the 2007 open space bond.

There’s about $13.1 million left to spend from the $50 million bond.

Robertson’s Mill Pond near East Wake High School would be opened for canoeing and kayaking.

At Proctor, a 6-mile horseback riding trail will be created using existing dirt roads on the still-working farm. The trails would be open to walkers and bikers, but the trails themselves would stay unpaved.

The third project, Turnipseed, it involves building boardwalks and trails through an established wetland.