0263-GCG-FoothillsConservancy ESG23 12-13 - Flipbook - Page 22
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Oak Hill Community
Park and Forest Open to the Public
Our staff convened one day during that time to
Five years in the making, a re昀氀ection from
Andrew Kota
values were “signi昀椀cant” enough to meet our internal
652 Acres
Opening a public park is a momentous occasion for
discuss whether we had the ability to protect this
property, and what the outcome for it could or would
be. We were not 100% in agreement on several things,
such as: 1) if and how we could raise the funds to
make the purchase, 2) if the land’s conservation
criteria, and qualify for state grant funding, and 3) if
we took a pathway of opening the land to the public,
would we have the support of the community, and the
organizational capacity to do that.
our land trust, and it required the support, backing and
Over the next few months, our staff convened for
faith from hundreds of individuals, foundations and
many internal meetings, conversations and actions,
funders in our community and beyond, as well as hard
arriving at a place where everyone was on the
work and dedication by FCNC’s staff and board.
same page with excitement building around this
FCNC’s vision is for this land to be a welcome
opportunity. Our board of directors was equally
place for all community members to enjoy, and a
excited and supportive.
showcase and demonstration area for conservation,
From that point on, we never looked back. And that
environmental education, forestry best practices,
positive support from the community has continued
community agriculture and public outdoor recreation
to this day.
for generations to come. The park will also become
an integral part of FCNC’s Our Big Backyard
environmental education program, and we plan to
continue to host local school groups in the months
and years ahead.
We are excited to celebrate the new public park IN
our community, FOR our community, because of the
support from the people, foundations, grant programs
and funders who got behind our land trust’s effort
to permanently protect this 652-acre property and
We’re hopeful Oak Hill Park will also contribute to the
develop the park infrastructure at Oak Hill Community
local economy by attracting visitors who want to enjoy
Park & Forest.
yet another natural gem in Burke County.
A Much-Abbreviated History:
In 2015, the 652-acre tract that was to become Oak Hill
Community Park & Forest was part of a much larger
package of land that was sold by Crescent Resources
to a land speculation 昀椀rm. Shortly after, real estate
signs were placed on the edges of the property along
126 and 181, and the land started to be divided and
sold. Not long after that, logging trucks were exiting the
property regularly with loads of high quality hardwood
timber, and it was noticeable from Watermill Road
that a clearcut had taken place on the highest point of
the property.
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We look forward to celebrating more milestones for
this park with our community as additional programs,
trails and infrastructure are developed!