The 100-acre nature preserve along High Rock Lake will open to the public in June as Eagle Point Nature Preserve.
The Rowan Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the name during its meeting Monday evening.
The property along Black Road in eastern Rowan was donated to the county in 1998 by the LandTrust for Central North Carolina through the efforts of Bill Stanback. The property in the Pooletown area came with the condition that it stay largely undeveloped.
Bob Pendergrass, director of the Rowan Nature and Learning Center at Dan Nicholas Park, recommended the Eagle Point name. In a memo to the board, Pendergrass noted that“the bald eagle is the most noteworthy animal that we have seen in the area.”
Parks Director Jim Foltz said officials offered to name the preserve for an individual or a company, but both declined.
A dedication will be held at the preserve on June 16 at 1 p.m. The preserve will then be open to the public.
A walking path of natural shale meanders through the preserve. During an estimated two-hour walk, visitors can see a wide variety of native plants, birds and animals.
On a recent tour, Foltz said, large fields of daffodils were in full bloom. Remnants of three homeplaces have been found on the property.
Sloan Park’s new pond and nature trail will be dedicated at 1 p.m. on May 12 at that park, which is located off N.C. 150 West at Millbridge.
In other action, the board unanimously approved new rules dealing with charges for groups. Foltz said increasing demand on the park facilities forced the action.
In particular, he cited private schools or private businesses that use park facilities as part of their paid operations.
Under the new rules, which take effect April 1, those groups will not be charged for using outside facilities Monday through Friday. Fees will be charged holidays and weekends.
Fees will be charged for use of inside facilities. Cleanup fees can be assessed for outside facilities if needed.
As an example, Foltz mentioned a new agreement with Kids Sports, which will pay $1 per day per child for use of inside facilities.
Committees of the board will work with supervisors to decide fee issues.
Foltz and board members discussed several projects under way at the various parks.
Work is continuing on new restroom facilities at Ellis Park and on the refurbishing of the Granite Quarry Depot at Dan Nicholas Park.
In other business, officials announced several upcoming events:
- March 24, kite day at Dan Nicholas Park.
- April 14, 11 a.m. Easter egg hunt, Dan Nicholas Park.
- A new toll-free number for Rowan County Parks will start March 30. It is 1-866-RoParks or 1-866-767-2757.
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