Spencer Woods Expansion

This would be a 50-acre addition to an already 53-acre passive park that possesses 2 miles of hiking trails, an observation platform over a pond, and picnic areas. The expansion area will add new trails, as well as connect the park to Grants Creek, which gives the possibility of developing a kayak/canoe access point on the creek, and there is already a take-out location south of there. The expansion would protect Piedmont Alluvial Forest, a rare natural community, as well as a rare plant, Cardamine dissecta (fork-leaved toothwort), which was discovered there by a natural heritage biologist and a land trust staff member this spring. This is the only occurrence of this rare plant in Rowan County. This is a partnership with a local realty company that owns the tract. They have agreed to a bargain sale of 38 acres for $100,000 (the land is worth $200,000 as justified by an appraisal). The Land Trust will also be donating 12 acres we own that connects this new land to Grants Creek.