Through its New Parks for a New Century initiative, the NC Division of Parks and Recreation identified the Mayo River as one of 47 sites in North Carolina worthy of becoming new units of the state parks system. Criteria included quality of natural resources, geographic location and suitability for recreation. Thirteen of these sites were identified as potential state parks; one as a state recreation area and 33 as state natural areas.
For some time, there has been strong local support for a state park within the Mayo River corridor. The division has worked closely with the Dan River Basin Association and the Rockingham County Planning Department to identify a study area along the river corridor from the Virginia/North Carolina border south to just above the town of Mayodan in Rockingham County.
The NC Division of Parks and Recreation has acquired two properties for future use as part of Mayo River State Park. Those are:
-The former Compass Avalon Industrial Park on US 220 Business; 116 acres; purchase price $1.5 million.
-The former Mayo Park and other acreage from Avalon Development Corp.; 415 acres on US 220 Business; purchase price $2.47 million
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Council of State will consider four land acquisition projects for Mayo River State Park. The Council must approve all state land acquisitions. All the properties are currently under option by the division. They are:
-288 acres (including 57 acres in Henry County, Va.) owned by Ferguson Lumber Inc.; located on Smith Road and on the east side of Mayo River; negotiated price is $650,880.
-10 acres on the south side of NC 135 near Mayodan; negotiated price is $25,000.
-0.876 acres and a brick house at 7700 NC 135 at Mayodan; negotiated price is $50,000.
-3.8 acres and a mobile home at 941 Cedar Mountain Road; negotiated price is $70,000.
On Oct. 25, the NC Parks and Recreation Authority, at the request of the state parks system, set aside $2.56 million for land acquisitions for Mayo River State Park. These funds are part of the 2004-05 distribution of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, supported by a portion of the state's tax on real estate deed transfers.
Map of Mayo River State Park Study Area
The Study Area Map portrays a general area along the river corridor within which a state park unit may be located. (It does not identify proposed boundaries for a state park.) The Study Area includes roughly twelve miles of the Mayo River corridor. Property boundaries are portrayed in red.
Map is viewable in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Please use the magnifying tool to zoom in on specific locations.
Document is also ready to print at 8.5 x 11 size.
Click here to view the Study Area Map.
Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader
Establishing a New State Park -
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does North Carolina establish new state parks?
The State Parks Act of 1987 mandates that the NC Division of Parks and Recreation preserve representative samples of the state's diversity of natural resources and to make those natural areas available to the public for recreation and education. As the state's population grows, there is greater demand for outdoor recreation, and some areas of the state are underserved. At the same time, the pressures of development threaten sites that contain wetlands, rare species, and other special features of our natural heritage that should be protected for the future.
Why is the Mayo River area being considered?
Through its New Parks for a New Century initiative introduced early 2003, the Division identified the Mayo River as one of 47 sites in North Carolina worthy of becoming new units of the state parks system. Thirteen of these were identified as potential state parks; one as a state recreation area; and 33 as state natural areas. At about the same time, there arose strong local support for preservation of areas in the Mayo River corridor. The Division has worked closely with the Dan River Basin Association and the Rockingham County Planning Department to identify a study area along the river corridor from the Virginia/North Carolina border south to just above the Town of Mayodan.
What are the initial steps for establishing a state park and what would be the time frame?
The process always begins with legislative action. In 2003, the General Assembly designated the Mayo River as a unit of the state parks system. That action allows the Division to develop a land acquisition strategy. As a part of that step, the Division has developed the conceptual plan. The conceptual plan basically defines a study area, identifies the natural resources that would be desirable components of a state park, and sets out a course of action to locate and negotiate with property owners.
The timetable for building state park facilities depends entirely on the amount of time it takes to acquire sufficient property to both protect the natural resources and allow for recreational use. The parks system intends to work with willing sellers within the study area described in the conceptual plan. With that in mind, we cannot set a deadline for land acquisition. Indeed at all of our state parks, land acquisition is an ongoing process.
How is the state going to pay for park land acquisition and development?
In 1994, the General Assembly established the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, supported by a portion of the state's tax on real estate deed transfers. Along with providing grants for local parks and beach access, the Trust Fund sets money aside for land acquisition and capital improvement projects in the state parks and natural areas. In fiscal 2002-03, $28.5 million came into the trust fund. The share designated for state parks project was about $18 million. Each year, the Parks and Recreation Authority, an appointed body, considers the funding of state parks projects based on a list of priorities provided by Division staff. Other sources of funding may also be available for land acquisition such as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Natural Heritage Trust Fund and the Ecosystem Enhancement Fund.
What facilities would a state park on the Mayo River offer?
Each state park has a master plan that guides the development of all facilities. That master plan is created with input from local residents through Park Advisory Committees, from Division staff and, in some cases, from consulting engineers. The master plan is an organic document that changes as a park develops.
Typical state park development includes facilities for day-use activities such as picnicking, hiking and interpretive programming as well as a visitor's center and overnight camping facilities. Campgrounds can range from primitive "walk-in" sites to more developed tent-and-trailer loops. River corridor parks such as at Lumber River and New River also usually offer canoe landings for water-based recreation.
Development in all state parks and natural areas is largely guided by the desire to protect the natural resources that make the park an attraction.
If as a landowner, I want to participate in the creation of a new state park, how do I know I will get fair market value for my property?
The State Property Office contracts with two independent appraisers in the area to determine fair market value. An offer for property is based on those appraised values.
What if my property is in the study area, but I don't want to sell?
The Division's interest in negotiating depends on the specific location of the property and its relation to other properties under consideration. At any rate, we are working with landowners willing to sell their property for a new state park. The Division would be interested to know if you change your mind about selling, and our staff may contact you periodically.
What if I want to stay in my home and sell the rest of my property? What if I have a farm and want to use it for another five years? What if I have an animal operation on my farm and need time to reduce the herd?
Each transaction with a landowner is unique. The parks system and the State Property Office will work with landowners on a case-by-case basis, evaluating the desirability of the property, its intended use and the situation of the landowner. The Division can also help landowners explore other options for land preservation such as conservation easements and estate management.
Will the state condemn my property?
The parks system considers condemnation a last-resort option in considering the protection of natural resources, although the state does have authority to use condemnation for state park land acquisition.
Since 1991, there have been only seven condemnations for the state parks system among nearly 300 transactions. Five of those were voluntary condemnations initiated to clear title or settle a boundary line dispute between two landowners. These condemnations took place after extensive title work was done in an attempt to resolve the issues. The remaining two condemnations were initiated to resolve differences in property value that we could not resolve through extensive negotiation, and the properties were vital for capital improvement projects.
Have more questions? Contact us.
Sue Regier, Resource Management
919-715-8694
sue.regier@ncmail.net
Charlie Peek, Public Information
919-715-8709
charlie.peek@ncmail.net
General Assembly of North Carolina
Session 2003
Session Law 2003-106
House Bill 1078
An act to authorize the addition of Mayo River State Park to the state parks system.
Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of North Carolina states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas, and in every other appropriate way to preserve as a part of the common heritage of this State, its open lands and places of beauty; and
Whereas, the 1987 General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act, which declares that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geologic, biological, scenic, and recreational resources, and that these resources are part of the heritage of the people of the State, which should be preserved and managed by the people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and
Whereas, the Mayo River in Rockingham County supports many rare species and possesses biological, geological, and scenic resources of statewide significance; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to add Mayo River State Park to the State Parks System as provided by G.S. 113-44.14(b).
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of May, 2003.
s/ Beverly E. Perdue President of the Senate
s/ Richard T. Morgan Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Michael F. Easley Governor
Approved 11:16 a.m. this 31st day of May, 2003
Mayo River State Park Natural Resources Summary
Over the past several years, resource management specialists from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation examined the Mayo River corridor to identify natural resources of significance. Here is a summary of their findings.
Study Area
The study area lies along the Mayo River in Rockingham County, beginning at the Virginia/North Carolina border and continuing south to just upstream from the town of Mayodan. The river floodplain, adjacent bluffs/uplands and several small creeks that feed into the Mayo River were the focus of the study.
Resources of Statewide Significance
BIOLOGICAL
Piedmont and Coastal Plain Mesic Forests
Low Elevation Cliffs and Rock Outcrops
Piedmont and Mountain Floodplains
Riverine Aquatic Natural Communities
Nine rare species
GEOLOGICAL
Cliffs
Gorges, Rapids, Waterfalls
Sedimentary Features
Unusual Rock Types
SCENIC
Forests
Caves and Cliffs
Rock Outcrops
Scenic Vistas
Rivers
Whitewater Streams
POTENTIAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Canoeing/Kayaking
Freshwater fishing
Visiting natural areas
Hiking
Viewing scenery
Primitive camping
Nature study/environmental education
Picnicking
Tent and trailer camping
Whether acquiring land to create a new state park or to add property to an existing state park or natural area, the NC Division of Parks and Recreation follows a standard procedure. Here are the steps and the approximate timeline.
1-The Division first completes tax and deed research and requests an appraisal through the State Property Office. The approximate time required is 14 days.
2-The State Property Office contracts for a property appraisal. Approximate time required is 90-180 days. The time required for appraisal depends on the complexity of the appraisal and the availability of appraisers in the area.
3-The Division reviews the appraisal, secures departmental approval and submits an authorization to acquire (called a PO-1) to the State Property Office. Approximate time required is 28 days.
4-The State Property Office negotiates with the landowner and secures a purchase option. The approximate time required is 30-120 days. The time required for negotiations can be longer if the landowner does not agree with the appraised value of the property, the area to be acquired, or simply does not wish to accept the state’s offer
5-The State Property Office contracts for a property survey. Approximate time required is 30-60 days. Complex surveys can take longer.
6-The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the NC Council of State review and approve the acquisition. Approximate time required is 30-60 days. This is dependent on the relationship between the date of a landowner’s acceptance of an offer and the agenda deadlines for the two public bodies. It can take longer if the commission does not meet.
7-The State Property Office contracts for a title opinion. Approximate time required is 30-60 days. If title problems -- such as unknown owners, mineral or timber deeds, or other owners -- are found during title work, this can lengthen the time required.
8-The State Property Office closes on the property transaction. Approximate time required is 28 days.
The total time required is approximately 280-550 days (9 to 18 months).
