By james art 
A new project of Hanover Park County has received its final approval seal.
The expansion of 85 acres of New Hanover’s Smith Creek Park in Muriville is the latest place for the development debate. Of the Council of Commissioners on February 3, the Council approved the tender for the innocuous construction of $ 2,022 632 for the second phase of the park.
This park includes freshwater lake with catch and release pier. Non -motorized boats and kayaks are able to fire from a floating dock. The Smith Creek Park Reserve, which is included in the expansion, is a large extent an untouched piece of land that offers a peaceful escape from the developed land. But residents say that the county plans are contrary to the wishes of the people who use it most.
Residents advocate for natural paths
Development includes a millet paved perimeter path. Katie Finley, who lives in an apartment complex near the park, said she was afraid of a thousand trees to be removed to complete the project.
“This county is full of asphalt and is so old,” Finley said. “I am grateful that we have a paved part because everyone has access to nature. What we do not give to people is nature for those who can go into it and hike. “
Finley regularly walks the natural paths with his grandson. She says that paved paths, like the current path of 1.3 miles in the park, are painful to walk. The natural path is visited by tourists, runners and cyclists. By paving the way, Commissioner Stephanie Walker said she was happy that the project would make the park more affordable.
“Ideally, we would like everything to stay natural,” Walker said. “But this will open access not only to people who have more difficult time on such paths, but also people who like to skate and bike.”
The second phase of the park will add a new entry near Gordon Road, parking, toilet, picnic shelter, ADA RAMP and a place to play with environmental education features. Commissioner Rob Filled said that despite the conflicting comments the Council received, this type of development is usually what residents overlap.
“This is the need for people who live in this part of the county and use this space we have owned since 2011,” Zapple said. “The inner parts of the park will remain unchanged.
Online Pause Petition The Project has over 500 inspected signatures. Stephen Aktelm, who launched the petition, said the approved plans did not reflect what members of the surrounding community wanted. He cites a 2023 study, which found that 14.1% of residents were for stretching the pedestrian paths.
“The area is open and is currently being used,” Axtel said. “They don’t open something new to anyone.”
Axhelm says the county did not correctly send the necessary notifications to the residents near the reserve. Finley said she did not hear about the development until the morning of the commissioner’s meeting.
The original Smith Creek Park of 177 acres opened in 2011. The planned development covers less than 10% of the expansion of 85 acres. Construction is expected to start next month.
Daniel Sheehan covers the Counts of New Hanover and Brunswick for Starnews. Get to it dsheehan@gannett.comS