Polk approves conservancy on new trails

MILL SPRING — Equestrian trails will not be allowed on Polk County’s recently acquired 300 acres of trail land in Mill Spring.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and approved covenants for the new property, located adjacent to Polk County Middle School.

Last month, commissioners asked Recreation Director Jerry Stensland to ask the Clean Water Trust Fund about the possibility of future equestrian trails on the property, but Stensland said they were reluctant to change the covenants related to that use.

Stensland said they did ask if there were other properties they could pursue for equestrian uses, and said there are better properties suited for that other than the Mill Spring property, naming Alexander’s Ford as one.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson said Alexander’s Ford is rarely used, and it would be appropriate for equestrian trails as  it was the site the Overmountain Men camped the night before going to Kings Mountain, and they were on horseback then.

Commissioner Tommy Melton said he had three residents contact him to ask why the county is not allowing horse trails on the Mill Spring property.

“All over the county we have horse trails, and now we have this trail and aren’t allowing it,” Melton said.

Stensland said the topography is difficult, and equestrian trails have to be wider, so it would impact more of the land.

“There’s no mountain biking trails in the county,” Stensland said. “It would be a new activity.”

Stensland said the new trail system is likely 8 to 10 miles, and in order for mountain biking and horse riding to coexist, the county would either have to create separate trails or have the activities take place on alternate days.

“We don’t have anywhere to mountain bike in the county, other than the Green River game lands, which is not suitable for most riders,” Stensland said.

Gasperson said the restrictions will run with the land, and he just wanted the option in the future to have equestrian trails.

Commissioner Myron Yoder said a lot of young kids get into biking, so he thinks it is a good thing. He asked if the restrictions can ever be changed.

County Attorney Jana Berg said in the future it could be possible to amend the covenants.

The county was granted the 300 acres for a trail system. There are also 600 acres going back into the North Carolina game lands, and, in order to strengthen the grant, the county’s 300 acres was used for a Clean Water Management grant, which comes with restrictions.

Conserving Carolina purchased the former Foster Creek Preserve, a planned subdivision that fell through years ago, with over 1,000 acres. Conserving Carolina plans for 300 of the acres to be given to Polk County for the trail system, 600 acres to be used to expand the game lands and approximately 30 acres to be used for workforce housing.

The county was awarded a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant last year for part of the purchase of the 300 acres, with the match coming from discounts in the property purchase. The county is acquiring the 300 acres at no cost.