PITTSBORO - Chatham County recently approved two major grant applications and an initial design plan to begin developing the new Northeast District Park on Big Woods Road.

"This is a vital step in providing a district park in each of the four quadrants of the county," said George Lucier, chairman of the Board of Commissioners. "These actions will help us get the first phase of the park under way next year."

The commissioners approved a $500,000 grant application to the state's major park development fund and $217,500 from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to preserve 14.5 acres as an easement. That will help protect wildlife habitats, preserve the natural beauty and provide buffers for small streams that feed into Jordan Lake, Lucier said.

Chatham County operates ballfields in Bynum and recently completed the major phase of Southwest Park in Bear Creek. The county last fall purchased a large tract on Woody Store Road that had served as Camp Maranatha Springs, which will become the Northwest District Park over the next few years.

For more information on the development of the Northeast District Park or the update of the Countywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan, visit: http://www.chathamnc.org/parksandrecreaton.