History of the Park





Little River Regional Park and Natural Area successfully opened in December 2004 after a portion of the property was considered as a site for a construction/demolition landfill.  Residents of Orange and Durham Counties opposed the thought of the land being used for this purpose.  Durham County Commissioners were also unhappy with the proposal.  It was determined that the Little River Reservoir feeds Durham’s water supply and in order to protect the Little River Watershed the 179 acre parcel was removed from consideration.

The Corn Crib - one of the original farm buildings being relocated.

The Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to accept a proposal to establish a joint regional park with Durham County in March of 2000.  Purchase of the land was made possible through two grants and support from private organizations.  The park area includes 136 acres of land in Orange County and 255 acres of land in Durham County.  In order to complete the installation of the park from a mostly wooded area with rough logging roads to a facility with hiking trails and other amenities such as a parking area, picnic shelter, restrooms and signage additional grant funding was needed.  A $262,000 grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund allowed the two counties to complete the park.  The park is jointly owned and managed by Durham and Orange Counties through an inter-local agreement.