A History of Conservation

In 1992 an imminent development threat to beloved recreational trails in the beautiful hardwood and pine forests along Nancy Rhodes Creek watershed set Margaret Nygard, then the Executive Vice President of the Eno River Association into action. She inspired the creation of Nancy Rhodes Creek Neighborhood Association (NRCNA) as a 501-C Nonprofit which neighbors, notably efforts of Donna Deal, Jack and Mary Hebrank, and others) created to ensure conservation of the forest and waterways. Local folks with land along the creek donated conservation easements for the portion of their land in the flood plain.  These easements plus considerable donations of time were used to obtain the seven and a half acre “orchard” land along Nancy Rhodes creek that had been slated for development.  Jack Hebrank states, “Margaret had the vision and the sales skills to convince many to donate conservation easements, requiring the land and floodplains along Nancy Rhodes Creek be left totally natural.”

In 1993, group efforts succeeded. Durham County provided $75,000 from its Open Space committee, matched by easements from property owners and fund raising by neighbors and from an auction, sponsored by the 1993 Eno River Festival to buy the Orchard. Jack adds, “Mary and I named the creek from the lake on Fleming to Nancy Rhodes creek as “Margaret Creek” in recognition of the effort Margaret Nygard made to preserve the woods and expand access from our area to the Eno River.  From my front door it created a 2.9 mile loop which I have run thousands of times including in a hurricane with a creek level about a foot over the then existing bridge. A property owner who donated an easement began mowing the walking trail to the Eno Pump Station, providing enjoyable hiking (or running) experience for lots of people.”  

Late in 2024, we learned that ten acres of property along and adjacent to the creek had gone on the market for development, and our conservation efforts renewed in conjunction with the property owner as in 1992. Our vision is that the beautiful hardwoods in the floodplain (six acres of the ten) be added to the adjacent Valley Spring City Park. Our “Orchard” and the proposed addition of the six acres for sale provide connectivity (walking and hiking) between Valley Springs Park and the Eno River Park Pump Station access.