Millers Pond Park, a passive nature park with walking trails located on U.S. 117 near the Pender County-New Hanover County line, was originally purchased by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to excavate fill for the construction of the bridge over the Cape Fear River, according to Pender Planning and Community Development officials. Today, the seven-acre pond that those strolling in the park enjoy is the direct result of that excavation project.
Planning Director Kyle Breuer said that around 1996, the “NCDOT conveyed the land to Pender County, which worked to develop the area into the park facility,” and that the pond was given the name “Millers Pond” because most of the original landowners of the property were members of the Miller Family.
Historically, the Millers Pond Park area was also site of the historic prisoner exchange during the Civil War. When Wilmington fell to Union troops in February 1865, warring confederate and union armies agreed to a prisoner of war exchange that included 8,684 Union troops and an unknown number of Confederacy troops. Also, 2,750 of the Union prisoners in the exchange were marched from the Salisbury prison to Greensboro, where they were transported by train to Goldsboro and then marched to the exchange site near the current park.
Pender Officials say various obstacles caused delays, but attempts were made in the early 2000’s to open Millers Pond Park. During that time, the bridges were constructed around the pond and placards were placed to identify different plant species, etc.
UPDATE: Fishing is allowed at Millers Pond Park, except off the scenic overlook. Fishermen must follow N.C. Wildlife rules, which means anglers must have a license unless they are under 16 and accompanied by a fisherman with a license, according to the Pender County Parks and Recreation Department.
Date posted: January 11, 2012
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