Wake County is growing so fast, county officials estimate almost one acre of open space is lost to development every hour.

After Monday, one square mile of land -- about 684 acres -- will be off limits to developers. But hikers, cyclists, and picnic-goers will be welcome.

County Commissioners approved spending $15 million dollars to buy two tracts of land for future parks, open space and watershed protection. The first totals 562 acres. It's off Lizard Lick Road, near Wendell.

The second totals 122 acres and is off Creedmore Road in North Raleigh. The non-profit Trust For Public Land negotiated the deal.

"It will provide a lot of opportunity for open space, recreation, and because it's so large, lots of buffer between wildlife and people," said Chad Guthrie, the project manager for the Trust.

The land near Wendell is the third largest continuous piece of open space in the county, after Umstead State Park and Falls Lake.

"There's nothing wrong with development," continued Guithrie. "It's good for the economy and it's good for people. But there's still a need for green space, and this will help."

The money for the purchase is the first from an open space bond issue Wake County voters approved last fall.