APEX - Val Weiss cautiously stepped forward, steadied himself and cast a line into the sometimes unpredictable waters of local government inside the council chambers at Town Hall.

His bait: a request to preserve a favorite neighborhood activity for parents and children living in and near the recently developed Seagroves Farm subdivision along Center Street.

But the town council didn't bite - at least not yet.

Weiss hoped the council might speed up the process of developing a park planned around a familiar - albeit currently off-limits - fishing spot near the intersection of Center Street and Hillsford Lane.

His comments came during a public hearing on a proposed $65.6 million budget for 2011.

The draft financial plan, which is expected to be approved on June 15, includes little funding for capital projects in the coming fiscal year.

Weiss' remarks followed an incident during the Memorial Day weekend in which several neighborhood kids and their parents were asked to leave the pond at Seagroves Farm.

John Brown, director of parks and recreation in Apex, explained that he later received several e-mails from concerned parents asking why several of his employees sent the amateur fishermen packing. "Our folks went there and told them there was no access on the property and that they weren't allowed to fish in the pond," Brown said. He added that signs posted on site state clearly that the land has been designated as a future park site and that the property is off-limits to the public, at least for now.

"We encourage people not to come onto the property for a couple of reasons," Brown said. "... It's a very thick and heavily-wooded area, and it's very difficult to keep an eye on it. If something were to happen, it would be difficult to get to."

Plans for Seagroves Farm Park have been in the works for at least six years, Brown said. The layout of the property has been approved, as have construction drawings.

"We don't have any money in place to build it," he said. "This project was not part of the 2004 bond referendum we did because we didn't own the property then."

Brown said the park project could cost between $750,000 and $1 million. When and from where those funds might come, however, remains unclear. No money for the Seagroves Farm Park is included in Apex's 2011 budget plan.

Recession or not, though, Weiss said his and other families just want to be able to enjoy a convenient recreation spot - as soon as possible.

"It's one of those nice, easy things for someone who is working to be able to just walk up the street and use the pond," he said.