February 3, 2020

Mr. Greg Ford, Chairman
Wake County Board of Commissioners
RE:  RDUAA/Umstead State Park/Lake Crabtree County Park

Dear Chairman Ford,

On Monday, January 27, 2020, your Wake County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee (OSAPAC) met for our regularly scheduled monthly meeting. As a part of our agenda, we continued our broad discussion of the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority (RDUAA) properties related to Umstead State Park and Lake Crabtree County Park and considered our role in the stewardship of the county’s parks.  You will recall that in a letter to the Board of Commissioners in 2016, OSAPAC recommended the County support the idea of the development of an Urban Trail Center on specific parcels owned by RDUAA and a portion of Umstead State Park north of I-40. This endeavor was, and continues to be thought of, as potentially a great benefit for the RDUAA and the entire region.  

Since that time in 2016, a lot has transpired related to the properties. OSAPAC continues to support the recommendations in our 2016 letter. However, it will take a concerted effort by all the interested parties to work together towards a viable solution that will meet the needs of RDUAA while protecting Umstead State Park and Lake Crabtree County Park. We reaffirm OSAPAC’s concerns and continue to encourage the County to continue to take an active role in facilitating a collaborative, cooperative and mutually beneficial solution that retains the land’s most important environmental resources and allows public access for compatible outdoor recreation. OSAPAC is happy to assist in whatever manner the Board of Commissioners finds most helpful to bring together or help facilitate a process that can benefit all parties.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Hinson, Chair

Wake County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee

CC:

Wake County CommissionersWake County Open Space & Parks Advisory Committee Members
David Ellis, Wake County Manager
Johnna Rogers, Deputy Wake County Manager
Scott Warren, Wake County Attorney
Denise Hogan, Clerk to the Board of CommissionersFrank Cope, Wake County Community Services Director

Read a PDF of the letter here.