Update:  By the end of December 2018 this latest NC Park Trust Fund Danger was stopped due to huge public outcry - thanks everyone!

NC Park Trust Fund in Danger

Senate Bill 821 had been filed in December 2018 by Senator Andy Wells, Catawba County.  It would sunset the NC Parks Trust Fund and Clean Water Management Trust Fund.  The Umstead Coalition has already sent emails to our Legislatures asking for this very BAD bill to be defeated.

The NC Park Trust Fund and the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund have been key funding mechanisms to LOCAL GOVERNMENTS and STATE PARKS on a state-wide basis.  The water quality and recreational infrastructure funding provided under these Trust Funds have had multiplicative returns in increased:  water protections, recreational assets, economic growth, and jobs.  As such, they have tremendous support from the local governments around NC.  As well as the Citizens of NC. 

Thanks to all who contacted your Senator and Representative and ask them to OPPOSE S821.  To find who represents your:

https://www2.ncleg.net/RnR/Representation

Update: Wake County Parks and Protected Open Spaces Bond Passed!  

Thanks to the overwhelming voter support, this critically important public funding for our parks, nature preserves, greenways and protected natural and rural land passed! See  www.wakegov.com/parksbond2018

We concur with and appreciate Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson's remarks to WRAL on election night:

“We love Clean Air, We love Clean Water, We love our parks, and we love our greenway system.  This is perfect for Wake County. These are drivers that bring people here.  Economic development, quality of life, active life style, healthy communities. This is the type of thing that makes us unique in Wake County.”

Thanks for all who sent their comments to RDU. We expect another workshop and public input opportunity this fall. 

Information presented at Public Workshop on September 27, 2020: 

What:  The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority is expanding ParkRDU Economy 3 Lot Expansion on National Guard Drive near the interchange of I-40 and Aviation Parkway, south of Terminal 1. The RDU Airport is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA).  

This area is extremely close to William B. Umstead State Park and our proposed forested trail system.

There were no specific plans presented. Here is what The Umstead Coalition submitted in our Public Comments in October:

1. Parking lots be sited to work with the steep and environmentally topography and to minimize impact on Hally's branch and other waterways
2. Parking lot be built with Low Impact Development (LID) techniques to minimize storm water impacts to Umstead State Park
3. Maintaining substantial FORESTED buffers between parking lot and Umstead State Park
4. Parking is available for the RDU Forest trails (recall that Wake County is currently under negotiations to put official single-track bike/ped trails adjacent to this proposed parking lot expansion, e.g., “286 trails.” (see our next article for links to concepts we are proposing for the RDU Forest)

Image showing parking Economy Lot 3 expansion and location

Triangle Bikeway along I-40 PLEASE help push this project forward!

Project number:  B171933, Triangle Bikeway

This project is on the cut-off line for funding under the Statewide transportation projects.  A higher local input score could push it into funding, and at least send a strong signal for public support. 

DEADLINE:  July 9.  

PLEASE enter you public support by July 9 by either:

1. Selecting Wake County from this link below.

https://ncdot-stip.metroquest.com

Zooming into the area showing I-40 by Umstead State Park, Click on red line south of I-40.  Vote "YES" for "Is this a Priority Project"

2. Submit an on line comment form: 

https://apps.ncdot.gov/ContactUS/Home/PostComment?Unit=STIPDiv5

Ask for  B171933, Triangle Bikeway to be included as a Priority Project for funding. 

This bikeway along I-40 will connect the Trenton Road Greenway to RDU Forest and Davis Drive (RTP- Triangle Park Center).  More information: Triangle I-40 Bikeway

From Susi H. Hamilton, Secretary Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:

I am pleased to announce the new Director of the Division of State Parks and Recreation.  Dwayne Patterson will be moving from his current role as Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to serve as our State Parks Director effective Thursday, June 28th. 

Dwayne understands the important role that parks and trails play in improving health and quality of life, and will work to expand access to parks throughout North Carolina, especially among children.  His extensive leadership experience, along with his operational and financial background, make him a great fit to lead the department’s largest division.

Prior to his recent 14 months as Chief Financial Officer for the department, he was Executive Director for CREST, a regional non-profit agency in Fayetteville that serves intellectually and developmentally disabled adults.  He has also been Chief Deputy Secretary for the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Chief Financial Officer for Warren and Durham County school systems, and Director of Operations for the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.  He was raised in Kinston and graduated with a BA in accounting from NC State University.

Please join me in congratulating Dwayne on his new role!

I want to thank Carol Tingley for doing an excellent job as Interim Director, and the division’s leadership team and entire staff for their hard work and professionalism during the transition.

Susi H. Hamilton

Secretary, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Bikeway along I-40 does not receive FY19 funding, but FY20 funding hopeful

Disappointingly, the Triangle I-40 bikeway did not make NCDOT's FY19 funding.  However, it remains a priority project for Wake County.  Wake County plans to resubmit for FY20 funding.  And, Wake County will continue to plan it's routing.

And, it has come a long way due to your tremendous public input!  Starting as a vague concept on a map, it now is on the Regional and Statewide project list for strong consideration of planning and funding.

This bikeway along I-40 will connect the Trenton Road Greenway to RDU Forest and Davis Drive (RTP- Triangle Park Center). This missing link would enable bike/ped connections from downtown Raleigh to RDU and RTP.  It will enable connections to many of the area's major greenways, including: Black Creek, Reedy Creek, House Creek, Rocky Branch, Walnut Creek, American Tobacco Trail, Crabtree Creek, and the Neuse Greenways.  In addition to the regional/national East Coast Greenway and NC 2 (Mountains to Sea) and US 1 (Carolina Connection) bike routes.

AND, the Triangle Bikeway would serve as a vital connection to the RDU Forest trail system at Lake Crabtree County Park, RDU Airport, and Umstead State Park via the Old Reedy Creek Road Corridor.

The Triangle Bikeway along I-40 moved forward with unanimous support at September 21, 2017 CAMPO meeting.  

The Triangle Bikeway got a high ranking (4th out of 43) for the bike/ped greenways that CAMPO recommends for funding.  When ranked by NCDOT with all the other regional and state projects, it remained on the project list, but was not selected to receive FY19 funding.  

Thanks to Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson for adding the "Triangle Bikeway" along I-40  to a list of projects being evaluated for funding under CAMPO's request to NCDOT (known as SPOT 5). Note: Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is the regional transportation organization serving Wake, Frankly, Granville, Harnett, and Johnston Counties. 

BIG THANKS ALL! 

Triangle Business Poll Favors Park over Quarry

After the RDU AA meeting today (12/Oct/17) about the land lease proposals on RDU Forest, the Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) stated a poll with a simple question, use the land for a quarry or park expansion. Results were overwhelming FOR park expansion:

2,870 voted:  97% wanted Park expansion; 3% quarry

https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/pulse/poll/which-proposal-should-rdu-choose-for-land-along-i-40/21134327

View letter from NC State Parks to the Raleigh Durham Airport Authority (RDUAA) here.

Resolution Supporting The Conservation Fund’s Request to Purchase the “Odd Fellows/Crabtree Creek” Property from the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority to Expand Umstead State Park.

Download the PDF of the approved resolution here.

Raleigh, NC – An exciting, vibrant future has been proposed for a tract of non-aviation land currently owned by RDU airport. The Conservation Fund submitted a fair market offer of nearly $6.5 million to the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority to purchase a 105.46 acre parcel, known locally as the “Oddfellows” tract. The parcel of land sits between Wake County’s Lake Crabtree County Park and William B. Umstead State Park, and encompasses many miles of hiking and biking trails that are beloved by the community. The land would be preserved as an expansion of Umstead State Park, extending recreational trails and protecting a critical nexus of greenway connectivity in the Triangle Region.

The proposed purchase is a welcome alternative to a plan under consideration by RDU to lease the land for the construction of a new quarry. Construction of a new quarry would destroy the land and trails forever, while providing RDU only a modest short-term profit. The quarry plan has fervent community opposition, with close to 7,500 supporters signing a petition that opposes a new quarry and urges RDU to preserve the land as a forested recreational space.

The Conservation Fund’s proposal to purchase the land for Umstead State Park is an opportunity for RDU to collaborate with the community to protect valued recreational land, while realizing revenue from land that is not needed for aviation use. The Conservation Fund and its partners are prepared to raise public and private funds to finance the purchase, and the Fund proposes to close the purchase on August 31, 2018.

 

Community groups, united as the RDU Forest Coalition, celebrate the Conservation Fund’s proposal as a momentous move forward towards preservation of Umstead State Park and Wake County’s Lake Crabtree County Parks, and their surrounding recreational areas. “We are extremely hopeful that RDU is ready to work with the community to expand Umstead State Park and protect an irreplaceable and popular recreational space that has been enjoyed by locals for decades,” says Jean Spooner, Chair of the Umstead Coalition. “We see this as a win-win solution for both RDU and the community, and we’re excited about the opportunity for expanded hiking and mountain biking opportunities in such a popular, central area” added Dave Anderson, advocacy chair for the Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC).

 For more information, or to set up an interview, please contact:

Dr. Jean Spooner, Umstead Coalition, 919-602-0049, info@umsteadcoalition.org

David Anderson, Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC), 919-345-8011, david.anderson@pobox.com

Natalie Lew, Triangle Off-Road Cyclists (TORC), 919-812-6446, natlew66@gmail.com