The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation has played a major role in the conservation and protection of the greater Eno River Valley.  If the city, friends and users of West Point on the Eno express unified interest and support, the state parks system will consider negotiating and purchasing the 60-acre track known as Black Meadow Ridge (the Mildred Ray property) located adjacent to the park’s southern boundary and evaluate managing West Point on the Eno as a part of the Eno River State Park . Should that unified support and evaluation prove favorable, the City of Durham would transfer the management of West Point on the Eno (a non-liquid permanent conservation asset to which no value can be attached) to the N.C. State Parks System, extending the Eno River State Park eastward from Guess Road to Roxboro Street in North Durham. 

As a Result, the Citizens of Durham Will Gain the Following:

1 - Black Meadow Ridge is preserved, the park managed land at West Point on the Eno expands by 15% and the entire area is protected from the detrimental effects of an adjacent, high-density development on its southern border that would seriously compromise both the environmental and aesthetic integrity of this historic, passive-urban, recreational parkland and the Eno River.

2 - The City of Durham's on-going expenses for West Point Park (Parks and Recreation, General Services and law enforcement) can be redirected to the pressing needs of Durham's other city parks and Durham's expanding and urgent greenway transportation projects.

3 - State park rangers are fully authorized law enforcement officers with powers to enforce all state laws and regulations within state park boundaries.

4 - State park staff also provide strong nature resource management strategies that will allow for improved protection for lands, waters and wildlife.

5 - State park management will evaluate and assess park facilities, such as historic buildings, shelters, restrooms, as well as roads, trails, signage, trash, recycling and invasive plant management regarding repair, renovation and operational costs.  If the transfer were to occur, a transition period where staffing and operational needs are assessed and addressed would be required.

6 – An important objective of the state parks system is providing environmental education to users of all ages and state park officials have indicated they will work with organizers of currently contracted environmental programs and events traditionally held at West Point on the Eno Park.
 
7 - The public's perception of who manages West Point Park will not significantly change under N.C. State Parks management, as we have found that many residents in Durham already believe West Point on the Eno is part of the Eno River State Park.

8 - The State Parks System is capable of managing state park land in growing urban areas.  The N.C. State Parks System already has Umstead State Park as a model for a well-managed, urban parkland with facility, trail, security and water management issues much larger than those at West Point on the Eno.

       Mr. Lewis Ledford, director of the N.C. State Parks system, has stated to the Friends of West Point Park that "the Division of Parks and Recreation is willing to thoroughly evaluate and consider this management exchange and work in partnership in the best interest of the Eno River State Park and West Point on the Eno, its supporters and users to provide for conservation of the greater Eno River corridor, and to provide for quality outdoor recreation and environmental educational experiences."