The Friends of West Point Park would like to share their concern with the Durham community about the need to preserve the sixty acre tract known as Black Meadow Ridge in north Durham. This piece of land lies adjacent to the southern boundary of West Point on the Eno Park, between the park and the neighborhoods of Argonne Hills and Horton Hills. The owner of this property has recently partnered with Sun Forest Systems of Chapel Hill to develop this property at the maximum allowed density of 6.2 units per acre, but is also willing to sell it for preservation.
This property is 100% part of the Durham County Inventory of Important Natural Areas, a 1999 study commissioned by the NC Natural Heritage Program and both the City and the County of Durham. As such, the property should receive special consideration for preservation. The land's topography is particularly significant, in that it includes the crest of the ridge on the south bank overlooking the Eno River, with the majority of the parcel actually sloping down into the river valley. It has two significant creeks, Warren Creek on its west side and Black Meadow Branch on its east, both flowing down through West Point Park and into the Eno River.
It is the firm position of the Friends of West Point Park that any form of development on these sixty acres will severely compromise the environmental and aesthetic integrity of both West Point Park and the Eno River. We maintain that this property should be protected as open space and included as part of the Eno River parklands. We are asking the public to immediately contact Durham City and County government officials and encourage them to negotiate in good faith with the parties involved and to preserve these sixty acres for inclusion into the Eno River parklands.
Therefore, we urge all concerned citizens of Durham to contact our mayor and city manager, city council members and county commissioners by email, phone, letter or in person and insist that they insure the preservation of Black Meadow Ridge. You will find contact information for our government officials at the following websites: http://www.durhamnc.gov and http://www.co.durham.nc.gov co.durham.nc.gov. If you wish to discuss this issue with a board member of the Friends of West Point Park, or offer assistance of any kind in the preservation of this property, please note our contact information at the bottom of our home page. The Friends of West Point vice president is currently making rounds to local community groups to speak about our challenge. Please see the home page for her contact information if you are interested in a presentation for your organization or business.
The following neigborhood associations that encircle West Point Park and contracted environemntal education programs that work within West Point Park, have formally endorsed this statement of urgent concern for Black Meadow Ridge:
Argonne Hills Neigborhood Watch Horton Hills Homeowners Association Lochhaven Hills Neighborhood Association Old Farm Neighborhood Association School House of Wonder Wafting the Eno River
Endorsements from other area organizations:
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association Friends of South Ellerbe Creek Haw River Assembly Neuse River Foundation & Upper Neuse Riverkeeper New Hope Audubon Society Old West Durham Neighborhood Association Olive Branch Road Neighborhood Association Trinity Park Neighborhood Association Tuscaloosa Lakewood Neighborhood Association Watts Hospital - Hillandale Neighborhood Association
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