Important Update from Vic -Please read

On 7/28/08, I spoke with Vic Lebsock, Raleigh’s greenway planner, for additional details on the City of Raleigh’s attempt to work with NC Parks for improved access to Umstead. He stated that he had a second meeting with Don Reuter ofNC Parks and Recreation and several individuals in operations from Umstead. (He did not get the names of all in attendance, but thought one was Scott and another Kevin. I assume this was Scott Letchworth, but do not know.) While he initially thought there were potential solutions for Reedy Creek/Crabtree Creek after the first meeting, at the second meeting he was told that the Umstead Park Advisory Committee and Umstead Coalition were not in support of parking lots at the edge of park property. Their formal position is for the park to have interior parking with activities to radiate outward to allow the limited staff maximal control. They asked the city to look at putting in sidewalks and pedestrian paths along Ebenezer Church Road to allow people to get into the park easier. Mr Lebsock stated that Graylyn appears to be out of the question—partly because of the PAC’s stance and due to its designation as a State Nature and Historic Preserve requiring legislative intervention and that a solution forReedy Creek now involved NCSU. He does plan to see if potential sites can be located that are not immediately adjacent to the park. He seemed frustrated by the NC Parks refusal to look at alternatives and to examine their current policies for a solution--and thought only continued public pressure (on NC Parks) might help.