We Have A State Park -- Sort Of

Driving north on Church St., just after crossing NC 150, one crosses a broad expanse of flat, wet land and a small bridge. This is the Haw River and its wetland flood-plain. Not a rushing white-water stream here in its headwater reaches, but rich in flora and fauna. Deer, turkey, bobcat, and fox are common. Even an occasional black bear has been seen. And the westernmost breeding pair of prothonotary warblers have been recorded along the wetlands. A look at aerial photos of the river corridor reveals that large expanses of woodlands still exist. Most Piedmont streams used to be this way, but the Haw is the last vestige of an unspoiled river corridor. This is what sold the NC Division of Parks and Recreation on agreeing to establish the Haw River State Park in 2003. Although about 400 acres have been purchased by the state, including the Summit, the former Episcopal Diocese conference center, land acquisition has been slow and difficult due to development pressure. Indeed, about 700 acres of land next to the Summit is under option to a company from Florida, Bluegreen, which intends to put a gated, golf-course community there. The state has said that it will buy the property at market value, and needs it for Park expansion. The decision by the Guilford County Planning Board to allow the rezoning of the land has been appealed to the County Commissioners, which have now put off hearing the appeal until early December. The proposed development has several environmental concerns, including withdrawing at least 100,000 gallons of water per day from the Haw River to irrigate the golf course; and spraying treated sewage effluent onto the course in later years for irrigation. The development will have only one entrance, onto Church Street, with as many as 8000 cars trips a day using it. The new northern schools (elementary, middle and high) are already at capacity, and so additional schools would be required if this project goes forward. But far beyond these concerns is this simple question. Do we want another exclusive development, or do we want a full-fledged state park?? It is really that simple. Public support for the Park has been surging in the last few weeks. Commissioners Chair Paul Gibson said that he has not gotten as much mail on any other issue in his seven years on the Board. This is what will win the day for OUR STATE PARK. Our County Commissioners must hear from us. All of us. Please help secure the future of the Haw River State Park by communicating with the Commissioners. Their e-mail addresses and phone numbers and lots more information about the issue can be found at the web site: CitizensForHawRiverSP.org . Thank you.

Jack Jezorek