News
Huge crowd turns out to protect Lake Crabtree park
Environmental, Neuse River Watershed, Sound Rivers, Water Quality
Posted on January 30th, 2025
Only 40 people fit in the conference room slated for the hearing, while hundreds more waited outside.
The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority was unprepared for the crowd speaking out to protect a beloved park.
Wednesday night, hundreds of people attended a public hearing at the RDU Center to talk about possible development of Lake Crabtree County Park — so many that the line of speakers snaked out of Conference Room 100, down the hall and out of the building, according to Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop.
“It was wild. There were hundreds of people there at the peak of it and the conference room only fit about 40 people,” Samantha said. “They seriously underestimated the amount of public engagement they were going to have. It was overwhelming.”
A proposed plan would turn the most-used forested park in Wake County into an entertainment district, potentially replacing its current network of hiking and mountain biking trails, boat rentals, playgrounds, fishing docks, picnic areas and volleyball courts. Those who use the park were out in full force, Samantha said.
“There were recreation groups, running clubs, people from the Umstead Park Coalition, environmental groups, a college environmental club. There were kids, folks of all ages, and really good comments,” she said. “They were all in favor of protecting the park. There were a lot of ideas about what development could look like in the area that would support what’s already there instead of replacing it with sidewalks and buildings.”

Since summer of 2024, Samantha has been tracking the ongoing expansion of RDU, documenting the resulting sediment pollution flowing through the public trail systems, into Lake Crabtree. In addition to sediment pollution, Lake Crabtree is listed as federally impaired because of PCB contamination from a major spill at an upstream Ward Transformer plant. Though the lakebed contains PCBs, scientists determined sediment disturbance could flush the toxins downstream. One of Samantha’s concerns is that increased flow of sediment-laden water into the lake could churn up legacy toxins; another is the impacts of developing 136 acres of forest.
“Any model for development in this area should protect, center and enhance forestland and the trail system currently there,” she told the hearing officials. “The Airport Authority should work with municipal leaders to explore other funding options that can allow us to protect this natural park resource, rather than destroy it. We do not need another entertainment district in this area. We do need more forested parks.”
Wake County Commissioners will be discussing the proposal at Monday night’s meeting. Comments on the Lake Crabtree Park proposal can be submitted to the board. The meeting is open to the public.
Wake County Board of Commissioners meets at 5 p.m. on Feb. 3 in Room 2700 on the second floor of the Justice Center. Visitors to the Wake County Commissioners’ meeting should enter at 301 S. McDowell St. Parking is available in the Wake County Parking Deck, 216 W. Cabarrus St.
Do you want to protect Lake Crabtree County Park from development? Donate to support your Neuse Riverkeeper’s fight for responsible development!
Click the box on the lower right side of the image below to switch to full screen to watch the video of Samantha making her comments to the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority!
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