Talks begin on Durham park

West Point management may change

DURHAM -- Talks began Tuesday on whether the state should take over operation of Durham's West Point on the Eno Park, but adjourned without a decision.

In November, the Durham City Council authorized City Manager Tom Bonfield to open talks about State Parks assuming management of the popular city-owned park on Roxboro Road. Bonfield and State Parks Director Lewis Ledford held their first formal meeting on the issue Tuesday.

"The meeting was very informative and positive," Ledford wrote via e-mail to The News & Observer, but the parties came to no conclusions.

Members of the nonprofit Friends of West Point had proposed the idea for such a transfer as a means to preserve an adjacent 60-acre tract from development as a subdivision.

Bonfield was not available for comment Tuesday night. According to Ledford, "several assessments of the properties" and a specific proposal from the city of Durham are needed before talks go further.

Chapel Hill developer Keith Brown, who has proposed developing the adjacent Black Meadow Ridge tract, agreed last fall not to proceed with his plans until February. That gives the city, state and conservation interests time to agree on a proposal for buying the land. Two independent appraisals last year estimated the land's value at about $3 million.

On Tuesday, Brown said he is willing to wait past the Feb. 1 deadline.

"Each of the groups is making what we see as good progress," he said.