John Goldfield: Destroying my respite

Regarding the Aug. 26 news article “RDU faces criticism amid 25-year planning efforts”: I step out my door, and within minutes I am in its embrace. The cool shaded trails call to me – from my sofa, from my desk, from wherever it is that I am clearly in need of what trees, and roots, and rocks, and streams can offer. Mostly I run, scampering up and down the single-track trails like a child. Other times I ride, tearing up in the headwind on the wide paths until I access Lake Crabtree, where I test my balance and skill on the technical trails – all the while marveling at what a jewel is here and what a privilege it is to be able to access it.

RDU’s Vision 2040 threatens my perfect place. My escape, my solace, my joy, my refresh, my reboot. I oppose a runway built closer to it and a quarry built next to Umstead State Park on environmentally sensitive lands that drain into our park and Crabtree Creek. I oppose the destruction of the forested lands, and I support a Forested Urban Trail Center in the lands off Old Reedy Creek Road and adjacent to Umstead State Park. We can’t afford to lose it.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 3:58 PM with the headline "John Goldfield: Destroying my respite."