Community Rallies to Protect Umstead Park amid Quarry Concerns

The Umstead Coalition has posted a slate of community events and ongoing advocacy resources aimed at protecting William B. Umstead State Park and the neighboring Odd Fellows Tract. Among the listings was a First Day Hike along the Yellow Dot Trail on Jan. 1, 2026; the Coalition also promotes workshops, native plant sales, hikes and volunteer restoration opportunities that engage neighbors in stewardship and open-space preservation.

The Coalition’s website serves as a local resource by offering background and FAQs about the RDU/Odd Fellows Tract controversy. The materials track the property’s ownership history and summarize community concerns tied to proposals for quarrying and other development that could alter the park’s landscape. Officials and residents have framed the debate around potential environmental and recreational impacts, and the Coalition is encouraging public participation in hikes, restoration projects and advocacy to protect park lands.

Wake County’s largest urban-proximate state park functions as more than a recreation area; it is part of the public health infrastructure for a rapidly growing region. Regular access to trails and green spaces supports physical activity, stress reduction and community cohesion, particularly for residents who lack private yards or paid recreation options. Changes to the Odd Fellows Tract could reduce trail connectivity, tree canopy and quiet outdoor space that many rely on for daily exercise and respite.

Community concern about quarrying includes potential changes to air and water quality, noise and the character of recreational areas. Those impacts would not be felt equally: low-income neighborhoods and communities of color often bear a disproportionate share of environmental harms, making equity considerations central to local decision-making. The Coalition’s outreach underscores the role of civic participation in shaping permitting, mitigation and land-use policies that will determine how park-adjacent lands are used in the years ahead.

For residents, the immediate pathway to influence outcomes is participation. The Coalition’s event listings and volunteer opportunities provide ways to document trail conditions, assist with native-plant restoration and make voices heard when county or state processes move forward. As Wake County continues to grow, the balance between conservation and development in and around Umstead will remain a defining local health and equity issue, with long-term consequences for environmental quality and access to public green space.