Sandy Creek Park (101.7 acres) is a wetlands restoration project in west Durham.
David Anderson’s post for the New Hope Bird Alliance:
“Sandy Creek Environmental Park and Wetlands is one of the best hotspots for birding in Durham, as well as a great place to walk and view nature. Most of you are aware there was an effort to build a five-story apartment complex (140 units) on Pickett Road, abutting and uphill from the Park.
“It would have been a terrible disruption to Sandy Creek and that whole area. Many of us worked to stop the rezoning, but it passed 4-3 by Durham City Council in March 2025, and a developer began planning a project there. But the project stalled.
“And now we have learned that the neighboring Durham Academy has just closed on purchasing the 16 acre property! And thus saved it from development. There will be some minor work there, but without disruption to this environmentally sensitive area, and nothing like what might have happened. This is a wonderful outcome and I know we all share a sense of relief and are very thankful to Durham Academy.”