New Park Signs

The folks at Durham Parks & Recreation are in the process of removing old park signs and installing new, light-reflective signs.  Some have already gone in around Forest Hills Park.  Here are some photos.  Be on the lookout for more, including a new sign in front of the Club House.

Tributary

The footpath bridge over the tributary flowing into the Third Fork Creek in Forest Hills Park will be installed within the next month.  Notice to proceed for construction of the pedestrian bridge was given on October 26th, and construction of the bridge footings should begin sometime next week.  The bridge is constructed elsewhere and will be shipped to and installed at the site in about three to four weeks.

Neighborhood Halloween Party!

Bring the kids to the annual Halloween party at the club house. 5:30 to 7, October 31st. Hots dogs and fear will be served.

Sewer Update

The large white trucks parked near the Park Picnic Shelter for the last couple of days are gone.  Earlier in the week a sewer line broke and released sewage into the Third Fork Creek.  The Durham Water and Sewer Department contracted with an Atlanta firm to repair the pipe and the repairs were completed yesterday.  The pipe being repaired runs south from a point near the Park Picnic Shelter between two concrete man holes.  The existing pipe is made of clay and is brittle.  It was repaired/reinforced by adding a new internal liner.  The process is essentially one of inflating a large long balloon like liner and then adhering it to the walls of the pipe.  According to a Durham Sewer and Water representative, this should give the pipe a 'new life' without breaks for the next ten to fifteen years. Sewer pipe running from Lyon Park south through the west side of the park was repaired/replaced earlier this summer.

 

Durham Parks and Rec will coordinate with Durham General Services to repair the park area rutted by the heavy vehicles/machinery.  Some work by Durham Water and Sewer also remains to be completed.  Much of this finishing work will not be able to be accomplished until the area dries out.

Sewer Work at the Park

You may have seen the large white trucks parked near the Park Picnic Shelter today.  Earlier in the week a sewer line broke and released sewage into the Third Fork Creek.  Durham Sewer and Water has contracted with an Atlanta firm to repair the pipe and repairs are currently underway.  The pipe being repaired runs south from a point near the Park Picnic Shelter to the next concrete stand pipe.  The existing pipe is made of clay and is brittle….(older than most of the residents of Forest Hills).  It will be reinforced and sealed from the inside for the length of the pipe.  According to a Durham Sewer and Water representative, this should give the pipe a 'new life' without breaks for the next ten to fifteen years. Sewer pipe running from Lyon Park south through the west side of the park was repaired/replaced earlier this summer.

The BIG Sweep, Saturday Oct. 3rd!

Its that time again when Forest Hills neighbors put on their gloves and work pants and help clean up the East Fork Creek and Forest Hills Park. In junction with the City of Durham's annual BIG SWEEP, FHNA is coordinating volunteers to help cleanup the Park on October 3rd. This year we will be concentrating not only on the East Fork Creek but also the Park grounds so we need lots of volunteers.

Doughnuts and coffee will be served beginning at 8:30 AM at the Park Shelter on Saturday, October the 3rd. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and spend part of your Saturday helping beautify the Park. Gloves and pickup tools will be provided.

Please talk to your friends and neighbors about this important event and mark your calendars. We need a good showing of volunteers this year.   

Goats vs. Kudzu: Round 1

Keep Durham Beautiful (KDB) recently sponsored a test of goat versus Kudzu at "Kudzu Corner" on East Forest Hills Boulevard.  In the short term, the goats won....in the longer term, the Kudzu returns.  Looking for an environmentally sensitive way to address the encroachment of invasive plants in the Forest Hills area, the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association coordinated with KDB to test the use of goats in reducing Kudzu.  The test was successful, and plans are currently being studied for additional use of goats at the corner.  This link to photos from Keep Durham Beautiful's web site shows step-by-step progress over a four-hour period.

http://www.keepdurhambeautiful.org/secondary/picture-pages/goats.html