In a significant move to enhance visitor experience and safety, the State of North Carolina has partnered with Anderson Automotive Group for a land exchange that promises to bring improvements to William B. Umstead State Park. Announced by the Division of Parks and Recreation, this agreement aims to address longstanding access challenges at one of the state’s busy natural attractions.
The existing Glenwood Avenue entrance to the park will be relocated northwest to the traffic light at Glenwood Avenue and Triangle Drive. This strategic shift is expected to ease entry and exit for the nearly 50,000 vehicles that use the Crabtree Creek Access each year, including school buses and horse trailers, currently navigating a four-lane highway.
For eight years, the State Property Office, a division of the North Carolina Department of Administration, has collaborated with State Parks to finalize this land exchange. Anderson Automotive acquired 23 acres of parkland previously inaccessible, while the park gains three new tracts totaling 26 acres, strategically positioned to enhance the park’s borders and include a new 13-acre entrance.
Umstead State Park’s land originated as a federal gift in 1943, intended for public use. To ensure compliance with federal requirements, the National Park Service mandated that the state receive equivalent property in the exchange. Funding from Anderson and the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund facilitated the purchase of additional properties, expanding the park to over 5,600 acres.
The new entrance is expected to be particularly beneficial for RV and trailer campers, as the park’s campground is set to reopen this spring following substantial facility upgrades.
“This project has been several years in the making, and we are so grateful to our partners at the National Park Service, Anderson, the State Property Office, and the N.C. Department of Transportation, as well as our neighboring landowners who have made this possible,” said State Parks Director Brian Strong. “This will be a huge improvement that will make it easier and more convenient to access the urban retreat that is William B. Umstead.”
About the State Property Office
Part of the NC Department of Administration, State Property manages property transactions on behalf of state agencies through deeds, leases, easements, licenses, eminent domain, or otherwise. It also administers North Carolina’s unappropriated and submerged lands. The office maintains an inventory of state-owned lands and buildings, as well as leased spaces for use by state agencies.
About the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation exists to inspire all through conservation, education, and recreation, with a vision to connect generations with nature through exceptional outdoor experiences. The state parks system features 35 state parks, 25 state natural areas, four state recreation areas, seven state lakes, four Natural and Scenic Rivers, and 15 state trails — spanning over 264,000 acres of iconic landscapes and welcoming 18 million visitors annually.
In addition to overseeing the state parks system, the division administers federal and state parks and trails grants, including the state-funded Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the Complete the Trails Program, and the Great Trails State Program, as well as the federally funded Recreational Trails Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The division is part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
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