North Carolina: community obtains federal open space for public park.

What was once a large piece of barren federal land will soon house a community park, which will boast an amphitheater, a lush lawn, and several other opportunities for public gathering. Last summer, the National Park Service (NPS) Federal Lands to Parks program transferred almost five acres of land to the city of Fayetteville for public park and recreation use. Just recently, the city unveiled a development plan for the creation of Festival Park. Formerly, the land was used as the Army's USO Club for military personnel, with much of the land undeveloped open space. Now, the plans for the Festival Park include a formal entry plaza, promenade, interactive water fountain and pedestrian walkways connecting to a proposed greenway trail. The land, valued at more than $230,000, will help (be city of Fayetteville provide close-to-home park and open space opportunities for its residents. This is the first assignment of property in North Carolina that has been made available for park and recreation use under the Military Base Realignment and Closure Commission. NPS Federal Lands negotiated the transfer to Parks staff.

For more information, please contact Bill Huie, Federal Lands to Parks Program Manager, Atlanta, GA, at Bill_Huie@ nps.gov or 404-562-3175.