Our Asks

These are our recommendations to the City of Durham. The city hasn't promised any of them. As it responds, we'll record the response next to each one.

A five-park public dashboard. Maps, current restrictions, the next milestone, who owns it, and a last-updated date. If a milestone slips, the dashboard says so.
An interim-access plan within 90 days. Identify areas that can safely reopen and temporary play alternatives, reviewed by the state and county health officials.
Documents published on a clock. NCDEQ and A1 deliverables, workplans, and city decisions posted within a fixed number of business days of receipt, with delays explained.
Monthly plain-language updates, in English and Spanish. Even in months when the news is 'nothing happened.' Especially then.
Park-by-park plans. Northgate shouldn't wait for Lyon, and Lyon shouldn't wait for Northgate. Each park gets its own cleanup and funding plan.
Fast remedies compared honestly against slow ones. Phased cleanups that restore basic access deserve the same analysis as full capital projects. Don't bundle every amenity upgrade into the price of a safe lawn.
A real engagement calendar. Comment deadlines, meeting dates, and written responses to major community proposals.
Partnership with the people already doing the work. DCPAN, the neighborhood associations, and environmental-justice groups have carried this issue for years. Work with them.

Open questions

The public record doesn’t answer these yet. We keep them posted until it does.

For each park, what's the latest validated map of contaminated surface soil, buried waste, and safe areas? Which sections remain untested?
Which Remedial Action Plans have actually been delivered, in draft or final form? Where are the documents, and when do comment windows open?
What is the dated schedule for each park: remedy selection, engagement, permits, bidding, construction, validation, reopening?
Why are Northgate and East Durham still 12+ months out under state prioritization, and can city action proceed sooner with regulator approval?
What will the $12 million pay for, park by park and year by year? What state money is committed rather than hoped for?
What could reopen right now, outside the contaminated boundaries, if the city chose to prioritize it?
Why is the new fencing designed for four to five years, and what would it take to shorten that or release sections in phases?
Which alternatives is A1 evaluating, under what assumptions, and when will its deliverables be public?
What are the real tradeoffs, in dollars and in safety, between removal, capping, hybrids, and moving amenities?
How will the city handle monthly status reporting, raw report publication, notice to adjacent owners, and translation?