New single-track mountain bike trails are coming to Umstead State Park. Wake County will build and maintain the new Haleys Branch Trails, on land north and south of the 286 East tract and west of the Reedy Creek Multi-use Trail. The bike/pedestrian trails on the 150-acre 286 East currently leased by Wake County from the RDUAA will be redesigned to join the new trails within Umstead State Park. County staff have indicated they would welcome additional trails if this first phase goes well, which we support.

We are excited that the new mountain bike/pedestrian trails will be build within Umstead State Park! The Umstead Coalition has been advocating for these trails for many years.

Wake County is currently accepting public input on the concept plan. Your comments matter. Survey closes March 27 – our input is needed now.

Take the survey at www.wake.gov/haleysbranch. The County will post updates there as the project develops.

We have already submitted the following comments on parking and trail connectivity, and encourage you to do the same:

• Provide parking by stabilized shoulders on one side of Old Reedy Creek Road (East Coast Greenway) using diagonal parking. This will increase the number of cars that can park and using one side will minimize conflicts with bikers/walkers on the greenway itself and minimize conflicts with other parked cars.
  
• Mark parking along the East Coast Greenway as dedicated for the Haleys Branch Trails and Umstead State Park (to eliminate folks parking to go to the White Water center and taking away the bike/pedestrian parking).
  
• Connected trails MUST be also on the Edwards Tract.
  

Map: New mountain bike trails will be located in the lime green tracks shown above, north and south of the 286 East tract and west of the Reedy Creek Multi-use Trail. The trails system on the 286 East tract will be rerouted and redesigned.