The Town of Wake Forest will host a public meeting on Tuesday, May 29, to gather public input on the Ailey Young Dam Removal and Stream Restoration Project. The meeting is scheduled from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.
The session will have an open house format, so area residents may drop by any time between 4:30 and 7 p.m. to ask questions and provide feedback.
In 2014, a structural inventory of bridges and dams within Town-owned parks identified the need for the Ailey Young Dam Removal and Stream Restoration Project. The initiative involves “Peggy’s Pond,” which is situated in the rear of Ailey Young Park, 800 E. Juniper Ave., adjacent to the existing basketball courts.
The Town purchased the property in 1981 and created Ailey Young Park several years later. In recent years, the pond dam outlet has experienced a significant failure resulting in major erosion, a drop in water levels and an adverse effect on aquatic life.
The initiative proposes the removal and replacement of the dam and pond with a stream restoration and two small wetlands for continued habitat. The project would revert the Unnamed Tributary to Dunn Creek back to its original pre-1953 condition prior to its use as a farm pond.
The stream restoration effort will also include an observation deck for wildlife viewing, native-non-invasive plantings and environmental education.
During the May 29 public meeting, design engineers and staff will be on hand to answer questions or concerns as well as inform citizens about the project.
Area residents may also offer their input online via the “Contact Us” form on the Town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/contactus.aspx.
Wake Forest obtained 100 percent funding for this project in the amount of $693,105 from the NC Department of Justice Environmental Enhancement Grant, NC Department of Environmental Quality’s EPA 319(h) Grant, and the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Resources Development Grant.
For more information, contact Assistant Town Engineer Holly Miller at hmiller@wakeforestnc.gov or at 919-435-9443.