Weeks after Tropical Storm Chantal swept through the Triangle region, Eno River State Park in Durham, North Carolina remains closed, and officials say there is no clear timeline for reopening.
According to an article by WRAL News, the popular park, known for its hiking trails and historic suspension bridge, sustained severe damage during the storm.
Park Superintendent Kimberly Radewicz said that staff are still evaluating the extent of destruction and how to safely proceed with restoration.
“River parks are beautiful but they can be challenging,” Radewicz said.
“We’re going to have to be pretty clever and creative of how we remove the debris. What can be removed, what should be artfully scattered in the woods to become habitat for animals, do trails have to be deleted off the map entirely? That’s something that we are definitely facing here,” Radewicz added.
One of the main challenges is debris removal, which will require heavy machinery. However, the saturated ground and silt deposits have made the soil sponge-like and unsuitable for equipment use.
“Cost is still something we’re working on,” Radewicz said.
“The way it appears right now is that we should be able to open some sections of the park but in a staggered manner,” Radewicz added.
Though community members have offered to volunteer, cleanup efforts will not begin immediately.
Radewicz said volunteers will need to wait until the area is more stable. Meanwhile, the Eno River Association is prepared to organize volunteers when the park gives the green light.
“This is not going to be a month or two. This is very likely going to be a multi-month closure, especially for the state park,” said Ryan Fehrman, executive director of the Eno River Association.
Fehrman, who witnessed Hurricane Fran’s damage as a student at UNC Chapel Hill, said the impact of Chantal has been sobering.
“To see that Chantal had an impact beyond Fran was a wake-up call for us,” he said.
Some lands managed by the Association, including Panther Branch, have already reopened to the public.
In nearby Chapel Hill, several trails also suffered significant damage. Bolin Creek Trail is closed between Umstead Drive and the Community Center and may remain shut for up to 18 months, with repairs expected to cost $5 million.
The Morgan Creek Trail, which will require $500,000 in repairs, is expected to reopen within eight months.
“As difficult as this is, there are going to be more storms like Chantal,” Fehrman added. “Trying to be smart about how we rebuild is a priority for our partners moving forward.”
Radewicz said that Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area may reopen first, possibly within weeks. As for Eno River State Park, access will likely resume in phases.
The extended closure of Eno River State Park signals the need for adaptive planning, resilient infrastructure, and flexible travel itineraries as storms increasingly disrupt access to parks and trails across North America.