Press release from DuPont State Recreational Forest:
DuPont State Recreational Forest (DSRF) and Mattern & Craig will hold a public event to receive input for the DSRF Master Recreation Plan. The event will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Gym in Brevard.
“Our goal is to generate a master recreation plan that will improve the user experience for all our user groups,” said Jane Dauster, recreation specialist for DSRF. “When DuPont State Recreational Forest opened to the public in 1995, it included a system of inherited trails, roads and facilities that were not designed for our current level of visitation. The master recreation plan will assess the current conditions for safety and sustainability and provide the agency with guidance for future recreation management.”
This will be the final opportunity offered by Mattern & Craig for the public to provide input on the recreation plan. Previous meetings were held during the spring and summer with more than 350 attendees providing input relative to forest use.
In 2021, the N.C. General Assembly allocated $200,000 for the development of the master recreation plan and $550,000 for implementing the plan. An additional $99,000 was donated by the Friends of DuPont Forest through grants from the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority and the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority.
“Support from the state, Friends of DuPont, Henderson County Tourism Development Authority and Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority have created this opportunity for the development of the DuPont State Recreational Forest Master Recreation Plan,” said DSRF Supervisor Jason Guidry. “This support has allowed for the public to have multiple opportunities for input and has funded a comprehensive evaluation of our trails. This data will inform the consultant’s recommendation for a master recreation plan designed to balance the ecological needs of the forest with the public’s desire for outdoor recreational experiences.”
Feedback from all input sources will be analyzed by the Mattern & Craig team and utilized to formulate preliminary findings and recommendations that will balance ecological, social and financial sustainability while simultaneously aiming to improve the DSRF experience for all user groups. The planning process is expected to conclude in early 2024 with a public presentation of final recommendations.
For more information about DSRF or the master recreation plan, visit https://www.dupontstaterecreationalforest.com.
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