FRIENDS OF DOROTHEA DIX PARK RESPOND TO GOVERNOR’S BUDGET

Group maintains land better suited for a destination park rather than new development

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 1, 2007) – Friends of Dorothea Dix Park (FDDP) today announced that the group does not support Governor’s Easley’s 2008 budget recommendation that includes the development of 24 of the 306 acres of the Dorothea Dix property.  FDDP maintains that the best use of the land is creating a world-class destination park for future generations to enjoy, which will also benefit our economic vitality and overall quality of life.

 The 2008 budget that Gov. Mike Easley submitted last week includes $173 million in bond money to develop 25 of the 306 acres of the property to build a large office complex to house over 3,000 Department of Health and Human Services employees.

 “North Carolinians from Murphy to Manteo want to see a world-class destination park in the heart of our state. We will continue to advocate on their behalf until this caliber of park is a reality,” said Jay Spain, president of Friends of Dorothea Dix Park.  “Office buildings should be built in downtown Raleigh, we have to preserve this land or it will be gone forever.”

 For the past two years, FDDP has raised private funds to contract with world-renown park planner John Hoal to create a destination park, like Central Park in New York City. At the heart of this public discussion is 306 acres that the State will no longer use as a mental hospital beginning in 2008.

 “FDDP has worked hard to include the citizens in the process, to raise private dollars to hire the best possible consultants to create a plan that reflects the core values of the people, and to present to elected officials a plan that will protect our quality life, enhance our economic stability and be a legacy for generations to come,” Spain added.

Friends of Dorothea Dix Park (FDDP), founded in 2004, is a 501(c)3 organization made up of thousands of individuals and more than 30 member organizations whose mission is to preserve the Dorothea Dix Campus as a world-class destination park.  FDDP is dedicated to educating people across North Carolina about the value of preserving the land as a destination park and why it is the right thing to do for our children, our economic stability and our overall quality of life.  For more information about FDDP, its people, plans and vision, please visit