Save the Trails & Trees of parcel ED-6 by the Quarry

04/03/2026

Turkey hunt tomorrow April 4th . So no hiking or biking or jogging!

Native azaleas blooming!

03/21/2026

Buncombe county is where Asheville, NC is. They are working to protect 342 acres using grant money. Read the article. Compare that to Oak Ridge where the city wanted to develop ED6 as much as it could.

The DOE is trying to determine how it wants to handle ED6 in terms of transfering it to “the community” (not specifically the “city”). It may sell the land instead of giving it away. If that happens, the city needs to do what Buncombe county is doing and get grant money to purchase and protect it as nature and open space. The city got large grants to pursue an airport project and plans to spend $277,000 for a new study. The same effort could be put into getting money for ED6 and also Three Bends. The airport grants can’t be repurposed.

https://www.facebook.com/100069802266178/posts/1238792241790840/?fs=e&fs=e

Buncombe County’s largest public park yet is one step closer to reality after officials closed on the purchase of 342 acres atop Deaverview Mountain. Details: https://bit.ly/4bD4tCu

03/19/2026

Enjoying the spring on the trails.

03/09/2026

Update!!
City council will NOT discuss the Comprehensive Plan on Monday, Mar. 9 as previously announced.
That means no planned ED-6 discussion.

03/07/2026

Important Message about the ongoing status of ED-6. It may not be what you think it is.

The Planning Commission voted to amend the City's new Comprehensive Plan to designate the future intended use of ED-6 and the Three Bends area as “nature and open space.” This is a NON BINDING statement of INTENDED land use.

The Plan goes to the City Council on Monday, March 9 at 5:30 at the Municipal Building Courtroom for discussion and presumably approval. The City announced it was stopping any planning for ED-6 based on its discussions with the DOE -- notably not mentioned was the outpouring of citizen sentiment at two Plan Comm. meetings to protect the land from development.

ED-6 is currently owned by the DOE. The City expected to get it donated to the City based on past discussions so the City had started planning how to use it before it got it. However, it seems things may have changed at the DOE.

ED-6 is unique because it was never contaminated and is virgin land unlike other brownfield sites that DOE had to clean up before they could be given away or sold. It is unclear at the moment what DOE will do with ED-6. It could be sold instead of donated. That would complicate its future use.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RESIDENTS ATTEND THE MARCH 9 COUNCIL MEETING TO ASK THE CITY TO WORK WITH DOE TO KEEP THE LAND AS “NATURE AND OPEN SPACE.” Tell your friends. The more the better. It is clear the City will respond to significant public pressure. Ask the Council to pass a resolution reaffirming the protection for ED-6 (a resolution is still not a binding order but it is more than just a piece in the Plan) and to tell DOE on "behalf of the Oak Ridge community" to protect the land.

You can reach all members of the City Council directly by email at: [email protected] if you cannot attend in person.

Depending on what happens with the City and the DOE, in the future it may be necessary to focus attention on the DOE.

Send a message to learn more

03/01/2026

Get outside!

02/28/2026

Beautiful back on the trails right now!

02/21/2026

Hello all! This is Kim posting.

Well, it took me a whole day to "get over" the council meeting. Speaking was scary, but I did it (yes, I'm an actual grown up but 😬 LOL)

It was so great to hear so many thoughtful, caring , intelligent humans who really have good reasons for why ED-6 should remain as is (or with changes that would contribute to a permanent "park" setting etc).

I was really touched and if I could I would have some kind of party where we could all celebrate this victory.

I hate to say it though--this is not the end of the process in getting this land saved from development.
That is something we can effect I believe by getting in touch with the DOE much the same way we did with the city. They are the owners and they can make the "nature and open space " designation legal and as permanent as things get in this world (ha)

I will do my best to post ideas. But I've only one brain, and although I have some helpers I can see just how many folks have some fabulous ideas and resources and experience that we can utilize going forward.

The next meeting of the council is March 12. Would be good to show up, as sort of silent watchers.

And, also...what's say we DO gather, say at Crafters Brew or Hops n Hounds (bring your dog!) and get to know each other? I think that would be a good thing.

This group page will stay open. I would like the page to be able to accept posts from everyone And am not sure how to do that on this one, so I may make a page for sharing OR nature photos. Not only is it good to share, but it would be a kind of digital document to show to DOE and the city...you get me?

I can't thank everybody enough . I've been a bit weepy and grateful and I'm ready to keep fighting (in the right sense) for the trees.

There's water in lots of the dry creek beds and it's beautiful. Wanted to post a video but for some reason FB won't allow pics and video .

Namaste, y'all.

02/21/2026

GOOD NEWS!

The City Planning Commission voted on February 19, 2026 to designate parcel ED-6 and the Three Bends area as ‘natural and open space” in the City’s 20 year Comprehensive Plan.

Natural and open space definition: “This designation preserves environmentally sensitive areas, natural landscapes, and recreational green spaces that contribute to ecological health and community well-being. These areas may include protected forests, wetlands, flood plains, and public parks.”

While this is great news, it may not be as solid as it seems. This changes the planning document, but that document is really a statement of intent, not a binding restriction. It should mean the City backs away from its intentions to develop those areas IF THE CITY ACQUIRED THEM. (The City got ahead of itself with plans before it had possession.)

That does not mean the two parcels are out of danger from development. DOE OWNS THE LAND. So right now DOE calls the shots on what happens in the future. The DOE could keep the land and not release it to anyone and it would likely stay the way it is. It could GIVE it to the City, and if the City kept its word, it would remain undeveloped. It could sell it on the open market to the highest bidder. It is likely the City would neither have the money to buy the land, nor the interest in doing so, if it could not be developed. In that case, whoever bought it might be able to do whatever they wanted unless the DOE put restrictions on the sale, or if the City was able to regulate the land use by zoning or some other method. If developers were faced with the uncertainty of their ability to develop either parcel, there might be no bidders and the land would stay untouched.

Where does that leave things? This is speculation, not fact, but worth thinking about.

Residents could continue to lobby the City Council to lock in the designation now in the Plan with more concrete actions like a resolution by the City itself. The City cannot zone DOE owned land.

Residents should express to DOE the same opinions they expressed to the City about protecting the land. That would include urging DOE to lock in the “natural and open space” designation along with its definition as being part of any land transfer to any party. Putting that restriction in a deed is pretty good insurance. Another alternative is to ask DOE to transfer the land only to an entity such as a land conservancy who would agree to keep it in conservation status with light recreation.

Continue to speak up to the authorities until some definitive protection is in place.

Send a message to learn more

02/17/2026

This is a link to a wonderful article about the BORCE and ED-6 and what it means to experience it. The author lives by the BORCE and has a keen sense of what it offers. It deserves a wide audience, particularly among decision makers in the City, i.e., Planning Commission and City Council. Please share it if you like it.

Finding Balance in Wild Spaces