DPNA Meeting Minutes

Regular Monthly Meeting
March 13, 2003

(The April DPNA was a potluck dinner. No business was conducted. The next meeting is scheduled for May 8.)

Board Members Present: Carol Donin (President), Andrew
Preiss (Vice President), Esther Bent (Treasurer), Rob Dilworth
(Secretary), Pam Campa (At-Large Member), Katherine O'Brien
(At-Large Member), Barry Ragin (At-Large Member)

Neighbors Present: Peter Bent, Johnea Kelley, Robert Kelley

Guest Speaker: Richard Mullinax, President, Old North Durham
Neighborhood Association


1. Treasurer's Report.
Esther Bent reported that DPNA spent $200 on producing the newsletter; otherwise, DPNA's account balance hasn't changed since the last monthly meeting.

2. Spring Clean Update.
Carol Donin contacted the city, which indicated that it's too early to schedule a day for Spring Clean. We may not be able to have a Spring Clean day until July.

3. Neighborhood Yard Sale Update.The scheduled date is Saturday, 4/26, 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. Kathy Bartlett, the yard sale coordinator, reported (in an e-mail to Carol Donin) that she
hopes to offer two ways for people to participate: for $10, individuals can sell their goods in the parking lot of Grace Baptist Church (if the church gives consent); or, for $7, they can sell their goods at their own homes and be put on a neighborhood map. There will be an organizational meeting at Kathy's house (1427 Acadia St.) on Saturday, March 29, at 9:30 A.M. for anyone who wants to help. If you can't make this meeting and want to help, you can also contact Kathy at kathy1214@aol.com or call 682-3288. If you want to have a table at Grace Baptist Church or if you want to have a yard sale at your own house and be put on the map, contact Kathy at the same e-mail address and phone number.

4. New Neighborhood Initiative. Richard Mullinax talked about a new initiative that's being discussed for a new neighborhood, which would be called Central Park and would connect to the Central Park development in downtown Durham. The idea is that areas between Old North Durham, Duke Park, and Trinity Park that are unclaimed (such as the portion of West Markham
between the greenway and Duke St.) would become part of the new Central Parkneighborhood. According to Richard, the new neighborhood (and its neighborhood association) would help this area become organized and deal with common concerns (crime, housing issues, community development, etc.). At the meeting, Richard stated that he also envisions the Central Park neighborhood extending through part of Duke Park--i.e., from West Markham (between Washington and the greenway) to Club Blvd. (between Washington and the Greenway). This means that a portion of Duke Park would become part of the new Central Park neighborhood and no longer be part of Duke Park. Richard stressed that this is not a formal proposal yet; at the moment, he's trying to catalyze discussion about the idea, which is part of the Old North Durham Neighborhood Association's three year plan.

5. PAC II Update. Katherine O'Brien stated that there will be District 2 block captain training on May 17 at the Diamond View Building. (More details to come.) Officer Eric Hester is in the
process of loading block captain information on the laptops of beat officers. This will allow officers to make quick contact with block captains when necessary. Finally, District 2 is investigating the possibility of implementing a Citizens on Patrol Program.

6. Web Site Update. Barry Ragin reported that the Web site is now online at http://www.rtpnet.org/dukepark. He encouraged people to take digital photographs of the neighborhood and e-mail them to him, so they can be posted on the Web site.

7. Picnic. Carol Donin mentioned that the Old North Durham Neighborhood Association is interested in having a picnic with the DPNA in June at Duke Park. (More details to come.)

8. Park Update. Andrew Preiss reported that he met with representatives from the Department of Property and Facilities Management, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Parks and Recreation at the pool. Doug Vaughn (from the Department of Public Works) seemed interested in exploring the problems with the pool area. At this stage, however, none of the city representatives have a clear idea of how to solve the problems in the pool area, but things are in motion. The city has promised to dispose of the chlorine in the pool house and to secure the fence around the pool as soon as possible.
William Royston has indicated that July is still realistic for the
new playground area at the park.

The next DPNA meeting on Thursday, April 10, will be a potluck.
Barry Ragin will try to invite the leasing agent for the K-mart building.

Minutes of Feb. Monthly Meeting to Discuss Duke Park Renovations Feb. 13, 2003
Minutes of Special Session to Discuss Duke Park Renovations Feb. 20, 2003