The primary purpose of Friends of Lake Johnson is to preserve the natural beauty of Lake Johnson Park. This includes the acquisition of adjacent parcels of land, working to assist the Parks and Recreation Dept. in assuring the cleanliness of the lake and its surrounding area, and to help in educating the public to the natural environment available within the Park.

Our first project is the purchase of additional Lake Johnson Park Land. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has borrowed money and established a Lease to Purchase agreement with the City of Raleigh for the purchase of the last 12 acres of land available to expand and protect Lake Johnson.

We have the opportunity to protect this precious resource for our long-term quality of life and to protect the environment. PUBLIC SUPPORT is needed to assist in this purchase.

Friends of Lake Johnson is working with the City of Raleigh, Wake County. and TPL to acquire this property. Wake County loaned $350,000 from the Open Space Bond Fund and the City of Raleigh loaned us another $600,000. Friends of Lake Johnson committed to raise funds from the community to repay the loan. We must pay back these funds with donations and gifts from the public, and we are applying for various federal, state and private grants in addition to raising money from individuals. The money we paid back will be used for other open space projects in Raleigh and Wake County.

Successes: So far, during 2005 we have raised enough to pay the City of Raleigh $300,000 toward the purchase!

Why this land has been acquired:

Acquisition of this 12-acre property was identified by the Lake Johnson Master Plan Committee as the most strategic for acquisition to protect the Lake.

Water quality is at stake. The entire 12-acre parcel drains directly into either Lake Johnson or Walnut Creek, both have been identified as "impaired". This is critical for the protection of our watershed.

This park is immensely popular and highly used by citizens from all across the City and County. Park use will continue to grow at a rapid pace as urbanization of this part of Raleigh and the County expands. The population in this part of the county is projected to double in the next 20 years.

Necessary for preservation of wildlife habitat. The breakup of large tracts of forested land has disastrous effects on local wildlife, especially bird populations and small mammals.

PLEASE CONSIDER A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO HELP TO ACQUIRE THE LAND, REPAY THE LOANS, AND PAVE THE WAY FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS IN OTHER PARTS OF RALEIGH AND WAKE COUNTY!