March Director’s Message

For my first Director’s message, I’ve been asked to define my relationship with the Eno. I am sincerely hopeful that this exercise will result in a better outcome and considerably less anxiety than my prior attempts to define my relationships. I arrived in the Triangle in the fall of 1993 as an undergraduate at UNC—Chapel Hill. I moved to Durham in the summer of 2004 after completing my Master of Public Administration degree, also from Carolina. Somewhere in these hazy years between college and finishing graduate school, I first discovered and fell in love with the Eno River and Eno River State Park.

At first, this relationship was purely casual. I used the Eno for recreation, physical activity, and to clear my head. I explored the various access points. Hiked every trail that I could find. And relished the feeling of leaving my cares in the parking lot as I explored a place that felt far away from the demands of the real world.

As time passed, my relationship with the Eno continued to grow and deepen. Solo hikes became couples hikes with my wife, Robyn, and eventually family hikes with my son, Miles, and my daughter, Fiona. Backpack baby carriers and twenty minute miles became slower strolls with toddlers, featuring frequent snack breaks. As my children have grown, we’ve discovered new ERA properties like the Confluence and Panther Branch, and our interactions with the Eno often include father-son fishing trips to the Red Mill access in our tandem kayak. I’ve included some of my favorite family pictures from our Eno excursions over the years to document our journey.

While my relationship with the Eno has now shifted from personal to professional, I never want to lose the sense of wonder that I feel whenever I spend time in this special place. I feel closer to God here than I’ve ever felt in any church. It has been my sanctuary, and, in this time when reading the news feels like a real challenge, I suspect that many of you need a safe space as well. I promise to ensure that the Eno River and its surrounding lands remain a safe and welcoming space for this community and this region. It’s an honor to serve in this role, and I look forward to meeting ERA’s members, volunteers, and supporters as my relationship with the Eno enters this new phase. Thank you for supporting this important work.