Here is a note I just got from the Friends of Bethel Park organization. 'Cache Cow' is located in Bethel Park and I sent a note to the owner.
This is the ramp I have been launching from for over 5 years...another area to ruined by the YMCA!

Yesterday morning a hired crew removed Bethel Park’s dock and informed an on-looker the park will soon become a construction site thus eliminating entry to Bethel Park for everyone.

The majority of commissioners are in support of preventing this. Our district commissioner is not in support of saving Bethel Park.

The county, via a majority of supporting commissioners, have requested of the county attorney to file for an injunction to prevent further destruction to the park until litigation.

A court date should be forthcoming.

Michael Durkin

Friends of Bethel Park

There are two sides to every story, and the YMCA will provide a much needed facility for the youth of our county and the surrounding area. After being offered the park years ago, the county declined. Once the YMCA put in their bid, the county commission decided that an RV park would be a preferable solution.

The real issue here is one of NIMBY.

"According to “Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 211.6(a)(2)”, the Corps is obligated to offer recreational reservoir land to the county first, and, in this case, that did not occur. By not following their own regulations, the Corps caused the Y to invest heavily on plans that will never be used."

The YMCA and the Army Corps of Engineers had been in secret negotiations till someone got wind of it. Friends of Bethel Park was then formed.
The YMCA has another camp property on Lanier and according to the people living near there, it had been problems to them. Why don't they use that camp?

It is feared that Bethel Park will be closed off to the general public when it's not in use by the campers. No one that lives in the area wants the camp there!

"The Corps reported 21,528 visitors utilized Bethel Park last year. This number reflects vehicular traffic only and does not include those who visited by foot, bike, or boat."

"Bethel Park does not contain the required infrastructure including roads, water, sewage, or emergency services without massive upgrades. The burden of these upgrades and their continued maintenance will fall solely on the tax payers of Forsyth County."

"More importantly, Bethel Park is located on the largest part of the lake which experiences an excessive presence of large and high-powered boat traffic. The combination of a youth camp with water activities adjacent to such a dangerous body of water is an invitation for tragedy."

quote:

The YMCA and the Army Corps of Engineers had been in secret negotiations till someone got wind of it.

A former chairman of the county commission has testified that the county was offered the park and turned it down.