The historic Mims property in Holly Springs, North Carolina is 17 acres of southeastern old growth forest preserved amidst the rapid destruction of our town.

Enter the unassuming Mims nature trail off Ballentine Rd in Holly Springs and take time to quietly walk along the dramatic rolling hills, the natural springs and the majestic old trees.  You feel history with every step. You sense simpler times. You can envision early inhabitants gathering along the streams for fresh water. A small ancestral family cemetery has protected the graves of GB Alford and his wife since the late 1800’s. 

Mims is a thriving habitat filled with bird song and trickling streams, where one can escape the aggressive overdevelopment around us.

The town has largely ignored environmental conservation, setting a weak “30%” mature tree canopy goal. This is insufficient to support the rich southeastern habitat. At least 50% preservation of mature forests and connected tree canopies is vital for a healthy ecosystem, for a rich quality of life and for stable mental health. 

The town devised a plan to develop this mature forest and natural springs, with the excuse that an urban park will be created within it and a portion of the mature growth will be “left natural.”

 A “portion” preserved is not enough when the entire 17 acre forest is critical to sustain the ecosystem and to buffer the dangerous urban heat island effect expanding in Holly Springs. Residents notice that rainfall has decreased, that noise and light pollution are worsening, and that wildlife, once abundant, has been displaced and destroyed. All of these factors are directly related to demolishing the mature, connected tree canopies and their inhabitants. 

Urbanizing and building a manicured park within this habitat irreversibly disrupts the habitat, regardless of the town’s paradoxical intent to “add” green space and a “wetland walk.” Both the forest and the wetlands are currently thriving, functional and life-sustaining in their natural form. Why not encourage Holly Springs to stand out as an example of preservation and climate awareness? The town will be celebrated in the future for being forward thinking now. 

In short, the town’s plan will fragment and destroy an already perfect natural woodland that hosts a functional habitat, various wildlife, spring fed creeks, and a natural buffer to climate, noise, light and air pollution. Don’t take for granted that the town will make the right decision for our environment. Make your voices heard.

The town has already reached out to developers to partner with them to destroy this forest. Action is needed to immediately oppose these plans.

Public support is critical to preserve it for the wildlife and plant life that have escaped developers in all directions surrounding the Mims Property.

It is a disservice to future generations in Holly Springs and beyond to destroy natural treasures like the Mims Property. Unfortunately, the town does not value nature in its natural form. These places are being destroyed all over our town and our country.

Please help us preserve the Mims Property as the treasure that it is. We request that the Mims property be designated a woodland preserve and wildlife habitat. 
It will cost far less to maintain the Mims property and its primitive trails as they are rather than building out entertainment areas, green spaces, “wetland walks,” etc. that must be maintained frequently and to which chemicals will be applied for the grasses to thrive and to suppress insect presence.

Current videos of Mims Property are being uploaded on YouTube @SaveMimsTrailPreserve

Anyone interested in seeing a developed urban “park” can visit downtown Cary, North Carolina.  It is an example of the artificial “park” idea set to replace nature in our town.  An an urban entertainment area, the artificial and manicured lawns replacing the natural and diverse woodland. The Cary park was not built to sustain the environment, not to support the microclimate, and not to provide sanctuary for wildlife. It was constructed to entertain humans and increase profit for the town.  Urban parks like these can be built on any site. Why destroy a functional mature forest when we desperately need it for the longterm health of our community?

Preserve Mims Property now. 

Update: Another planned 7-acre urban park is slated to be developed a few miles away, at Rex Rd and Avent Ferry. The preservation of Mims is a logical choice to protect this small forest for the good of the ecosystem and for local microclimate health. With the intended construction of another park only minutes away, there is no rationale for destroying this living, breathing forest.  

**Please be aware that donations solicited by change.org on this site only go to Change.org & not towards the Mims property.