News Story

If you live in Durham city limits, you will have the chance to vote on a bond referendum this November. Your vote will decide if the City of Durham can borrow up to $200 million to improve our streets, sidewalks, and parks.

Here's what the money would be used for:

• Streets: Repaving and repairing roads and paving dirt streets.
• Sidewalks: Fixing sidewalks and building new ones.
• Parks: Upgrading Long Meadow and East End parks and building a new water park beside the Wheels Roller Rink at Merrick-Moore Park.

We heard from many of you that you want smoother streets, more sidewalks, and better parks. People in East Durham specifically asked for a new pool to replace the permanently closed pool at Long Meadow Park as well as updates to East End and Long Meadow Parks and a new aquatic park next to our Wheels Roller Rink at Merrick-Moore Park. If approved by voters in November, this bond will help pay for those projects.

The referendum will be on the ballot on November 5, 2024, and will appear on the ballot as two questions:

1. “Bond order authorizing the issuance of $85,000,000 general obligation parks and recreation bonds of the City of Durham, North Carolina.” 
2. “Bond order authorizing the issuance of $115,000,000 general obligation streets and sidewalks bonds of the City of Durham, North Carolina.”

You can vote “yes” or “no” on each question. Each one needs a majority of "yes" votes to pass. If they pass, the city can borrow up to $200 million to pay for these improvements.

For more details on 2024 election information, voter registration information, and polling places, visit the Durham County Board of Elections website.