Letter to the Editor: A Vision for Kinston’s Future: Caswell Mill Park
Dear Editor,
Kinston is a place of both struggle and strength. A city divided not by walls but by years of uneven opportunity. Some parts of town are thriving while others are just trying to hold on. I know how this project looks to some: another idea from a middle-aged, wealthy white man. I heard that concern, and I take it seriously.
Through smART Kinston Foundation, a nonprofit connecting artists, youth, and neighborhoods, I’ve seen what creativity can do when it belongs to the community. Caswell Mill Park is not a handout or a vanity project. It’s a chance to turn an abandoned industrial site into something that serves everyone, especially young people who deserve safe places to gather, learn, and dream.
The city asked for redevelopment proposals for the Glen Raven Mill site, and smART Kinston was the only group to respond. Our plan will transform the space into a public arts and recreation hub. The first phase, Olympic Park, converts the metal building into a professional indoor BMX and skate facility using $350,000 in donated ramps. It will host after-school programs, lessons, mentorship, and camps, making Kinston one of only three indoor BMX parks in the nation.
The second phase will restore the historic Old Mill itself, funded through private donations, grants, and partnerships. Not taxpayer dollars. Our team includes Kinston native Kevin Albritton, Olympic coach Ryan Nyquist, and ramp builder John Saxton.
I understand the skepticism. History gives reason for it. But this can be different if we do it together. I want Kinston’s youth, our churches, small businesses, and schools at the table from the start. I want accountability, transparency, and shared ownership.
If Kinston is ever going to bridge the gap between poverty and progress, it will happen when we shape big ideas into fair ones, together.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., smART Kinston will present this proposal to City Council. I’m asking residents to show up, ask questions, and take part. Let’s build something that belongs to all of us.
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