Parks and sidewalks in Durham could get upgrades if voters approve two bonds on the ballot in November.

The first bond is for $85 million, of which $43 million would go to building a new Splash and Play Project, replacing the old Wheels Fun Park family amusement center on Hoover Road. The additional $42 million would go toward improvements at Durham's East End and Long Meadow Parks.

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The second bond for $115 million would allocate money for new sidewalks and sidewalk repairs, street maintenance and unpaved roads.

It would take the city of Durham 170 years to build all the new sidewalks in their plans if they continue at their current rate, according to an audit. The infrastructure bond in the fall ballot could jumpstart that process.

Gregory Williams, the advocacy campaign advocacy coordinator for Bike Durham, believes the bonds will create a safer city for cyclists and pedestrians.

"They're walking through a neighborhood, and maybe they have to walk through grass, and they have a crossing that isn't elevated, it isn't painted correctly," Williams described.

Williams said some of the needs to improve sidewalks date back years.

"We have some communities here in Durham that have been fighting for sidewalks for close to 50 years," Williams said.

Bike Durham, a nonprofit, is planning to educate voters about the bonds and how they could help citizens.

"The need that I see specifically as a cyclist in Durham is pretty great," Williams said. "We have a lot of sidewalk infrastructure where you're riding along, and it just goes right to dirt, or some of the stones will be very uneven."

It's difficult to know exactly how much the bonds would cost voters due to interest rates, but for a median home in Durham valued at $254,000, in fiscal year 2026, the bond would cost another $75 in property tax.

Both the city of Durham and Durham County have also raised property taxes for the fiscal year.

In the new budget, the city raised taxes by 3.85 cents, or about $98 more annually for a median value home of $254,000. Durham County raised taxes by 4.65 cents, which equates to about a $118 increase. In total, that's a nearly $216 increase to a property tax bill.

When WRAL News asked Williams if he is concerned about the increase, he answered, "We're seeing those go up all over the country, so I don't think there's a situation in which we'll be able to avoid that. I say why not get something for it?"

The bonds will be on the November ballot.