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Several kids living in Durham’s Cornwallis Road Community participated in a project to beautify a fence surrounding a sinkhole the size of a football field.
Days after the project was installed, it was taken down.
“ We came back the next time, and a lot of the office people picked it up, threw it away, or the kids were just messing with it. So we didn’t really know what to do after that,” said Khadija Jabbarkhel, one of the residents who participated in the project.
The sinkhole has been a problem for the community. The sinkhole, which is surrounded by a chain-link fence, also raised concerns about further damage during intense flooding in August 2025.
Kids who worked on the art project told WRAL News it was disheartening to see it removed, while the sinkholes remain unaddressed.
“ I guess they’re just trying to keep us quiet, apparently. Because they don’t really care about the sinkhole, but they care about that apparently,” said Tony Lumsford, a resident of the area.
WRAL reached out to the Durham Housing Authority (DHA) to see if any work is being done to address the sinkholes. DHA sent a statement reading in part:
“As we work towards permanent solutions, the area will remain gated, and we encourage all residents to stay clear of the area. Funding has been set aside in our capital program to replace the stormwater system that is causing the sinkholes.”Durham Housing Authority
WRAL asked DHA if crews were responsible for removing the art. While a representative could not confirm who removed it, they maintain that residents are encouraged to steer clear of the fence.
Kids who worked on the project say they will continue beautifying the fence, even if it’s taken down again.
“It makes the neighborhood look a lot better with it,” said Jabbarkhel. “The office people can’t always take it down every second that we put it up.”
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