Gold Park, Kings Highway Park and the Riverwalk greenway have fully reopened. 

Damage

Gold Park

• The restrooms were flooded, with water marks about 6 feet high.
• Fencing across the park, including the dog park, was damaged. 
• The surface underneath the play structure was destroyed by the floodwaters.
• The parking lot and paved trails were blocked by debris.
• The bee hotel, a practical piece of public art installed in 2017, was carried away by floodwaters.

Kings Highway Park

• Fallen trees, mud and debris blocked many sections of the trails. 
• The canoe and kayak launch was lifted off its moorings and carried down the river.

Riverwalk

• Fallen trees, mud and debris blocked many sections of the trail. 
• Several bridges lost decking or railing. 
• Several large sections of boardwalk were damaged.

Recreation in Flood-Prone Areas

Undeveloped floodplains often serve the need for public parks and recreation. The Riverwalk greenway and Gold Park were built in their locations to provide recreation in areas that otherwise would not be developed. 

Stormwater drainage and green infrastructure projects are being considered to mitigate runoff issues.

A total of 22 vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment of the Public Works Division and Utilities Department were flooded during the storm.

In a special meeting on July 16, the Board of Commissioners approved assigning about $1.07 million in savings and about $320,000 in the General Fund budget to replace several public works vehicles that were totaled.

Resiliency Project

The town began expanding the Highway 86 North Facility earlier this year. The project will move the Public Works Division and its vehicles out of the floodplain.

Flooding caused issues across the town's utilities system, including these major issues:

• Drinking Water — Floodwaters entered vents on the 1-million gallon clearwell that stores treated drinking water, causing Hillsborough to issue a boil water notice and to purchase water from the City of Durham for part of the week of July 7, 2025. The town is considering flood mitigation, including whether the vents can be moved.

• Wastewater — Flooding made the pumps inside a sewage pumping station by the Eno River inoperable, contributing to sewage spills. Staff expect repairs to the River Pumping Station will take more than a month. Temporary pumps are in place to prevent additional overflows.

Resiliency Projects 

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson visited Hillsborough’s river pumping station July 24 to highlight the importance of restoring federal funding that had been earmarked to protect the state’s infrastructure, including water and sewer services. 

Two Hillsborough water and sewer projects were impacted by the federal government's decision in April to cut the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program, which provided funding for disaster preparation projects. For more information, see these project pages:

• River Pumping Station
• Starfield Booster Pumping Station

Please report any damage your property received due to the tropical storm to the county. 

Damage in Hillsborough includes:

• Homes — According to information collected by Orange County, 11 homes within the town's limits were damaged during the storm.

• Eno River Mill — The Eno River Mill sustained significant flood damage, impacting the Orange County Arts Commission and The Expedition School.

Community Giving Fund

Orange County has established a community giving fund to support recovery efforts for Tropical Storm Chantal.

The collaborative effort among the county and towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough will ensure donated funds are prioritized for critical needs and equitably distributed across the county. Donations may be made to general recovery or to five specific areas, including infrastructure. Infrastructure funds will help:

• Preserve and restore critical community infrastructure, such as municipal water and wastewater systems.
• Support debris and waste management services.

Other Local Funds

The following Hillsborough-based organizations have set up fundraisers to offset costs associated with the flooding:

• Orange County Arts Commission
• The Expedition School 

Below are news releases related to the town's storm recovery:

• Riverwalk Fully Reopened After Tropical Storm
• Gold Park Reopens After Tropical Storm 
• Kings Highway Park Reopens After Tropical Storm
• Section of Riverwalk Reopens After Tropical Storm
• Complete Storm Response Feedback Survey
• Recovering Damaged Equipment and Vehicles
• North Carolina Attorney General Visits Hillsborough
• Town Board Special Meeting Summary
• Tropical Storm Chantal Giving Fund
• Notice of Discharge of Untreated Sewage

Also see the town's state of emergency declaration and termination:

• State of Emergency Declaration
• Terminating State of Emergency