Outdoor enthusiasts in Wake County can breathe a sigh of relief—Lake Crabtree County Park is set to remain a public haven for the foreseeable future. The Wake County Board of Commissioners has sealed a new 20-year lease deal with the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, ensuring that locals and visitors alike continue to have access to the popular recreational area. According to Wake County's official announcement, this agreement encompasses roughly 70 acres across three land tracts, compassing walking trails, picnic spots, a playground, and water sports facilities among other amenities.
While the heart of the park, a 28-acre tract including a variety of facilities from boat rentals to a fishing pier, is covered under the lease, a separate 148-acre area that formerly featured mountain biking and hiking trails will not be. Notwithstanding the closure of these trails housed between the park and Interstate 40, Wake County is crafting a concept plan that might yield additional mountain biking opportunities adjacent to the 286 property which borders Umstead State Park, as stated by Wake County authorities.
Susan Evans, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, emphasized the significance of Lake Crabtree County Park, telling officials, "This new lease ensures we can continue to offer those benefits to our residents and visitors for years to come." The lease details a departure from the nominal $1 per year fee established in 1985, to an annual rate of $214,488, with a 3% increase each year over the term, as per the Wake County's official announcement.
The park, which greeted nearly 334,000 people in 2024, now faces inevitable changes with the development of the aforementioned 148 acres by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, aiming to boost revenue for airport operations. Despite these shifts, the greenway network connecting to Cary, Morrisville, and the 286 property will remain accessible, allowing for continued enjoyment of what has become one of Wake County's most frequented parks as indicated by county data.
