Wake County is rolling out the red carpet for residents' opinions as it enters the second act in its Parks, Recreation, and Open Space master planning process, putting a draft vision and set of goals for the next decade under the public's microscope. Through a months-long conversation with the community, gathering feedback on the use and aspirations for local parks and programs, the county's staff is set to present their findings and seek further public input to verify what the future of public open spaces should look like. "This plan will set the direction for how we protect and activate parks and open spaces for years to come," Wake County Commissioner Safiyah Jackson expressed, in a statement obtained by the Wake County's website.
Wake County residents have several ways to share their feedback on the county’s parks plan. They can talk with team members at fall community events such as HollyFest in Holly Springs, where staff will share updates and offer activities, or join a virtual meeting on November 13 to learn more about the project. From October 25 to November 23, residents can also visit the Wake County website to review draft materials, see summaries of earlier feedback, and complete an online survey to help set priorities for county parks.
After collecting community input, the planning team will create the final version of the parks master plan. The plan will then be reviewed by county staff, the Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee, and the Wake County Board of Commissioners before being finalized in spring 2026.
