Wake Forest’s long-discussed skate park just moved a big step closer to reality, thanks to a fresh shot of county cash. Wake County commissioners voted yesterday to approve $23.5 million in hospitality-tax grants for sports, arts and cultural projects across the county, and a proposed skate park in the Town of Wake Forest made the cut. After years of talk and planning, residents who have been tracking the project say this round of funding could finally push the park from concept to construction.
County Awards And What Got Funded
According to Wake County Government, the board signed off on $23.5 million to support 12 sports, arts and cultural projects across nine municipalities. The county’s post highlights a new skate park in Wake Forest, a performance stage in Apex and soccer-field upgrades in Zebulon among the winners.
The money comes from a competitive hospitality-tax program launched last year that required applicants to bring matching funds and accept payments on a reimbursement basis, as reported by ABC11. In other words, projects have to prove they can pay their share up front before they get county dollars back.
Wake Forest’s Plan And Local Momentum
Wake Forest officials have already laid significant groundwork for the park. The town purchased roughly 8.3 acres next to E. Carroll Joyner Park and landed a PARTF grant to help cover construction costs, steps that were highlighted in the town’s State of the Town address. Town leaders also hosted public workshops and brought on New Line Skatepark Inc. to handle design and build work, according to coverage of its public skate park workshops. With those pieces in place, county funding is expected to layer on top of local dollars and grants to close the remaining gap.
What Comes Next: Money, Permits And Timing
The hospitality-tax rules are pretty strict about matching commitments and reimbursements. That means Wake Forest still has to finalize its own budget, nail down project agreements and meet program terms before any construction money flows. The request for proposals set the total competitive pool at $23.5 million and told applicants they needed to secure at least half of their total project costs from other sources, according to application materials on GovTribe.
Actual buildout will not be overnight. Design work, permitting, procurement and construction are all on the town’s plate, and that sequence typically stretches across many months rather than a quick flip of a switch.
Why It Matters
County leaders are pitching the hospitality-tax investments as a way to grow facilities that will attract tournaments and performances and bolster Wake County’s tourism economy, language included in the county’s social announcement. For smaller towns like Wake Forest, that pitch is not abstract. Big events can mean hotel bookings, packed restaurants and a lot more out-of-town eyeballs on local businesses.
Closer to home, skaters and parents have been pushing for a permanent, well-designed spot for years. A public skate park would fill a longstanding recreation gap and create a free, accessible hangout for kids and teens who currently have to improvise or travel to find a decent place to ride.
How To Follow Along
Town staff have said they will post grant-agreement updates and meeting notices once the paperwork starts moving. Residents can keep tabs on milestones through the Town of Wake Forest’s website and at Joyner Park public meetings. For more background on the site and earlier public outreach, check the town’s State of the Town address and the Hoodline reporting referenced above. Expect public hearings and detailed project documents to surface in the coming months as the skate park design and permitting process plays out.
