A 2025 park report says 20 wild horses died on Shackleford Banks as managers link the spike to shrinking forage and water on the island. Partners are stepping up monitoring and outreach.

Raleigh approved construction of the Bailey Drive Gateway at Walnut Creek Wetland Park, bringing a pavilion, public art and a new sidewalk to connect nearby neighborhoods.

Raleigh plans a new indoor‑outdoor aquatic center at John Chavis Memorial Park with pools, a lazy river, a two‑story waterslide and public art under the 2022 parks bond.

Wendell Park has been swarmed by mound‑building ants this spring; the town approved a funded baiting trial called Project Antenna to test targeted control while protecting people and pets.

Black bear sightings are creeping closer to Raleigh and Durham as populations rebound. State officials urge residents to secure trash and remove birdfeeders.

A Wilmington spectator says an otter bit her ankle while cheering in Cary; she’s begun rabies treatment and Wake County is urging residents to avoid unfamiliar wildlife.

Three Rivers Land Trust and landowner Terry Sharpe placed 90 acres near Ellerbe into a permanent easement to protect longleaf, pollinators and a rare wetland seep.

Five Durham parks remain partly closed after lead was found in soil, and East Durham families say kids have few safe places to play while the state works on cleanup plans.

Wake County approved $23.5 million in hospitality‑tax grants and included a Wake Forest skate park among the awardees, joining local land purchase and a PARTF grant.

Raleigh Parks is engaging the community to enhance Glen Eden Pilot Park's role in health and wellness through open houses and input on its development.

San Francisco initiates "Low-Mow Spring" to support pollinator populations by reducing spring mowing in parks, aimed at fostering habitats for local wildlife and enhancing natural beauty.

A Wake County judge restored a 1981 sunset clause that could end quarrying near Umstead State Park by 2031, but Wake Stone has filed to intervene and appeal. The fight now turns on permit wording and whether a 2023 permit moots the coalition’s challenge.

Raleigh Water showcased its ability to convert wastewater into "Class A biosolids," a beneficial product for agriculture, at the 2026 Southern Farm Show, announcing the addition of 16 new customers for this eco-friendly material.