In 2026, Wake County is proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Parks, Recreation and Open Space system! Throughout the year, we’ll be honoring this milestone with special programs, events, contests and community collaborations that highlight the history and impact of our parks and preserves.
From art in the parks to interactive challenges and featured park spotlights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Be sure to follow us on social media and check back here regularly for updates on upcoming activities and ways to get involved.
A Legacy of Open Space and Community
Wake County’s commitment to preserving natural spaces and providing recreational opportunities began in earnest in the mid-1970s, when the county formally established its Parks, Recreation and Open Space program. Over the decades, PROS has grown into a vibrant network of county parks, nature preserves, trails and historic sites, serving residents and visitors alike.
Each site reflects the county’s dedication to conservation, education and community well-being. Today, Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space continues to expand access to green spaces, promote environmental stewardship and foster connections between people and nature.
See Parks Timeline
Park openings year by year
Submit Your Memories and Photos
Do you have a special memory of a Wake County park or preserve? Did your child go down a slide for the first time on one of our playgrounds? Did you celebrate a birthday at a picnic shelter? Get engaged at one of our picturesque locations? Spend hours hiking our trails during the COVID-19 pandemic? Whatever the memory—big or small—we want to hear about it!
We’re also collecting photos from the past 50 years! We’d love to see the role our parks and preserves have played in your life. Your photos could be featured on our social media pages!
Get Involved!
We’ve got a lot coming up this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Keep an eye out for updates on the following initiatives!
En Plein Air Art Celebration
Artists are invited to to participate in the Paint the Parks: En Plein Air Celebration in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Wake County’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space. Artists can choose their painting location (excluding non-public spaces) and are encouraged to create a piece that celebrates the park or preserve's unique features and beauty.
Artworks will be displayed in a traveling art exhibition that will move from park to park from July to December. Depending on the quantity of artwork submitted, the pieces may be subject to a juried review to select which ones will be included in the exhibition.
Details:
- Painting can take place from when the park opens to 30 minutes before closing.
- Artists are responsible for their own materials.
- The maximum canvas size for each painting is 16” width x 20” height, but smaller sizes are also welcome.
- Each artist may submit one painting to the traveling art exhibition and must drop off their artwork at Beech Bluff County Park by June 15 to be considered.
- Artists will be responsible for framing their work if chosen for the exhibition.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Earn points by visiting parks and participating in programs. Participants who earn 50 points will receive a special anniversary prize! This contest launches in June.
Wake County Parks x Wake County Public Libraries
Visit with Park staff at your local Library and visit Librarians at your favorite park!
Park Programs in Libraries - April - June
- Friday, May 1 – Terrific Turtles and Ssssuper Snakes! at 11 a.m. at Southeast Regional Library
- Thursday, June 18 – Remarkable Reptiles at 2 p.m. at Oberlin Regional Library
Libraries in Parks – April - June
- Monday, April 6 – Bookmobile and Storytime at Historic Oak View County Park 10 a.m.–noon
- Monday, April 20 – Bookmobile at Crowder County Park, 10 a.m.–noon
- Monday, May 4 – Bookmobile at Lake Crabtree County Park, 10 a.m.–noon
12 Parks in 12 Months
Think you know everything there is to know about Wake County parks and preserves? Each month, we’ll post a special feature designed to introduce you to—or reacquaint you with—a Wake County park. Get started below!
Lake Crabtree County Park
Lake Crabtree was created as a part of the Crabtree Creek Watershed Project to reduce property damage, sedimentation and erosion from flooding. The park opened in 1988 to provide public access to the lake for recreation, like fishing, boating and shoreside picnicking.
Size: Lake Crabtree County Park and the 286 east property are 221 acres in total with a combined 13 miles of trails.
Key milestone: Boat rental became free in 2019, making the park a standout in an area with so many boat rental services!
Signature feature: The observation tower! Climbing to the top provides an excellent view of the lake to watch boaters or get a glimpse of our resident bald eagles!
Hidden gem: The ADA kayak launch opened in 2016 as one of the most accessible docks in the county with its low-profile design!
Photo op: The open play field at sunset.
Best time to visit: A staff favorite is when the tickseed sunflowers bloom in late summer and early fall all over the park, but they are especially beautiful where the lake trail meets the open play field. The blooms usually peak in mid to late September.
One-word vibe: Dynamic. Lake Crabtree County Park serves many communities across Morrisville, Cary and the Research Triangle. With changing lake levels with every rain, different wildlife with every season and a mix of quiet moments and lively events, no two visits are ever the same.
Insider tip: During the boat rental season, come on Fridays! It makes for a good excuse to head out of work early ... and avoid the weekend crowds
Upcoming fun: Not only is 2026 the 50th anniversary of PROS, but it’s also America’s 250th birthday, so look out for some special Bald Eagle themed paddle programs later in the year! There will also be lots of other paddle programs, including open paddles, canoe tours, kayak skills classes, and full moon paddles!
Lake Crabtree County Park is located at 1400 Aviation Parkway in Morrisville.
Blue Jay Point County Park
Opened in 1992 to provide environmental education, the park was named after the peninsula—or point—it forms on Falls Lake, and for the many blue jays that lived there when the area was farmed by tenant farmers. It spans 236 acres and includes 5 miles of trails (including 3.1 miles of the Mountains to Sea Trail).
Signature feature: Visit one of the point trails to get a view of the lake. The Blue Jay Point trail is the most popular!
Hidden gem: The Nature Discovery Room in our Education Center—we hear lots of "wows!" when folks enter it.
Photo op (most Instagram-worthy spot?): The lake or the meadow at sunset
Best time to visit: Misty fall mornings when the leaves are changing colors and reflecting in Falls Lake
One-word vibe: Peaceful
Insider tip: Improvements are underway! Parts of the park are currently under construction, but the park and trails remain open.
Blue Jay Point County Park is located at 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road in Raleigh.
Historic Oak View County Park
Opened in 1996 to interpret North Carolina agricultural history through historic plantation buildings. A major milestone in the park’s history is when the Tenant House was moved from Wendell to the park in 2012. The house became the cornerstone of an expanded educational interpretation that directly addressed Oak View’s history of slavery, sharecropping and tenant farming. Check out some photos below!
Signature feature: Our goats and chickens!
Hidden gem: Check out the park’s historic buildings. The Plank Kitchen is 200 years old!
Photo op: The Pecan Grove is bustling with activity in the spring, and some of the trees were planted 100 years ago. We invite the public to pick our pecans each November.
Best time to visit: The fall at dusk. Everyone should experience golden hour at Oak View.
One-word vibe: Discovery. Oak View contains many stories that we continue to discover.
Insider tip: Historic Oak View is a park today but it used to be a plantation. We want everyone to enjoy this community space, but remember the enslaved workers and sharecroppers who farmed this land.
Upcoming fun: We’re starting construction soon on our park’s bond improvements! But we’ll still be open and offering programming, including our fantastic Juneteenth tour and storytimes this summer.
Historic Oak View County Park, which spans 26 acres and features over a mile of wooded trails, is located at 4028 Carya Drive in Raleigh.