About the Plan
Wake County’s Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan will chart a 10-year roadmap for investing in parks, recreation, open space, greenways and educational programming across the county. This plan will evaluate current facilities and services, gather input from the community, and identify key opportunities to meet future needs. As Wake County enters its 50th year of delivering of parks, recreation and open space services for the county’s 1.2 million residents and visitors, this planning effort will set the stage for preserving open space, promoting stewardship and providing equitable and inclusive education and outdoor recreation for a diverse and growing community for generations to come.
Join us in sharing your ideas for the future of the Wake County’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space system! We welcome your creativity in imagining what types of experiences you would like to see across the park and open space network over the next decade and beyond.
Share your thoughts
Your input is critical to creating a successful Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Thank you for taking 10–15 minutes to complete this anonymous survey.
Community meetings
Join us at a community meeting to share your ideas for the future of the Wake County’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space system as we work to develop its new comprehensive master plan. Drop in anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. to learn what’s possible, talk to staff and find out how you can play an active role in the process.
Anticipated timeline
Spring/Summer 2025
Phase 1: Discovery and Assessment- Inventory and analysis
- Community needs assessment and survey
This phase will include stakeholder group meetings and opportunities for public engagement.
Summer/Fall 2025
Phase 2: Plan Development- Drafting future vision, mission and goals
- Draft strategies and recommendations
This phase will include additional stakeholder group meetings and opportunities for public engagement.
Fall 2025/Spring 2026
Phase 3: Final Plan Creation- Prioritization and action plan
- Draft and final document
The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the draft plan.
Spring 2026
Plan adoptionFrequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Wake County Park, Recreation and Open Space Division?
The Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Division preserves open space, promotes stewardship and provides equitable and inclusive education and outdoor recreation for a diverse and growing community.
The division develops and maintains regional parks and greenways focused on natural, water and cultural history sites. Since opening Lake Crabtree County Park in 1988, the County has added nine parks and three nature preserves, with plans for more. These parks and preserves offer environmental education programs and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and boating.
While Wake County focuses on these regional parks, the 12 municipalities within its boundaries manage their own parks and recreation services independently. Unlike municipal departments, Wake County does not operate recreation leagues or leisure activities like organized sports, dance or arts and crafts; these are handled by local municipalities and nonprofit organizations.
What is an open space?
Open space is natural land that has not been converted to residential or commercial development. It includes forests, parks, meadows, wetlands, floodplains and farms. These open spaces can include greenways.
Open space land is owned and managed in the public interest for:
- Preservation of natural resources, wildlife habitat, and historical and cultural properties
- Protection of forest and farmland, scenic landscapes, riparian corridors and water quality
- Providing venues for outdoor recreation
What is a countywide Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan?
It is a long-term, community-directed roadmap that informs decision-making for the entire Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Division.
What is NOT included in a countywide Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan?
The Comprehensive Master Plan is not a detailed design or proposal for immediate improvements for a specific park, neighborhood or facility. It is also not a method to approve specific County purchases, expenses or increases to the Division budget.
Why do we need a new plan?
The County’s Open Space Plan and Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan have not been updated in almost 20 years. Since the adoption of these plans and during a rapid increase in growth and significant land use changes, Wake County has excelled in protecting open space with approximately 138,000 acres or 26% of the county’s land area protected as open space through various methods including floodplain regulation, development processes and acquisition. This planning effort will help the division, partners, volunteers and County leadership as they make decisions and improvements to our parks, recreation and open spaces in the coming years.
How long will the process take?
The process began in January 2025 and is anticipated to last 12–16 months.
How can I get involved?
There will be several opportunities to have your voice heard and provide feedback on the draft plan. Check this website regularly to see materials and find information about upcoming events. See the Get Involved section to learn more!
What progress have you made so far?
Check back for updates!
Contact us
We would love your feedback! If you have additional questions or comments, fill out the comment form below. You can also email directly or phone 919-856-6672.