Planning and Progress

Read the Johnston County Parks and Recreation Master Plan published in April 2021.

Projects

Currently, the following projects are ongoing in our department:

  • County-Wide Comprehensive Trails & Greenway Master Plan
    • Johnston County will be studying all current and planned trail and greenway routes throughout the county
    • The goal is to have planned corridors where we can connect parks, schools, light commerce, and existing trail networks. 
    • The master plan is funded by State Research & Planning grant on behalf of NCDOT and the Upper Coastal Plains Rural Planning Organization.
      • UPDATE (07/10/23) McAdams has been selected to be the consulting firm
  • Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway Feasibility Study
    • The final section of the East Coast Greenway will be studied. 
    • The goal of this feasibility study is to find out cost estimates, funding sources, and a preferred route and alternative routes.
    • The study is funded and administered by NCDOT's Integrated Mobility Study (IMD)
    • Partners include NCDOT, East Coast Greenway Alliance, UCPRPO, and the Towns of Smithfield, Four Oaks, and Benson.
      • UPDATE (06/20/23): McAdams has been selected to be the consulting firm
  • Johnston County Regional Park Master Plan (Adopted 05/15/2023
    • 81+ acres of land.
    • Johnston County’s first County Park.
    • Partnership with Greater Cleveland Athletic Association (GCAA).
    • RFQ approved on July 19th, 2021 to seek out engineers for a temporary parking lot and irrigation water system.
      • UPDATE (10/4/21): County Commissioners approved funding for the design process RFQ of the temporary parking lot and irrigation water system
      • UPDATE (12/6/21): County Commissioners approved the master plan RFQ for the park's permanent facilities and design
    • A universal ball field will be built following this construction by GCAA.
      • UPDATE (4/8/22): McGill has been selected to design a temporary ballfield
    • Stewert has been selected to conduct the master plan to finish by December 2022
      • UPDATE (10/14/22)Community engagement has been completed and a draft master plan will be presented soon
      • UPDATE (05/05/23) Full master plan has been completed and a public hearing has been proposed for May 15th, 2023
  • A new partnership between Johnston County Public Schools and Johnston County Parks and Open Space Program
    • All school athletic facilities will be considered public parks, allowing athletic associations to rent/lease fields and facilities for athletic games.
    • Grounds will be maintained by Johnston County Parks and Open Space Program via a shared-use/payment contract with the school system.
    • The first meeting took place on August 3rd, 2021; this is the first of many public meetings involving parks & recreation, public schools, and athletic associations.

 

For more information about upcoming projects and long-term planning, please email parks@johnstonnc.com.

 

 

Location of the main park (corner of Matthew and Polenta Road)

- Location: At the corner of Matthews and Polenta Road lies the Booker Tract, the future site of Johnston County's first county park

 

 

Adrian O'neal speaking at the first Johnston County parks/schools partnership meeting

- Snapshot from the first Johnston County Parks and Open Space/Johnston County Public Schools meeting; more meetings are planned following this successful partnership

 

Page last updated: July 25, 2023

Johnston County Parks and Recreation Logo