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
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- 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.
- Neuse River Trail Clayton-Smithfield Connection Feasibility Study (Adopted 09/19/2022)
Please view this link for more information -
- Issued by Upper Coastal Plain Rural Planning Organization (UCPRPO)
- 15.6-mile connection from existing greenway/multi-use trails in Clayton and Smithfield
- Includes continuation of the Mountains to Sea Trail and East Coast Greenway
- Partners include:
- Upper Coastal Plain RPO
- McAdams
- NC Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)
- Johnston County
- NC State Parks
- Towns of Clayton, Wilson's Mills, Selma, and Smithfield
- Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail
- East Coast Greenway Alliance
- NCDOT
- Proposed Contract Time: Within Fiscal Year 2021-2202
- UPDATE (9/21/21): County Commissioners approved funding for Johnston County Parks and Open Space Trails Study portion included in the feasibility study
- UPDATE (09/05/2022): Neuse River Trail Study completed by McAdams; plans reviewed by Park staff
- UPDATE (9/19/22): County Commissioners adopted the Neuse River Trail Feasibility Study
For more information about upcoming projects and long-term planning, please email parks@johnstonnc.com.