Planning and Progress

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

Projects

Current/Ongoing

• Johnston County Regional Park 
  View the full master plan here
  • 81+ acres of land.
  • Johnston County’s first County Park.
  • Partnership with Greater Cleveland Athletic Association (GCAA).
  • Master Plan (Adopted 05/15/2023)
  • 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
  • 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
    • UPDATE (06/01/23) Master Plan was adopted by County Commissioner,s and funding is being pursued for Phase 1
      
      
  • Funding Opportunities
    • UPDATE (05/15/23) Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant has been submitted for $500k towards Phase 1
    • UPDATE (11/01/23) PARTF funding was awarded, and the contract has been submitted to begin Phase 1 components
      
      
  • Engineering/Construction
    • UPDATE (07/01/24) RFQ sent out for Design-Build team for Phase 1; 3 firms applied as of 07/31/2024
    • UPDATE (08/19/24) Balfour Beatty and McAdams have been selected as the Design-Build Team for Phase 1
    • UPDATE (12/10/24) Design-build contract has been executed, and preliminary engineering/pre-construction work has begun on Phase 1 
    • UPDATE (02/13/25) Design-Build Team and Parks Department share Phase 1 SD plans with the public at the 2025 PARTF public meeting; meeting for Phase 2 items
    • UPDATE (06/02/25 Rendering and Phase 1 Schematic Design released. The County and construction team have selected subconsultants for the Phase 1 project bid for JCRP
      
      
• 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 a State Research & Planning (SRP) grant on behalf of NCDOT and the Upper Coastal Plains Rural Planning Organization (UCPRPO).
  • (07/10/24) McAdams has been selected to be the consulting firm
    • UPDATE (02/21/25) A community survey has been started to gather input on future alignments (Link)
    • UPDATE (05/20/25) The first public meeting was hosted at Bread & Bottle in Princeton. Well-versed turnout with new comments and recommendations.
      
      
• Wilson's Mills Greenway Project
  • The first project along the Clayton to Smithfield Neuse River Trail
  • The first phase is 2 miles in length
  • The project will connect a residential development and high/middle school site
  • Land acquired through a partnership with Johnston County Public Schools and department match funding from NC Land and Water Fund
  • UPDATE (06/20/24): $4.2 million has been acquired toward development through the following funding sources:
    • Carbon Reduction Program - up to $3.36 million
    • Complete the Trails (East Coast Greenway Alliance) - up to $592,500
    • Open Space Funds: up to $250,000
  • UPDATE (10/14/24): An agreement has been signed between the county and NCDOT to start the process.
  • UPDATE (05/20/25) McAdams has been selected as the consultant for the design/engineering process. A contract is underway

Archived Projects

• Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway Feasibility Study (Adopted 01/06/25)
  • 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
    • UPDATE (11/20/23): Survey results have been completed, and preliminary routes have been defined
    • UPDATE (05/21/24): Public meetings occurred during June, and landowner coordination is underway for input
    • UPDATE (07/01/24): Public Engagement concluded, and a list of maps with route alignments is available
      • Overall Map
      • Smithfield Map
      • Four Oaks Map
      • Benson Map
      • Survey for public comment (open until July 15th)
    • UPDATE (08/08/24): A preferred route has been created after completing public engagement and working group evaluation
      • Preferred Route
      • Preferred Route (Large)
    • UPDATE (12/12/24): The final plan of the Smithfield to Benson East Coast Greenway Feasibility Study is available. 
    • UPDATE (01/06/25): Commissioners adopted the final plan on January 6th, 2025.
      
      
• Neuse River Trail Clayton-Smithfield Connection Feasibility Study (Adopted 09/19/2022)
  Please view this link for more information
  • Administered by the 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 (09/21/21): County Commissioners approved funding for Johnston County Parks and Open Space Trails Study portion included in the feasibility study 
  • UPDATE (09/05/22): Neuse River Trail Study completed by McAdams; plans reviewed by Park staff
  • UPDATE (09/19/22): County Commissioners adopted the Neuse River Trail Feasibility Study 

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