The Town of Wake Forest owns 80 wooded but largely untouched acres next to four schools, greenway trails, shopping centers and busy streets. Town officials want it to be used for outdoor recreation – but what kind of recreation?
The land is already accessible from three stubbed streets: Foundation Drive on the east and two streets in the Homestead at Heritage subdivision, Heritage Branch Road and White Rocks Road. Smith Creek is on the eastern edge of the land and two small Smith Creek tributaries frame the land.
The Wake Forest Recreation Advisory Board will host five public meetings over two weeks in June to hear what people in different neighborhoods and sections of town think would be the best use of the land. The effort is called Picture 80 Acres.
The first public meeting will be held Monday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street. The interactive session will include a brief presentation, followed by an open forum discussion where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share suggestions. Discussions at these meetings will cover a variety of topics centered on how to best achieve the appropriate balance between maintaining the property’s natural charm and adding desired amenities.
The four other meetings will be held at the following times and places:
- Tuesday, June 19, 6:30 p.m.; Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 North Taylor Street
- Thursday, June 21, 6:390 p.m.; Richland Creek Community Church, 3229 Burlington Mills Road
- Saturday, June 23, 11 a.m.; Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 Brooks Street
- Tuesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m.; Hope Lutheran Church, 3525 Rogers Road
Anyone who is unable to attend one of the meetings is encouraged to share their comments online atwww.wakeforestnc.gov/contactus.aspx.
For more information about Picture 80 Acres, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/picture-80-acres.aspxor contact Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Director Ruben Wall at 919-435-9561 or rwall@wakeforestnc.gov.
