Johnston County Regional Park Grand Opening

 

Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us at today's ribbon cutting of the first County-owned and County-operated park. Johnston County Regional Park is the first step in a long-term vision to expand recreational opportunities and enhance quality of life in our community. This milestone is the culmination of years of planning and investment to create a place where families can gather, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors.

 

The journey began in 2019 with the creation of Johnston County's Parks, Greenways, and Open Space Program. In 2020, the County purchased this 70-acre property from the Cleveland Community Parks and Recreation Association, a nonprofit formed by local residents led by Denton Lee. Their vision was to preserve this land for recreation before it was lost to development, and today that vision has become a reality.

 

Phase 1 of the park features four pickleball courts, two basketball courts, an ADA-accessible fishing pond, a picnic shelter, and parking. Future phases will add multi-use athletic fields, walking trails, accessible sidewalks, a K-12 playground, a splash pad, a dog park, a disc golf course, a skate park, an outdoor amphitheater, open green space, and other amenities.

Construction of the first phase cost approximately $4.3 million and was made possible through a combination of Johnston County funding and grants, including support from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

 

Please note that the fishing pond is not yet open for fishing. The pond must stabilize before it can be stocked and opened to anglers.

 

Johnston County Regional Park is now open seven days a week from dawn until dusk. We look forward to seeing our community enjoy this special place for years to come.

 

The park is located at 444 Matthews Road Clayton, NC 27520.