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 a State Research & Planning (SRP) grant on behalf of NCDOT and the Upper Coastal Plains Rural Planning Organization (UCPRPO).
    • 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
    • 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 available
      • Overall Map
      • Smithfield Map
      • Four Oaks Map
      • Benson Map
      • Survey for public comment (open until July 15th)
• 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
  • 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 Commissioners 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

• 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.

• Neuse River Trail Clayton-Smithfield Connection Feasibility Study (Adopted 09/19/2022)
  Please view this link for more information
• • Administered 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 
• 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
  • $4.2 million has been acquired toward development through the following funding sources:
    • Carbon Reduction Program - up to $3.36 million
    • Complete the Trails - up to $592,500

 

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