Wake County has thousands of acres of land. It wants your ideas on what to do with it.

Anna Johnson

Wake County is doubling its number of nature preserves and wants to know what residents want.

Nature preserves have passive uses — think hiking, birdwatching, horseback riding — unlike a traditional park with ball fields and playgrounds.

Three nature preserves are in the planning process, and Wake County is holding two in-person events this week to learn about them and offer suggestions.

“This is an exciting opportunity to play an active role in the future of three nature preserves that residents and visitors will enjoy for years to come,” said Sig Hutchinson, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, in a news release.

It will likely be years before the nature preserves are open, with planning, designing and construction still ahead.

Wake County has three nature preserves that are open now. Robertson Millpond opened in 2015 with Turnipseed opening in 2017 and Sandy Pines opening in 2021. The county has acquired nearly 9,000 acres through its open space program.

Here are the new preserves.

Buffalo Creek

This preserve is over 900 acres in eastern Wake County near Wendell, and it’s close to the existing Millpond Preserve. It’s the only place in Wake County that has a heritage blackwater cypress swamp, typically found on the coast.

Possible uses: Hiking trails, kayaking, group camping areas, mountain bike trails, fishing ponds and picnic areas. It could also have greenway connections to Sandy Pines Preserve, the future Little River Preserve and the town of Wendell.

Little River

This nature preserve is about 3,700 acres and stretches from U.S. 64 at Franklin County down toward Sandy Pines Preserves. The property includes wetlands, open fields and forests.

Possible uses: Mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, wildlife observation and horseback riding. It could have greenway connections to Zebulon, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Sandy Preserve and the future Buffalo Creek Nature Preserve.

Swift Creek

This preserve includes 2,800 acres owned by Wake County, the town of Garner, the city of Raleigh and private land with conservation easements. It stretches from Lake Wheeler to Lake Benson in the southern part of the county, and includes wetlands, floodplain and wildlife habitat.

Possible uses: Hiking, environmental education, birdwatching and wildlife overlooks.

A list of current and planned Wake County parks and preserves.
A list of current and planned Wake County parks and preserves.

Want to weigh in?

People can give input on the three nature preserves in person, by phone or email.

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