Wake Forest Seeks Public Input on New Skate Park Design

Wake Forest officials opened a public engagement window on Nov. 17 seeking community feedback on two conceptual designs for a combined skate park and pump track on an 8.3 acre site next to Devon Square and E. Carroll Joyner Park. The town is using an online survey, available through Nov. 26, for residents to indicate what they like and dislike about each option. The responses will inform the next step in design and construction.

The project has secured a $500,000 PARTF grant and the town has hired New Line Skatepark Inc. to manage design and construction. Town planners say the facility is planned to include basketball and fitness courts, restrooms and a picnic shelter as part of the broader recreational footprint. The notice posted on the town website on Nov. 17 includes contact information and a link to the engagement survey at wakeforestnc.gov/news/prcr-department-wants-your-opinion-future-skate-park-design.

For residents, the proposal raises immediate questions about access, programming and municipal costs. A site adjacent to existing parkland can expand recreational opportunities for youth and families, and the inclusion of courts and picnic amenities suggests the town is seeking a multiuse facility rather than a single sport installation. Civic input during the current survey period will be the formal mechanism for shaping those program priorities, and it is the primary avenue for neighbors to raise concerns about traffic circulation, parking needs and site design details.

From an institutional perspective, the use of a PARTF grant places this project within the realm of state supported recreation investments. The selection of an experienced private contractor to oversee both design and construction follows a common municipal model intended to streamline project delivery, but it also concentrates technical decisions in a vendor relationship that town staff will need to manage. How the town balances professional recommendations with resident preferences during final design will reflect policy priorities around transparency and community driven planning.

Capital projects such as this can surface in local budget debates and inform civic engagement ahead of municipal elections. Residents who wish to influence the final layout and amenities have a narrow window to respond and should consult the town notice for participation details and contact information. The survey remains open through Nov. 26 and the town’s published notice provides the link and staff contacts for further questions.