Years In The Making, Johnston County’s First Regional Park Opens July 24
SMITHFIELD, N.C. — After years of planning and construction, Johnston County is ready to open the gates to its first regional park.
County leaders will officially dedicate Johnston County Regional Park during a public ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, July 24, at 444 Matthews Road in the Cleveland community. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
The park represents one of Johnston County’s largest investments in recreation and is designed to grow alongside one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing areas. While only the first phase is complete, county officials envision the site eventually becoming a destination for families throughout Johnston County.
“The opening of Johnston County Regional Park marks an important milestone for Johnston County,” Board of Commissioners Chairman Patrick Harris said. “As our County continues to grow, it’s important that we invest not only in schools and public safety, but also in places where families can gather, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors.”
Visitors attending the grand opening will find four pickleball courts, two basketball courts, an ADA-accessible fishing pond, a picnic shelter and parking.
Future construction phases will significantly expand the park with athletic fields, walking trails, accessible sidewalks, a playground for children of all ages, a splash pad, dog park, disc golf course, skate park, open meadow and an outdoor amphitheater.
For Adrian O’Neal, director of Johnston County Parks and Open Space, the opening is only the beginning.
“The opening of Johnston County Regional Park is a major step forward for Johnston County and the Cleveland community,” O’Neal said. “We’re proud to deliver a space that families can enjoy from day one while we continue adding new amenities in future phases.”
The park’s story began in 2020 when several Cleveland-area residents purchased property with the goal of preserving land for recreation before rapid residential growth consumed it. They later sold the property to Johnston County, allowing plans for a regional park to move forward.
Denton Lee, one of the original landowners, said preserving open space became increasingly important as new neighborhoods continued to emerge across western Johnston County.
“Back in 2020, we saw how quickly this area was growing and felt it was important to set aside land for recreation before the opportunity was lost,” Lee said. “It’s exciting to see the first phase completed and to know that future generations will have a place to enjoy the outdoors right here in their own community.”
The first phase of construction carried a price tag of approximately $4.3 million and was funded through a combination of Johnston County dollars and grant funding.
“This project wouldn’t have been possible without strong support from both the County and our grant partners,” O’Neal said. “Those investments allowed us to turn a vision into a reality.”
County officials say the regional park is intended to serve residents from across Johnston County while providing recreational opportunities for the rapidly growing Cleveland community, where new homes and businesses continue to reshape the area.
Additional phases of the park will be constructed as funding becomes available.
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It’s opening despite every Republican & their momma trying to stop it for years. I bet the County Commissioners will be first in line for photo ops.
Tell us all that you’re consumed by politics without saying you’re consumed by politics!
This literally is politics though. It fits
Looks extremely hot and barren.
Not a single tree left standing after this “development”
It was a field, no trees needed to be removed.
We’re pretty happy about the park here in the ever expanding Cleveland community. Finally something new on our sound of the County.
No trees were removed … it was farm field that had crops on it through the years.
VERY sad, no more beauty or clean air in Johnston Cty!!
There were no trees to begin with. They did plant some though. This was farmland.
So I see four Pickleball courts and two basketball courts… What else is there? Seriously, it took years to develop four Pickleball courts and two basketball courts? Darn who’s in charge of that?
Practically no one is driving all the way to Cleveland for this park. Since it’s joco’s “FirSt ReGiOnAL PaRk” you’d think it would be in a more centralized location like Smithfield, Selma, or even Clayton. Most of the county is gonna have to drive on the Clayton Bypass or even I-40. Why bother.
It was donated land, genius.
Smithfield already has a big community park with 4.5 ball fields, pickleball courts, basketball courts, walking trail, playground & a indoor pool. So why would they build another one there? This park is in Clayton, just in the Cleveland School area.
This should have been located in Smithfield. It is the county seat. This location is definitely not centrally located for the enjoyment of all JoCo families…. Sad really…
Parks are not a safe place Jo Co. They are an invite for trouble. Hope you’re going to have 24 hour surveillance and security. Nice and pretty now soon to be spray painted by gang signs.
Money could have been spent much wiser.
What parks in the area are spray painted and have gang activity??? I love all the parks I’ve visited and am happy to see another one go up. Can’t wait to see it grow… my kids are especially excited to have a skatepark when it’s eventually complete. Much better than building another subdivision. Money very well spent but that’s just my 2 cents.
It’s going to be great
Smithfield Clayton and Selma already have parks. This is a county park, not a town park.
If you read deep here it says that other areas are turning into developments for residential use. This much land will not be readily available for this use. If you drive a little ways to eat dinner you’ll drive a little ways to enjoy a park. Personally, I can’t wait for the new disc golf course!
This is Awesome!! Public recreational spaces are desperately needed in this s area. This is a fantastic start!
You must not live in the area. There is multiple subdivision within walking distance of this park. Not to mention all of the subdivisions up and down Cleveland Rd. And no they didn’t have to cut down any trees. With all the taxes that we pay, we should have parks in our area. And thankfully we have landowners who would rather donate or sell there land to the county for people to enjoy instead of it being another subdivision.
Clayton smithfield and Selma have parks that’s why it’s a county park. Be proud not negative.
This is right in the middle of one of the fastest -growing areas in the county. As someone who lives just off Cleveland road, in a community with lots of children, this is much appreciated. There are no other public parks for roughly 10 miles in any direction. Clayton has community parks. Smithfield has community parks. This park will be heavily used, I’m 100% sure.
There are four Pickleball courts and two basketball courts; what are all of those children supposed to do with that?
Agreed!!! A playground and maybe a walking trail/path might have been a better start!
There are children that play pickleball and basketball… My kids do both. We’ll be doing it much more now that these resources are available.
A playground might’ve been a more obvious first choice, but the other stuff will come with time.
In took years to build 4 pickleball and 2 basketball courts? Who were the brainiacs to come up with that?
I don’t mind a drive to exercise these grandkids, hopefully it grows to be a safe place for family activities and is enjoyed by all. It’s hard to create perfect , don’t expect more than you’re willing to put in. A great start for a growing area.
What these comments are showing is someone that won’t get out and do the work that some of these folks did in the Cleveland community and come together for the community.
What they need to do from thd looks of it, is to plant more trees to create shaded areas and start the works for a playground for the kids. Yes, that should have been part of the start to this grand opening including the splash pad.
How close is a Dollar General or a Chic-fil-a to it?
With such a positive announcement of the county investing in its people, we don’t need the negative comments. Living in the Cleveland community myself, this is a very welcome addition to one of the fastest growing areas of our state. My kids are grown now, but this would have been wonderful to have when they were younger. Let’s keep investing in our kids and give them a safe place to get outside and stay active. If the full vision can be implemented, this park will have something for people of every age. I’m proud of the county taking this first step and look forward to future investments.