North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Wake County commissioners have awarded a construction contract to TCC Enterprises, Inc., to build the long-planned Kellam-Wyatt County Park. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, with substantial completion anticipated by winter 2027.
The project is funded through the 2018 Parks, Greenways, Recreation, and Open Space bond and will develop the 59-acre site in east-central Wake County, near the border of Raleigh and Knightdale. The property was donated to Wake County with a conservation easement that limits development to uses supporting conservation, scenic preservation, habitat protection, and agricultural activities.
Plans, approved by the Wake County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 6, 2021, include community and demonstration gardens with a pavilion, walking trails, a nature playground, a renovated farmhouse serving as a park center, restroom and maintenance facilities, parking, native plantings, public art, and educational and recreational programs.
A public engagement process guided the park’s vision, with meetings held in March and June 2021. The master plan seeks to balance public access and recreation with protection of the site’s natural and agricultural character.
The park will also feature a community orchard, open play areas, and pond overlooks. Officials say the project will provide residents with a mix of outdoor recreation, educational opportunities, and community gathering spaces.