Smithfield, N.C.- Johnston County will celebrate the grand opening of its first park on Friday, July 24. The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at 444 Matthews Road, Clayton, in the County’s Cleveland community. The event is free and open to the public.
"The opening of Johnston County Regional Park marks an important milestone for Johnston County," said Patrick Harris, chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. "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.”
Phase one of Johnston County Regional Park offers four pickleball courts, two basketball courts, an ADA-accessible fishing pond, a picnic shelter, and a parking area. Later phases will bring multi-use fields, walking trails and accessible sidewalks, a K-12 playground, a splash pad, a dog park, a disc golf course, a skate park, open space with a meadow, and an outdoor amphitheater.
“The opening of Johnston County Regional Park is a major step forward for Johnston County and the Cleveland community,” said Adrian O’Neal, director of Johnston County Parks and Open Space. “We’re proud to deliver a space that families can enjoy from day one while we continue adding new amenities in future phases.”
The County bought the land in 2020 from a group of Cleveland residents who wanted to ensure that their fast-growing community would have parkland for its residents.
Denton Lee was among those who purchased the land. “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,” he 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.”
A mix of grant and County dollars funded the $4.3 million cost of phase one construction, O’Neal noted. “This project wouldn't have been possible without strong support from both the County and our grant partners,” he said. “Those investments allowed us to turn a vision into a reality.”
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