E. Carroll Joyner Park is the Town's newest park. Scheduled for several phases of development, the park is located at 701 Harris Road, approximately 1 mile off of Capital Boulevard, and covers 117 acres.
The Wake Forest Parks & Recreation department has received $750,000 in grants for the Phase I development in addition to $3.5 million in bond proceeds. Phase I of E. Carroll Joyner Park was completed in late July, and the park was opened to the public in August 2009.
Among the Phase I attractions at E. Carroll Joyner Park are the restored farm buildings and pecan grove, plus a new log cabin, a 1,000-lawn-seat amphitheatre, a performance area and garden. The Town of Wake Forest has also scheduled the construction of a stone ribbon wall and the installation of approximately three miles of walking trails during the initial phase of development.
The 1,000-seat amphitheatre promises to be an excellent new venue for the popular Six Sundays in Spring in 2010. Although the Wake Forest College Birthplace served as a fitting setting for the concert series for many years, the current construction taking place on the Birthplace grounds combined with the ever-growing crowds makes the move to E. Carroll Joyner Park especially timely.
The performance garden, which is a much smaller, more intimate space that can accommodate approximately 150 people, is expected to serve as pre-concert event space for poetry readings, music workshops, smaller symphony groups, and storytelling.
The rich history and character of E. Carroll Joyner Park make it an ideal location for a variety of community festivals and events. The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Cultural Arts Association will be working together in the future to provide even more exciting and diverse cultural opportunities for the citizens of Wake Forest.