Play It Forward Wake Forest

"Play It Forward Wake Forest" is an initiative by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department's designed to encourage participation in the development of a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The effort urges all residents and visitors to provide input, ideas, solutions and support.

The Master Plan reflects the town's vision of a vibrant community that responds to the needs and desires of its residents, friends, and visitors for fun, healthy, exciting and diverse activities. The purpose of the plan is to look at where we are now, what the anticipated needs are for the future and how we can improve and upgrade our existing facilities and programs to effectively serve residents and visitors in years to come.

History & Background

Once every 10 years the PRCR updates and develops the long-range planning document called the Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Master Plan. We are currently undertaking an eight-month comprehensive process that will shape the direction, development and delivery of the town's parks, recreation and cultural resources system over the next 10 years - until 2025.

We are contracting with GreenPlay, LLC, to assist with the process. GreenPlay is a national leader in comprehensive park planning and has a strong reputation for being innovative while creating realistic plans that will allow the PRCR to continue to provide excellent services to residents and visitors. GreenPlay will inventory and assess the town's existing facilities and program offerings to determine how they can be updated, expanded and improved to meet the current and future needs of the community.

Project Scope

Community input is the cornerstone of "Play It Forward Wake Forest." Over the next several months, the public will have several opportunities to provide input in a variety of ways:

• Public Meetings & Workshops
  • Wednesday, Sept. 3 - The PRCR hosted several focus groups and a public meeting designed to evaluate the town's parks and recreation services. During the focus groups participants were invited to weigh in on the extent to which Wake Forest parks and recreation facilities, programs and services meet the needs of the community. Attendees were also asked to offer input concerning the need for additional facilities, amenities, programs and services.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 19 - GreenPlay will return to host a Youth Focus Group from 5-6 p.m. and a public meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. to report preliminary findings. Both sessions will be held at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
• Engage Wake Forest
  • The Town of Wake Forest has created a comprehensive community engagement website, developed by MindMixer, to encourage public interaction and solicit feedback. Located at www.engage.wakeforestnc.gov the new site invites area residents to learn more about the Master Plan project, share new ideas, upload photos, expand upon existing ideas, and provide feedback on a variety of topics related to the project.
• Household Survey
  • On Oct. 22 the Town of Wake Forest and RRC Associates will mail a survey to approximately 3,000 randomly selected households in Wake Forest. The survey will provide critical information in determining community values, satisfaction levels, needs and priorities and demographics for the town's long-range planning efforts. The data obtained from the mailed survey will be statistically summarized and used to inform recommendations within the master plan.
    • "Play It Forward Wake Forest" Household Survey to be Mailed Oct. 22
• Online Survey
  The Town of Wake Forest is conducting an online survey to better learn about the community's desires for parks, recreation, and cultural resources. Your participation in this assessment will help form a vision for the future facilities, programs and services.

A draft Master Plan document will be presented for public comment as part of a community-wide open house in early 2015. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan public involvement has been designed to be inclusionary and transparent. Final approval is anticipated to occur in mid-2015.

Get Involved!

The Town of Wake Forest encourages you to "Play It Forward" by staying active in this process. Check this page often for information on opportunities to contribute to your parks and recreation master plan.