I typically feature only Raleigh parks, but branched out this weekend to check out Wake Forest’s E. Carroll Joyner park. Joyner Park is a 117 acre park about a mile east of US 1. It looks like the main draw here is the 1000-“seat” (all seating is lawn-seating) outdoor amphitheater(pic) and a smaller “performace garden” (pic). These venues will provide some nice performance spaces for summer concerts, including the Six Sundays in Spring series. The performance garden also looked like it’d be a fine location for a wedding.
701 Harris Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Restored farm buildings and a beautiful pecan grove are located near the performance venues. Much of the park is made up of open meadows. We were impressed with the distinctive stone walls located along the road and trails near the park entrance. A paved trail winds throughout the fields and the more-forested areas at the southern end of the property. Benches and bench swings are located along the trail. We plan on revisiting the trails as my youngest starts to learn to ride her bike without training wheels. The Wake Forest web site says that the park includes about three miles of walking paths. Toilets and water fountains are located near the parking lot.
The News & Observer reports that future phases will add a community center, sport fields, a playground and additional parking.
