Friends and neighbors,

If you have ever visited the beautiful and uncomparable Joyner Park on Harris Rd in Wake Forest, NC, then you know the serenity that the park evokes from its tranquil walking trails, mature trees, and natural setting. Now, the beauty of this one-of-a-kind park is threatened by plans to develop the 68.28 acres of pristine forested land directly across the road from Joyner Park: the Harris Road subdivision.

This forested area surrounding Joyner Park enhances the lush green landscape that is enjoyed by all who visit the park year round and is home to an abundance of wildlife. Currently, the land is zoned as Rural Holding District (RD). However, Church Street Company, a Raleigh based development firm, would like to rezone it for General Residential-10, Condition District (GR10-CD), and Highway Business (HB), an effort that will destroy the trees and wildlife in the area and replace it with high density housing.

As we are well aware, Wake Forest is rapidly developing all around us and more often than not, the development is reckless and negligent with little to no regard for the trees and wildlife that truly makes Wake Forest special. This type of development is in contrast with the Town's vision statement which states, "Smart sustainable growth strategies will guide future development, with an enhanced focus on preserving open space, maintaining a lush tree canopy, and ensuring sufficient infrastructure is in place." (Wake Forest Community Plan, April 2022).

Ultimately, to keep this parcel of land protected and preserved, the landowner should donate it to the town as a nature preserve or wildlife conservation. Alternatively, the town could purchase the land and designate it as open space or an extension of Joyner Park. From Gerald Pottern, a biologist and environmental consultant who lives in Wake Forest: "On rare occasions, a piece of land stands out as a really special -- a place that should NOT be cleared and developed.  The Pate property is one of those rare places -- an ecological jewel with nearly-pristine headwater streams, wetlands, and a spectacular north-facing bluff forest." 

"If the Town would be willing to consider preserving this site, it would be a valuable resource for teaching stream and wetland ecology and forest ecology, with proximity to Joyner Park and nearby schools.  It could also provide good training examples for stormwater professionals, since the high-quality condition of these streams and wetlands provides a good educational contrast to the more channelized, eroded, and silted streams on the existing Joyner Park property and elsewhere around town...Given the loss of forest habitat on the Joyner Park property to the south and the new housing development to the west, the remaining forest habitats at Joyner are fragmented into small isolated patches which makes them unsuitable for animals that need larger forest patches to survive.  Preserving all or a portion of the Pate Tract adjacent to Joyner Park would partially mitigate those losses and would certainly enhance the Town’s 'crown jewel' park."

Therefore,we must make our voices heard! Change will not happen unless we as residents band together to voice our opinions and concerns. Wake Forest officials, planners, and developers must stop reckless development of natural areas and instead focus on preservation of trees and wildlife in order to maintain the character and distinctiveness of our neighborhoods and town. We must all do our part. Sign this petition, contact your local city officials, attend public meetings and hearings, vote, take action...because this is our town.

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News Coverage: WRAL  ABC11  CBS17  Wake Weekly (1), Wake Weekly (2), Wake Forest Gazette