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Parks and open‑space staff outline acquisitions, grants and Rose Dairy Farm plan; residents press for county funding formula for parks
Summary
Parks, Greenways and Open Space staff summarized acquisitions, grants and near‑term projects including Johnson County Regional Park phase 1, East Clayton river access and the Rose Dairy Farm collaboration; public commenters urged a county funding formula for parks and trails in unincorporated communities.
Parks, Greenways and Open Space Director Adrian O'Neil updated commissioners March 17 on recent acquisitions, grant awards and projects and said staff is pursuing multiple trail and river access projects while preparing a county trails and greenways master plan.
O'Neil recounted acquisitions since the department began in 2019, described grants that have helped fund land purchases and trails, and summarized current initiatives: design‑build work for Johnson County Regional Park phase 1 (engineering underway, estimated completion late 2026), East Clayton river access (a car‑top boat ramp funded in part by a Water Resources Development grant), Wilson Mills Trail adjacent to Wilson Mills High School, and the county’s role with the East Coast Greenway. He said staff has helped secure roughly $7.15 million in grant funding with a county match of about $5.03 million since the department started.
O'Neil also highlighted an ongoing collaboration with Triangle Land Conservancy on the 333‑acre Rose Dairy Farm property, where staff is negotiating terms to manage day‑use park access, trails and office space.
During the public‑comment portion of the meeting, Cleveland community resident Denton Lee, who helped acquire the Booker Tract seven years ago to protect it from development, urged the board to adopt a recurring funding formula to build and maintain parks and trails in unincorporated communities. “I implore this board to begin this budget year to properly fund parks and trails,” Lee said, noting earlier purchases relied heavily on grants and that countywide funding for park maintenance remains limited.
Commissioners and staff discussed fee‑in‑lieu and open‑space funds that are collected when developments decline to provide on‑site recreation; O'Neil said the county has used those funds for prior purchases and continues to use grant leverage. Commissioners asked for site visits and more information about Rose Dairy Farm and the East Clayton access project.
No formal vote was required or taken; O'Neil said the department will return with details as projects advance.
