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Council approves Arens Brook Park schematic design, directs staff to incorporate additional seating and shade
Summary
Council approved the schematic design for Arens Brook Park, which includes a comfort station, playgrounds, dog run, parking and a forested trail with boardwalks over wetlands. Council requested additional benches, shade and consideration of an enclosed play area and noted a future greenway connection.
Raleigh City Council approved the schematic design for Arens Brook Park on Tuesday and asked parks staff to incorporate more benches, shade trees and to evaluate whether the primary playground should have a contained perimeter for caregiver sightlines.
Parks capital projects manager Dee Gall described the project as a roughly $7 million build from the adopted 2017 master plan and said construction is expected to begin in 2027. Joe Pong, the landscape architect for the project, presented the schematic: a primary entrance off Leesville Road, a parking area and comfort station, a traditional playground and a nature‑play area, a dog run, an open lawn for informal recreation, and a trail that crosses wetlands and the creek on boardwalks toward a pedestrian connection at Englehart Drive.
Pong said the design locates active elements in the flattest area of the site to minimize tree loss and includes green‑stormwater infrastructure to treat runoff from paved surfaces. "We're also looking at adding some educational signage, to teach the public about the importance of GSI," he said.
Councilors asked targeted design questions and requested minor changes ahead of detailed design. Councilor Sexton asked why the original 2017 master‑plan loop trail was changed to an out‑and‑back routing; staff said wetlands delineation and a long boardwalk length drove that change and added cost and disturbance concerns. Several councilors urged more seating and shade around the open lawn and play areas so caregivers can observe activities comfortably, and one councilor asked staff to evaluate whether a partially enclosed playground improves supervision and safety for families.
Parks staff noted the schematic includes a planned future greenway connection that will tie into nearby projects, including the nearby swing park and paddle complex. The Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board approved the schematic and offered comments that staff has committed to incorporate into the next design phase.
Council approved the schematic design by voice vote and directed staff to incorporate additional benches, increased shade cover in developed areas and to include a design review for the playground enclosure option as staff moves to final design.
