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Council adopts Neuse River Park master plan; plan estimated at $15M, bond provides $11.5M
Summary
Raleigh City Council approved the Neuse River Park master plan. Staff said the concept plan totals about $15 million in estimated costs while the 2022 Parks Bond allocated $11.5 million; the plan includes prioritized baseline facilities, river access elements and a phased approach pending grant or philanthropic funding.
Raleigh City Council on Jan. 7 approved the Neuse River Park master plan, advancing a long‑running parks planning effort into schematic design and permitting.
TJ McCourt of Raleigh Parks introduced the plan and said community engagement was extensive. McCourt told the council the project was funded through the 2022 Parks Bond, which allocated $11,500,000 toward the project, and noted that the master plan’s planning‑level cost estimate came in at about $15,000,000. He said the city anticipates pursuing grant funding, philanthropic donations and other supplemental sources to bridge the gap between bond funds and total estimated costs.
McCourt said the Neuse River Park site includes two major parcels — an Army Corps leased parcel of about eight acres and approximately 80 acres of city‑owned property — and that the master plan balances nature preservation with improved river access and recreation. Design Workshop consultant Emily McCoy summarized site evaluation work (inventory, floodplain, easements, a Wake Nature BioBlitz) and described proposed amenities: a north arrival plaza with parking and restrooms, a bicycle pump track, river access and overlooks, pollinator meadows, low‑impact hiking trails, stream restoration and improvements to an Army Corps parcel including southern‑channel river access and bank reinforcement with “drop features” to enhance river recreation opportunities.
McCourt said the master‑plan estimate includes escalation and contingencies because of the project’s complexity in a river environment. Because the estimate exceeds bond funds, staff worked with a community advisory group and the Parks Advisory Board to prioritize elements: a baseline set of core facilities (restrooms, parking, arrival plaza) that staff said would be built under the first phase, and additional enhanced features (river channel work, pump track, nature play) that would be implemented as funding allows.
McCourt and consultants said community engagement was robust: “thousands of people” participated in online surveys and over 100 people attended public workshops, and the city will publish the full master‑plan document and engagement appendices on its project webpage. McCourt also described the CAG (community advisory group) process and said the CAG unanimously supported the master plan as a whole but did not reach unanimous consensus on the prioritization order; the Parks Advisory Board subsequently adopted the prioritization included in the plan before bringing it to council.
Staff described next steps following adoption: return with a consultant contract for schematic design and construction administration, begin environmental coordination and assessment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, refine cost estimates during schematic design and proceed toward design, permitting and a construction schedule aimed at 2027 if funding and approvals proceed.
A council member moved approval and the council voted unanimously to adopt the master plan.
Clarifying details: Master plan estimate ~ $15,000,000; 2022 Parks Bond allocation $11,500,000; baseline core facilities prioritized for first phase; Parks Advisory Board adopted the prioritization after community advisory group discussions; schematic design and Army Corps environmental review are next steps.
The council approved the master plan by unanimous voice vote.
