Wake Forest approves purchase of 47.3 acres for future park and awards $2.68M public safety warehouse contract

The Board of Commissioners authorized the town manager to execute a purchase and sale agreement for three parcels totaling 47.3 acres on Forestville Road that town staff identified as suitable for a future park and for an expanded operations center. Allison Snyder, assistant town manager, told commissioners the parcels align with the parks and recreation master plan and the town’s need for an operations/facilities center.

Snyder said the town’s initial research indicated the parcels "will fit those needs and are in the correct location," and asked the board to authorize the manager to execute the agreement. Commissioners approved the request by unanimous vote.

On the consent agenda, which passed as a block, commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the town manager to execute a contract with Berry Building Group to construct a public safety warehouse at 1412 Forestville Road for $2,681,000. Consent items also included contract approval for road improvements associated with the Reserve at Dunn Creek, a resolution to surplus Sergeant Charles Burchett’s badge and service weapon following retirement, and a conveyance of 0.639 acres related to H. L. Miller Park improvements (the land for that conveyance was donated by Wake Electric, according to a commissioner’s remarks).

The motions to approve the purchase agreement and the Berry Building Group contract were made and seconded and passed without recorded opposition. Town staff said further details and timelines are in the meeting packet and will be carried out through the town’s standard procurement and capital project processes.

Commissioners said the prospective park location in the southern portion of town responds to long-standing community requests for recreational land in that area, and staff will proceed with due diligence, acquisition steps and planning for park development.