For seven generations, the Adams family farmed hundreds of acres of land in Willow Spring, east of Fuquay-Varina.
Much of that land is now home to Beech Bluff County Park — open since March — the newest county park and the first to serve the southernmost sections of Wake County.
Rather than erase the land’s farming legacy, Beech Bluff’s design and features embraced it.
“Our big unique thing here is our agricultural component. … A lot of that farming and that history and that culture is in the property,” says park manager Christina Sorensen Hester.
Park manager Christina Sorensen Hester calls the Canopy Walk, an elevated boardwalk through the trees, the park’s crown jewel.
“In the front of the park, we have a Harvest Hub area. We have an orchard, which we’ve named the Food Forest, where we’re growing different types of trees: pecans, nut trees, fruit trees. We have berry patches up there, where as things produce, people can come and partake in what’s growing. If they’re hiking and they get a little hungry, they can grab some blackberries along the way. There’s a demonstration garden, too, which goes through how folks can plant, even in small spaces, and things to grow seasonally.
“And then in one of our ag fields we’re going to actually do historical planting. The family, over seven generations, used different farming techniques and
different plants throughout the years. And so we’re going to capitalize on that and showcase (for) each year or time frame what was planted on the property, from muscadine grapes to strawberries to sweet potatoes.”
There’s also a community garden, with 28 plots that can be reserved through a lottery system.
“I’m really excited about all the agriculture programs that are happening,” says Christina. “There’s not a lot of that agricultural programming happening (elsewhere). Park visitors want to know what they can grow. They want to know how to compost. They want to know how they can do it in their backyard and not have to have a lot of space.”
“I think (the park is) very well set out because it’s educational. People can learn from it,” says Joyce Adams, a member of the fifth generation of the Adams family who farmed the land and who still lives nearby.
“I’m really impressed with it. I have visited several times, and we were there for the grand opening.
“I couldn’t think of any better way to give back to the community and have something that southern Wake County — well, all of Wake County and Johnston County can enjoy.”
Leading Beech Bluff County Park through development and opening fulfilled a dream of its mananger, Christina, a 26-year veteran of Wake County Parks, Recreation & Open Space. A Raleigh native and current Fuquay-Varina resident, Christina spent 20 years as park manager at Harris Lake County Park after working at Lake Crabtree County Park and Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.
“I love all the parks I’ve worked at. The only thing that was going to make me leave Harris was opening a new park,” she says. “A dream of mine is to open a park, be the first manager of a new park.”
County parks occupy the middle ground between municipal and state parks, Christina says, offering both active recreation, such as disc golf and playgrounds, and passive recreation, such as natural trails for hiking and open fields for picnics.
“But it’s in this big natural arena. A lot of our parks — you have facilities, you have features in them — but it’s a more natural feel. We do it within the landscape, and we’re really into natural resources.”
The park’s crown jewel, as Christina calls it, is the Canopy Walk: “an elevated trail boardwalk that’s about 25 feet in the air. You’re literally walking in the trees.”
The boardwalk leads to the back portion of Beech Bluff, where 3 miles of trails wind through the woods, ending at the namesake bluff overlook.
“There’s a lot of history down those trails with different trees,” says Joyce.
“Lots of folks are really enjoying being able to stroll and walk, walk their dogs, take their strollers out there,” says Christina, noting that several hard-surface paths throughout the park are ADA accessible.
Three miles of trails offer hiking, strolling, and rolling options throughout the park.
“We want to bring the community in,” says Christina.
“We’re looking to make sure that folks feel welcome onsite. So, doing programs, for example, through Pride Month, really focusing on groups to say, hey, everyone is welcome.”
Some visitors may be wary of walking in the woods alone, she says, so guided hikes are available. My Beech Bluff Park Packs are available from the Park Center and include a variety of resources for sensory support, such as noise-reducing headphones and sensory toys. Additional accessibility resources are still in development, including mobile tours that will help visitors with vision and hearing challenges navigate the park’s features.
In addition to the canopy walk, the playground and open play area have proven to be highlights for many visiting families.
“We do find folks coming out and just bringing a picnic blanket — lots of kite flyers. It’s such an open field, and we have this amazing wind. I don’t know where it’s coming from, but we have this amazing wind all the time,” Christina says.
A steel and glass sculpture titled Set Loose in the Woods, by Crystal Schenk and Shelby Davis, is one of three public art features at Beech Bluff County Park.
“Another thing that Wake County Parks is trying to do more of is incorporate art into the park design and into its programs. We have three sculptures here, and we have focused on art programs to help expand that within the park system, too … anything that we can connect for people to get outside and be exposed to nature, be exposed to each other in the community to build those relationships.”
Since opening day in March, visitation has exceeded expectations, averaging around 400 cars daily.
“The public has been so great. Everyone’s coming in and they’re just like, ‘We love this park, and we’ve been waiting; we’ve been watching for so long.’ It’s been really great to meet people and hear how they already love the park.”
wake.gov/beechbluff
3321 NC Highway 42, Willow Spring
