In 2023, Wake Forest initiated a comprehensive planning process aimed at enhancing the town's parks and recreation system over the next five years. The planning journey involved identifying existing gaps, discovering new opportunities, and setting ambitious goals to foster a vibrant and healthy lifestyle for all residents.

Key focal areas of the assessment included the current state of parks, recreation programming, departmental operations, and funding strategies. The town emphasized community engagement throughout the planning process, reaching over 1,000 residents through open houses, surveys, and focus groups to gather diverse input.

The framework developed from this engagement is built on seven guiding principles: health and wellness, equitable growth and fair access, resiliency and adaptability, conservation and natural resource protection, historic legacy and traditions, greenway connectivity and mobility, and innovation. Each principle outlines specific strategies and action items aimed at improving the parks and recreation system.

Health and wellness initiatives will focus on enhancing green spaces to support physical and mental well-being, while equitable growth aims to ensure all community members have access to recreational opportunities. The plan also addresses the need for indoor facility expansion and specialized programming to cater to diverse age groups.

Resiliency and adaptability are highlighted as essential for managing parks in response to changing community needs, a lesson reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conservation efforts will prioritize the protection of natural environments, while the historic legacy principle emphasizes the importance of preserving the town's cultural heritage.

Greenway connectivity will create safe, interconnected spaces for recreation and transportation, enhancing community well-being. The innovation principle encourages the use of modern technologies and sustainable practices to ensure the parks remain relevant and beneficial.

The implementation plan includes 32 strategies and over 160 action items, with prioritization based on community feedback, compatibility with guiding principles, and potential economic impact. The town aims to focus on maintaining existing facilities, expanding greenway connections, acquiring new parkland, and advancing environmental sustainability efforts.

Overall, the comprehensive plan reflects Wake Forest's commitment to creating an inclusive, accessible, and dynamic parks and recreation system that meets the evolving needs of its residents.