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You're invited to participate in the incredible array of programs and classes offered by Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources! If there's a class or program you'd like us to provide that's not listed online or in RecConnect, please let us know! We are always interested in expanding our programming options!
Currently, our facilities offer open play sessions of Pickleball, Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, LEGO Club, and Preschool Play, as well as a fitness room at Joyner Park Community Center. Pre-registration for the fitness room opens each Sunday for the following week. Visit RecDesk to register for a time! Please note: Cleanings are performed every hour, and you must have a RecCard membership to register.
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Upcoming Programs & Classes
We offer something for EVERYONE! Click on the icons below to view a complete listing of offerings in each category.
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Maintenance Matters
By Randy Hoyle, PRCR Maintenance Manager
Welcome to "Maintenance Matters."
The bees are back! This time of year the ground bees make a return visit to that exposed red clay that's so abundant in this part of the state.
But don’t worry! These little bees are harmless. They just want to do their thing and not be bothered by us.
Ground bees (Family Andrenidae), also known as mining bees, are a solitary insect - even though they may look like a colony due to the closeness of the holes in an infested area.
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These bees are often found along park trails and exposed slopes where the turf is thin, or bare dirt is exposed. They make their nests in the ground and prefer areas with little to no organic matter within the canopy.
Ground bees do not form colonies like the honeybee, nor do they swarm and attack like other colonizing bees.
Rather, they are beneficial pollinators for the early flowing native plants found throughout North Carolina. These little bees are also useful for pollinating most of the ornamental plants found in the average home landscape.
Again, these little bees are non-aggressive as their stingers are too fragile to sting humans. In fact, they'd rather zoom away than bother with us.
So be on the look out for the ground bees. Take a moment to watch the beauty of nature and the hard work of these bees.
If they do become a nuisance or you wish to do some landscaping in the area, the best way to move them along is to spray peppermint extract on the area. Peppermint extracts serves as an effective deterrent to most bees and wasps.
I hope this has been helpful with in your gardening endeavors. Enjoy the outdoors and do your best to work with nature.
References
NC State University Extension
The Bees of North Carolina: An Identification Guide
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A Turf Tale with Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Maintenance
Our Parks Maintenance Division recently created a new video entitled "A Turf Tale," which details how our crews used their knowledge and skills to create a special design in the outfield at Heritage High School. Check out the video above.
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StoryWalk in the Park offered throughout April in Joyner Park
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and Page 158 Books are partnering to offer a free program throughout April that encourages families to read while enjoying the greenways at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
StoryWalk is an innovative and interactive way for readers of all ages to enjoy a story and the outdoors at the same time. It’s also an effective way for young readers to practice active reading skills.
Throughout April, pages from the children’s picture book, “Billy Bully Frog Learns to Love,” by Lizzie McInerney, will be displayed on posts along the Joyner Park trails. As you stroll along the path, you will be directed to the next page in the story.
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Registration continues for National Trails Day 5K/3K at Joyner Park
The PRCR Advisory Board will host a family-friendly 5K/3K walk/run as part of National Trails Day on Saturday, June 1, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Check-in on the day of the event starts at 7 a.m., and the races begin at 8 a.m.
The National Trails Day 5K/3K is a timed walk/run for children and adults. A loop of the paved trails throughout Joyner Park will comprise the 3.1-mile course for the 5K and 1.8 mile course for the 3K. Strollers are welcome but will be placed at the back of the pack to allow runners a clear start.
The entry fee for the 5K is $25 before March 31; $30 from April 1-May 14; $35 from May 15-30; and $40 the day before and day of the race. The entry fee for the 3K is $20 before March 31; $25 from April 1-May 14; $30 May 15-30; and $35 the day before and day of the race. Please note: Registrations will be accepted on the day of the event. Everyone who registers before May 15 will receive a race T-shirt.
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PRCR partnering with Pickles and Play to host 2024 Wake Forest Spring Smash Pickleball Tourney May 3-5
The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is partnering with Pickles and Play to host the 2024 Wake Forest Spring Smash Pickleball Tournament Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, at the Flaherty Park Pickleball Courts and Tennis Complex, 1226 N. White St.
The entry fee is $45 per player, plus $10 for each additional event. The registration deadline is Sunday, April 28. For more information, email Tournament Director Lisa Groeschner.
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Registration continues for 50-Mile Walking Challenge
The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will commemorate “National Physical Fitness Month” in May by offering a 50-Mile Walking Challenge for area residents ages 11 and older.
Residents who accept the walking challenge commit to walk at least 50 miles in May and use a tracking card to record their progress. Walking locations may include neighborhoods, schools, churches, parks, and greenways - just to name a few.
There is no cost to participate, and online registration is open through Friday, April 26, via RecDesk (search “Walking Challenge”). Tracking cards will be emailed to all registered participants and available for pickup at Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road.
The first 100 participants to complete at least 50 miles and return their completed tracking cards to JPCC by Monday, June 3, will receive a 50-Mile Walking Challenge T-shirt.
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Memorial Day Remembrance Wall of Honor submissions accepted through April 14
Throughout May, the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will present Memorial Day Remembrance Walls of Honor at E. Carroll Joyner Park, Alston-Massenburg Center, and Flaherty Park. In recognition of the service and sacrifice of women and men in uniform, these Walls of Honor will bear the names of as many as 500 veterans submitted by members of our community.
Through Sunday, April 14, the PRCR Department will accept submissions, including the names of veterans, both living and deceased, along with the military branch in which they served, for inclusion on each wall. Please note: Names included on the Walls of Honor in previous years will be included again this year and do not need to be resubmitted.
There is no cost and no limit to the number of veterans each person can submit.
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Students & parents invited to 2024 STEM Saturday April 27 at Joyner Park Community Center
The Wake Forest Technology Advisory Board (TAB) is inviting area elementary, middle, and high school students and their families to the 2024 Wake Forest STEM Saturday on Saturday, April 27. Presented by the Wireless Research Center, this free family networking event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.
Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, STEM Saturday will expose students in grades K-12 to a variety of STEM career options, while featuring STEM-related exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities.
STEM Saturday will also include several interactive booths where representatives from a variety of local businesses, schools, and organizations will engage with parents and students, share professional insights and experiences, and offer interesting demonstrations.
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Beatlesque to kick off 30th Anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring April 28
You’re invited to help celebrate three decades of foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 30th anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring. Sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest and ARTS Wake Forest, the free outdoor concert series will be offered from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on consecutive Sundays from April 28 through June 2 at the Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road.
From big band and R&B to beach and jazz, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Spring. Beatles tribute band, Beatlesque, will kick off this year’s performances on Sunday, April 28, followed by Eduardo and the Paco Band on May 5, Soul Pyschedelique Orchestra on May 12, Marcus Anderson on May 19, The Magnificents on May 26, and Sensory Expressions Band on June 2.
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Outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app
Beginning with the Easter Eggstravaganza on March 23 and continuing through Good Neighbor Day on September 21, the Town of Wake Forest offers an incredible array of free outdoor events and activities for the entire family. From Friday Night on White and Six Sundays in Spring to Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park and Concerts in the Park, spring and summer in Wake Forest are jam-packed with fun-filled events guaranteed to get you out of the house.
To help inform area residents about all these events, the Town offers the Wake Forest Outdoors portal on its website. The webpage provides detailed information about our area’s most popular spring and summer happenings, including the Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies, Forest Fest, Meet in the Street, Independence Day Celebration, National Trails Day, and Good Neighbor Day - just to name a few. Offering dates, times, locations, event descriptions and more, the portal is a useful reference for anyone anxious to get outside and take advantage of Wake Forest’s array of warm weather activities.
But that’s not all.
Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to this year’s spring and summer events in the palm of their hands by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s "Wake Forest Outdoors" function. Designed to offer smart phone users’ instant access to all the Town’s warm weather happenings, the Wake Forest Outdoors function is your all-in-one source for complete information about our spring and summer events.
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RecConnect
The March-August 2024 edition of RecConnect, the Wake Forest PRCR Department's spring and summer program guide, is now available.
Hard copies of our program guide are available at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.; Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.; Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road; Flaherty Park Community Center (FPCC), 1226 N. White St.; and Alston-Massenburg Center (AMC), 416 N. Taylor St.
RecConnect includes information about all programs, classes, special events, sports programs, and registrations offered by the Wake Forest PRCR Department.
Registration is open. To learn more, call 919-435-9560 or visit us online.
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Rec Cards
Wake Forest residents and non-residents ages 11 and older must have a Recreation Card (Rec Card) to access amenities offered at PRCR facilities, including JPCC. Rec Cards are free for Wake Forest residents.
The following fees apply for people who live outside the Wake Forest town limits and do not pay Wake Forest property taxes: Individual, $25; Family, $50. Any non-residents who prefer not to purchase a Rec Card, must pay a $5 Non-Rec Card Holder fee to utilize the amenities. An online profile must be created, and the fee paid to register for selected activity time slots.
To obtain a Rec Card, first create an online profile. Then, visit the JPCC to have your picture taken and present proof of residency. Acceptable forms of proof include a valid picture ID with your current address, a current utility bill with your street address, or other document that includes your full name and address. For more information about Rec Cards, call 919-435-9560.
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Facility Operating Schedules
Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road
- Monday-Friday (6 a.m.-9 p.m.)
- Saturday (8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
- Sunday (1-5 p.m. March-August/Closed September-February)
Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.
- Monday-Friday (8 a.m.-9 p.m.)
- Saturday (8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
- Sunday (1-5 p.m. March-August/Closed September-February)
Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.
- Monday-Friday (Noon-8 p.m.)
- Saturday (8 a.m.-4 p.m.)
- Sunday (1-5 p.m. March-August/Closed September-February)
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Download the Town of Wake Forest App
Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to all things related to Wake Forest by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app. Designed to provide smartphone users with useful information about Wake Forest, the app offers instant access to downtown Wake Forest, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, upcoming popular events, plus so much more! The app also provides contact information for every Town department, allows you to report non-emergency issues through SeeClickFix and delivers breaking news.
IPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android users can download the Town’s free app by searching for “Town of Wake Forest” on iTunes, in the iPhone app store, or in Google Play - or be scanning the appropriate QR code below.
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You have received this e-mail because you are subscribed to E-Notifier, the Town of Wake Forest’s email subscription service. E-Notifier keeps you up-to-date on Town of Wake Forest news, information, and special events. If you believe you have been subscribed in error, or would like to cancel your subscription, you may unsubscribe below.
If you have questions or comments about the Town of Wake Forest website or E-Notifier, please contact Bill Crabtree by email or call 919-435-9421.
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