Johnston County

Clayton Parks and Recreation Department - (919) 553-1555
http://www.townofclaytonnc.org/Residents/Recreation.aspx

According to a 2000 census, Clayton was home to approximately 8,000 people. Today, it’s considered the fastest growing town in Johnston County. Many of Clayton’s events are sponsored by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce (www.claytonchamber.com), which gives Clayton Parks and Recreation a chance to focus on year-round programming and recreational opportunities for local families.

Garner Parks and Recreation - (919) 772-4688

www.ci.garner.nc.us

In 2005, Garner celebrated its 100-year centennial and if the Parks & Recreation offerings are any indication, there is much to enjoy in this small, robust town. Whether your family is interested in Kinder Garden classes for young green thumbs, mountain biking, backpacking, fishy fun, moonlight cruises on Lake Benson, fly fishing or learning about bees, there’s no end to family fun in Garner. And the special events give locals something to look forward to all year long, including the Garner Family Concert Series, Independence Day Celebration and other fun festivities. For detailed information about year-round programs, summer camps, or athletic, academic, leadership, and art experiences for children ages preschool to teen, visit the Web site.

 Smithfield Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 934-2148
www.smithfield-nc.com
Any town sponsoring a Ham and Yam Festival, and a Hog Trot and Piglet Stampede deserves credit for great event ideas. And Smithfield, covering 11 square miles, can boast one park for each square mile. Year-round programs include soccer, T-ball, softball, baseball, football, cheerleading, swimming, summer camps and Kinder Sports for ages 3 to 5. 

Selma Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 975-1411
http://www.selma.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={736D1973-3918-4351-BAB3-95A2D270724A}Presently, the Recreation Department sponsors a wide range of senior, adult & youth athletic programs throughout the year.  Our Youth Athletic Programs offer football, cheerleading, fall and spring soccer, fall and spring baseball, fall and spring fast-pitch softball, basketball, summer basketball, and T-Ball, and coach-pitch.  In addition to its athletic programs, the Recreation Department offers a variety of recreation programs and camps & clinics.  General Recreation Programs include baton, karate, art and crafts classes.  Some of the Camps & Clinics include Volleyball Camp, Basketball Camp,  Challenger Soccer Camp, and Baseball and Softball Clinics.The Recreation Department also organizes several Festivals & Special Events throughout the year.  The largest of these events is the Selma Railroad Days Festival that is held during the first weekend of October.  The Railroad Days Festival features live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, special events, a children's area, carnival, the Selma Railroad Run, parade, pageant, and much more.  In addition to the Railroad Days festival, the Town of Selma and the Recreation Department have recently developed two other festivals.  These events are the Selma Car Classic and All-American Festival.  The Selma Car Classic is held the third Saturday in April and the All-American Festival is held on the 4th of July.  Other special events include the  Looking for Leprechauns, The Great Egg Scramble, Selma Summer Polar Express, Halloween Glow, Gobble Gobble Shoot Out, Calls from Santa, Rudolph's Candy Cane Hunt, Santa at the Depot, and Senior Citizens Day, to name a few.

 Eastern Wake County

Knightdale Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 217-2230
http://www.knightdalenc.gov/parksandrecreation.html
A close neighbor of the Neuse River, Knightdale enjoys many of the perks of small-town life, while also enjoying proximity to Raleigh. Year-round programming keeps kids of all ages entertained, and the pool, youth sports, special events and summer camps provide a well-rounded parks and recreation experience for the whole family.

Wendell Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 266-2266

http://www.townofwendell.com/page/index/parks

Whether it’s the Hurricane Baseball Camp, or the Lady Warrior Basketball Camp, Wendell Parks and Recreation is on its game. Some of the most innovative programs can come from small towns, and Wendell is a perfect example. Youth programs include Appetite for Adventure Kids Cooking Classes, which offers Tater Tots for ages 3 to 5, Banana Splits for ages 6 to 10, and Smoothies for ages 11 to 16. Wendell also offers regular fare, such as T-ball, baseball, basketball, summer camp, USA tennis and NBA 2-ball.

Zebulon Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 269-8265

s2.webstarts.com/ZebulonCommunityCenter/

 Zebulon offers many of the mainstay youth programs such as baseball, softball, T-ball and basketball, but it always offers cultural events that make a town feel like a great place to raise a family. Special events include Arts in the Park, Whitley Park Music Series, and other festivities throughout the year. Zebulon also has a variety of parks, including Little River Park that provides a wonderful setting for a relaxing picnic getaway, and Zebulon Community Park, with a tot lot, basketball courts, athletic fields, walking trails, fitness stations, and a championship disc-golf course.  

 Raleigh Area
 
CaryParks and Recreation and Cultural Resources  - (919) 469-4061
http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Parks__Recreation___Cultural_Resources.htmYear-round sports, arts and crafts, fitness programs, community events and park facilities for all ages

Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department  -  (919) 831-6640

www.raleighnc.gov

From a city as great as Raleigh, you’d expect nothing less than greatness from its Web site. Seek out the parks section online and experience what a full-service Web site can offer — whether you’re looking for information about the Neuse River Canoe Trail, environmental education at Durant Nature Park, amusements at Pullen Park, seasonal swimming pools, art centers, athletic facilities, playgrounds, lakes, greenways, trails, community centers, recreation news, registration information, class fees, anything you can imagine a Parks and Recreation Department could offer.

Rolesville Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 556-3506

www.ci.rolesville.nc.us

Rolesville’s Parks and Recreation captures the spirit of what a town can do with the resources it has — most of the staff are volunteers, yet Rolesville has youth sport programs, including basketball, softball and baseball, and a visionary plan for greenways and open space. A new park has an Education Arboretum Trail, and Rolesville citizens are working hard to maintain the natural character of Rolesville. Located next to Rolesville Elementary is another recreational space, the Community & BallfieldPark encompass 20 acres, featuring three ballfields. 

WakeForest Parks and Recreation  -  (919) 554-6180
www.wakeforestnc.gov
Wake Forest knows how to keep its citizens engaged, active and entertained. And the Flaherty Park Community Center is a hub of this activity, with kids taking classes that include the Art of Woodcarving, Preschool and Kids Art Classes, Tiny Tots Sports Camps, Kinder Dance, Kid Chefs, Green Thumb Camp, Youth Quilting, Babysitting Boot Camp and much more. All this, in addition to baseball, basketball and softball for kids, plus a variety of community parks that feature swimming pools, playgrounds.