Leesville Community Park and Library

obs landscape architects

Wake County
City of Raleigh Transportation Services Division

Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) District: Northwest

Staff is currently investigating the possibility of applying for a Safe Routes to Schools grant to create safe walking and biking connections for students traveling between home, school and the park.

Design Phase

Leesville Community Park is a 55-acre wooded park located on Country Trail, off of Leesville Road, just south of the Leesville Road School campus. The property was once a farmstead, and remnants of the home's chimney and the family cemetery, with five grave sites, are still found on the property.

In May 2007 the City Council adopted the Master Plan for Leesville Community Park. Elements included in the park master plan are a branch library, as part of an agreement with Wake County, a community center, playground, picnic opportunities, and trails. An off-leash dog area in the original draft master plan was removed from the east side of the site and was specified as an opportunity for future park development in the northwest corner of the site.

Phase 1 of Leesville Community Park and Library opened on September 26, 2009. Park elements in this first phase include a temporary playground with elements for 2-5 year olds and 5 to 12 year olds, a heritage garden with a short trail, and a restroom facility.

Development of Phase 1.5 continues thanks to remaining funds at the conclusion of Phase 1 development. Amenities planned for Phase 1.5 include two medians on Country Trail, pedestrian crosswalks and associated signage, sidewalk extension to the school campus along the south side of Country Trail, a 10-foot paved asphalt trail connecting neighborhoods south of the park to Country Trail, and interpretive signage for the Heritage Garden.

Design and cost estimate analysis performed to date show that funding is not available at this time to construct the off-leash dog park. This feature is planned for the northwest corner of the site as part of a future phase of develoment.

For additional information see the Planned Amenities link under Related Information to the right.

Master Plan Adopted: May 1, 2007
Opening of Leesville Community Park and Library: September 26, 2009
Continuation of Phase I Analysis and Design: Ongoing

Funding for this project comes from the the 2000 Park and Recreation Bond Referendum approved by voters. $160,000 in funding is available for Phase 1.5. This is funding that remained after the first phase of development was completed.