Wake County's first new park in over a decade, Beech Bluff County Park, opened in Willow Spring in March 2025! This park is over 300 acres and includes walking trails, community gardens, playgrounds, picnic shelters and classrooms.
I could not wait to go to this park as soon as it opened as it is only 5 minutes from my house. This area of Wake County is limited on safe walking trails and Beech Bluff has solved this problem. There are six walking trails in total - 3 that are ADA accessible and 4 that are natural surface trails. Each trail is a half-mile long or shorter. I have walked almost every trail and I really like them. They will be shaded during the summer and are wide enough throughout that no one has to stop to pass by other groups.
Now for the playground. There is an area with four swings - two regular swings and two adaptive swings, a tall playground with two very long slides, and a smaller play area meant for toddlers. There is also a rock climbing wall. There is seating around for parents and a good amount of space between the two playgrounds. This area is not very shaded; I can imagine the equipment getting very hot and it being uncomfortable for parents to sit and watch their kids in July and August. There is a shelter near the toddler playground, but it doesn't have a good viewpoint of the larger playground.
I have two kids (2 and 4) and my 4 year old was very interested in the larger playground, but my younger child was not. For me, it was very difficult to monitor both children with how the playground is laid out. With lots of kids on the larger playground, it is challenging to keep an eye on your child as they climb up the levels.
I walked by the community garden and classroom but haven't utilized them yet. There are also shelters near the two large parking lots. I have a few thoughts on improvements, but none of them would keep me from coming to this park weekly.
Things that I think can be improved:
* Signage on the walking trail trailheads that state the length of the trails
* More swings in the playground area. There are no baby swings currently. read more