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wakegovparks

@wakegovparks

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Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space manages eight parks, three nature preserves, and 10,000+ acres of open space in Wake County, NC.

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Our En Plein Air Art Celebration traveling exhibit is on to its next stop — #HistoricOakView County Park! Come check out work from more than 40 local artists. The exhibit will be available through Nov. 22. 🎨 📍

Learn more about the celebration and the 50th anniversary of @wakegovparks at the #LinkInBio. #WakeParks50

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Time never stops. Unless you press the shutter. 💧

A thousand droplets on their way down, and for one breath, they hang in the air like tiny stars. Wood that has listened to the water for years, and light that decided to stay.

That’s the quiet magic of photography: it takes a fleeting second and turns it into forever. 🤎

PhotoArt Studio: Capturing Moments, Creating Memories 📸

📍 Fuquay-Varina, NC

#PhotoArtStudio #FuquayVarinaPhotographer #NCPhotographer #FineArtPhotography #StoppingTime

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Homeschool moms—this is your sign to plan a survival skills day with your co-op (or a few friends) 🔥🌲

This was SUCH a good hands-on learning day!

The kids learned the rule of 3s, worked through different “what would you do?” survival scenarios, practiced problem solving, built a shelter, and learned the basics of starting a fire.

It was one of those days where they were learning constantly…without it ever feeling like a lesson.

And I love that this is something you could recreate almost anywhere—through a local park system, nature center, outdoor educator, co-op, or even as your own little group activity!

For my NC moms: ours was taught through @wakegovparks so definitely check your local parks + recreation programs because they may offer something similar. 🤎

Practical skills + fresh air + teamwork + memories they’ll actually remember = my favorite kind of school day.

Save this for your homeschool field trip / co-op idea list 🌲

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Mark your calendar, because we've got another training coming up!🗓️

This evidence-based training helps adults learn how to recognize signs of mental health challenges in youth, respond appropriately, and connect young people with professional and community support. Parents, educators, school staff, community workers, volunteers, and anyone who works with or cares about youth are welcome. Here's what you need to know⬇️

WHEN: Saturday, November 21st | 12:00 PM - 6:30 PM EST
WHERE: Online (Zoom)
REGISTER: https://tinyurl.com/mryhw6cc

There's only 30 seats, so be sure to grab your spot soon! Looking to learn a bit more? Visit the link below. Our deepest thanks to Wake County Government, Blue Cross NC Foundation, and NC Department of Health and Human Services whose support makes this invaluable education possible!😊♥️

📲 https://ucawaves.org/mental-health-first-aid-training-program/

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthtraining #MHFA #mentalhealthfirstaid #MHFATraining #YouthMHFA #aapicommunity #AAPI

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The Beautyberries been berry, berry good to the migrating birds this last week. Female and male Black-throated Blue Warblers, Bay-breasted Warblers, Blackpoll Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Swainson’s Thrushes, Scarlet Tanager, and Yellow bellied Sapsucker #warbler #warblers #scarlettanager #thrush #beautyberry

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Goat vibes only for #WorldFarmAnimalsDay — and the #HistoricOakView goats totally approve! 🐐 ✨

Want to celebrate, too? Stop by @wakegovparks’ Historic Oak View County Park to visit our four udderly cute goats. If you’re feeling generous, bring along some carrots to share! 🥕

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September went out in a blaze of color. 🌅

The leaves haven’t started changing quite yet here in Raleigh, but on our sunset paddle at Falls Lake yesterday, Mother Nature gave us all the autumn colors... just in the sky instead 😍

No filters needed. 🍂❤️ @wakegovparks

#wakegovparks #raleighnc #fallslake #sunsetpaddle #kayakingfun

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I saw my first troll, Lil’ Sally, last year in @visithighpoint and I’ve been spreading the word ever since.

🧌Go see the @thomasdambo trolls in North Carolina: Charlotte, High Point and Raleigh

📍@visitcaycewestcolumbia is building a troll in 2027 in South Carolina.

🖋️ Upstate Lake Living Fall 2026 issue

📸 @visitraleighnc @wakegovparks

#dambotrolls #trollhunters #carolinatrolls

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A younger me once said that time is the currency of life, and that we should be careful how we spend it.

And while that’s true, an older me now understands that isn’t where the thought ends. It’s only the surface of a much deeper understanding.

Just because time is precious doesn’t mean we should spend every moment living in fear of it running out. Not every moment has to be spent chasing something. Sometimes the greatest investment we can make is to be fully present where our feet are planted.

It’s knowing when to slow down, who to sit beside, and which moments deserve nothing more than our undivided attention.

The sun sets every evening, yet we never question whether it’s worth watching just because we’ve seen it before.

Maybe wisdom isn’t just learning how little time we have, but learning how much life can exist within it.

— The Visual Journal by Z

📸 Camera Gear

Canon EOS 90D
Canon EF-S 18–55mm
Canon EF-S 55–250mm
Sigma 150–500mm

#ShotOnCanon
#SunsetPhotography
#VisualStorytelling
#MoodyPhotography
#TheVisualJournalByZ
@canonusa

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It’s @WakeGovParks' 50th anniversary! Each month in 2026, we're highlighting one of our 12 parks. Keep reading for some interesting facts and pro tips from our own staff, and check out some photos through the years!

September's featured park is Robertson Millpond Preserve. The 85-acre preserve opened in 2015 offering a unique experience for history buffs, nature lovers and paddlers. It features a beautiful 1.5-mile paddling trail through a black water cypress swamp.

📍 Signature feature: Check out the old historic site: the gristmill!

💎 Hidden gem: This black water cypress swamp is the furthest western location in the state to host Cottonmouth snakes.

📸 Photo op: The observation dock!

⌚ Best time to visit: spring and fall

✨ One-word vibe: Secluded

🕵️‍♀️ Insider tip: Parking can be limited on busy weekend days. Personal flotation devices are required while on the water.

🎉 Upcoming fun: Tar River Life will continue kayak rentals through the 2026 summer season!

Robertson Millpond Preserve is located at 6333 Robertson Pond Road in @TownOfWendell.

#WakeParks50 #TeamWake

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Incredible night last night at the @aspirexperience conference celebrating design in the South Atlantic region! We were happy to receive six awards for @wakegovparks’ Beech Bluff County Park, @raleighparks’ Baileywick Park, @jubalacoffee, Arbutus, Brooks Hall for @ncstatedesign, and the Raynal House.
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Thanks to the builders who made these projects possible - @barconstruction1976, @muter.construction, @maurer_general_contractors, @john_c._sanders_and_company, @lomax_construction_nc, and @sineathconstruction - and the photographers who captured the work - @keithisaacsphoto for Brooks Hall and @estudiopalma everything else.
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Congrats to the other incredible firms receiving awards - @perkinswill, @hanbury.design, @vinesarchitecture, @the_raleigh_architecture_co, @liollioarchitecture, @ls3p, @ncstatedesign, @gensler_design, @bldgs, @thoughtcraftarchitects, @in_site_designs, @fathomfirm, @houserwalker, @studio_three_ten, @alturaarchitects, @evokestudioarch, @architecturalcollaborative, @lordaecksargent, @blurworkshop, @brandon.pass_rm100architects, @brian.costello_, and @ratio_design.
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Thanks to jury chair Steve Raike of @lakeflato for his leadership and a great presentation of these recognitions!

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