Wake County Commissioners, along with citizens, opened the new North Wake Landfill District Park, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2010, 9300 Deponie Drive, Raleigh. The new facility is located on the site of the now closed North Wake Landfill.

"It is exciting to be a part of the official grand opening of this unique park," said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Tony Gurley. "Thanks to a partnership between local government and citizens, this one-of-a-kind facility will provide safe, recreational opportunities for park users; preserve the natural environment; and protect the public, as well as the landfill’s monitoring systems."

The North Wake Landfill closed in May 2008 after 22 years of use by citizens from every part of Wake County. The final elevation of the landfill is 468 feet above sea level and is one of the highest points in Wake County. It contains approximately five million tons of waste.

In 2004, the North Wake Landfill Citizens Committee was formed and tasked with recommending how the site would be used after the landfill was closed. They also provided a conduit for communications between Wake County and the citizens living in the landfill area.

The planning and design process included presentations of different design concepts, and regulatory and funding consideration. In addition to the input received from community members, the project benefited from the involvement of Wake County, City of Raleigh, Wake County Public School System, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the North Wake Landfill Citizens Committee.

The concept brought forth by the committee included an elementary school, athletic fields and community park facilities within the borrow area immediately adjacent to the landfill. The Committee efforts resulted in the development of the End Use Master Plan, of which the first portions are complete with a playground, picnic shelter, walking trail that connects to the existing greenway and restrooms.

Work is currently underway on a Wake County EMS station that is expected to open by November 2010. The County is also redesigning the front part of the property where the multi-material recycling center and convenience center are located. The City of Raleigh is in the early phases of consultant selection for the design of a community center and athletic fields on the site.

The North Wake Landfill continues to offer other solid waste disposal and recycling services to citizens, including:

household waste collection

used oil collection

electronics collection

used tire collection

white goods collection

card board collection

household hazardous waste collection

For more information about North Wake Landfill District Park, visit www.wakegov.com/parks/northwake. Information about the North Wake Landfill Citizens Committee, including the Master Plan, is available online at www.wakegov.com/recycling/nwlf.