Parks & Recreation
Park Planning
2024 Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan
The City of Rocky Mount is conducting public meetings for the Comprehensive Recreation Master Plan to guide the development and renovation of city parks, greenspaces, trails and greenways for the next 10 years. There will be eight public input meetings (one in each ward and one city-wide) to ensure residents have a chance to provide input. If possible, residents are encouraged to attend the meeting within their wards. The meetings are floating from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm. Participation will take 15-20 minutes.
Ward 1: Thursday April 18, Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N Grace St
Ward 2: Tuesday April 2, Rocky Mount Event Center, 285 NE Main St
Ward 3: Thursday April 4, Victory in Christ Ministry, 1200 Old Wilson Rd
Ward 4: Tuesday April 16, S. Rocky Mount Comm. Center, 719 Recreation Dr
Ward 5: Monday April 15, Doubletree, 651 N Winstead Ave
Ward 6: Tuesday March 26, Englewood United Methodist, 300 S Circle Dr
Ward 7: Thursday March 28, Northgreen Country Club, 930 Northgreen Ln
Citywide: Monday April 1, Imperial Centre, 270 Gay Street
The 2015 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan and other parks planning documents are found below.
The current plan was approved by City Council in December 2015.
In addition to numerous stake holder meetings, citywide meetings, and Ward meetings, the report utilized a statically valid survey to gauge needs.
The City of Rocky Mount understands our parks system fits within a larger network of parks that serve our citizens and visitors. In North Carolina, this is detailed in the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.
Sunset Park Renovations
On February 27, 2023 the City of Rocky Mount City Council adopted the Sunset Park Master Plan which will guide the upcoming park renovation process. The plan was shaped by the historic use of the park and the park being in the floodplain. Public input and local groups further developed the renovation plan.
Download Sunset Park Master Plan
With assistance from the Golden LEAF fund and the NC Wildlife Commission, the City of Rocky Mount renovated the Sunset Park boat ramp in 2019.
Stony Creek Trail Feasibility Study Memo
In November 2021, the Parks and Recreation Department hosted a series of Public Meetings and a Stakeholder Meeting to gage the interest for a park in Ward Five. These meetings indicated a high level of support for a trail connecting to the 400 acres of parkland on the Tar River and Rocky Mount Greenway (Sunset Park to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park). This trail has been described in numerous City planning documents as the Stony Creek Trail.
The P&R Department contracted with Alta Planning to conduct a Stony Creek Trail Feasibility Study. This feasibility study is a planning document to attempt to find a feasible route to cross or avoid floodplains, wetlands, the Tar River, Stony Creek, US64 exit ramps, Hwy 301 and numerous residential and commercial properties. This is the first design step to determine what is feasible and a ballpark cost. Final trail alignment would not be determined until exhaustive environmental and transportation studies would be completed, alternative routes considered and conversations with property owners initiated.
Download Stony Creek Feasibility Study memo
Battle Park Master Plan
Based upon public input from the 2015 Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan and the 2013 Parks and Rec Needs Assessment Survey, the City conducted a thorough planning process for the Renovation of Battle Park. The adopted plan was developed by engaging citizens, groups and stakeholders that enjoy and value Battle Park.
Download Battle Park Master Plan (17Mb PDF)
Download Battle Park Forest Management Plan (9Mb PDF)
The Renovation of Battle Park is currently in progress. Due to our community’s involvement in, and City’s commitment to the public planning process, the project received funding from:
- NCDEQ Water Resources Development Grant
- NCDNCR Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
- NCDNCR Recreational Trails Program
- NPS Land and Water Conservation Fund
Holly Street Park
With assistance from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the City of Rocky Mount completed renovation of Holly Street Park. Renovations include: Picnic shelter, Basketball court, Shade structures, Multi-use fields, Walking trails, Horseshoe pitch, Overlook deck, Public art, and Tot lot.
Renovations are complete. Holly Street Park is open for public use.