Historic Oak View County Park

06/07/2026

Check out the Junior Park Explorers program for kids ages 4-15! Here's how it works:

📝 Accept the challenge: get a scorecard at any Wake County park or by mail (details at the link below).
✔️ Depending on location, you'll need to participate in a staff-led program or snap a selfie to earn a park pin. Here at Historic Oak View, you could sign up for next month's program.
🏆 When your scorecard is complete, you'll collect your prize -- a Wake County Parks daypack!

We can't wait for you to explore our parks and preserves! Get full details on how to get started at https://www.wakegov.com/departments-government/parks-recreation-open-space/programs-events/junior-park-explorers.

06/06/2026

Join us on Sunday, June 13th at Historic Oak View for a walking tour focused on the history of and how the transition from slavery to freedom was experienced by Oak View's enslaved community. Discover stories of how African American families celebrated their liberation and the steps they took to plant seeds of freedom for themselves and their descendants. After the tour, participants will be invited to fold their own wildflower seed packet and reflect on what freedom means to them. Free and open to all, recommended for ages 4th grade and up. Registration is required for all participants.

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/wakeparks/activity/search/detail/8957?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

We’re celebrating 50 years of Parks, Recreation and Open Space with a brand-new Choose Your Own Adventure Challenge! Pick up a tracker at any park or preserve, explore new spaces or attend programs, and earn 10 points per visit. Hit 50 points and you’ll receive a special anniversary prize!

wake.gov/parks50/challenge

06/05/2026

In honor of we'll be highlighting the stories of the formerly enslaved individuals who lived and labored at Oak View, and what freedom meant to them. Today's feature is Eliza Hutchings. Eliza arrived at Oak View in 1841 at 19 years old, sent by William Powell to his daughter Burchett and her husband Benton. She lived most of her adult life at Oak View, and much of her work would have been in both the home and the fields. After emancipation, Eliza took steps to secure the promises of freedom. She married a man named Reddick Hutchings, who had been enslaved on a neighboring plantation. Eliza and Reddick considered themselves a married couple prior to emancipation, but state law did not legally recognize marriages between enslaved people. On March 10, 1866, the North Carolina General Assembly legalized marriages for formerly enslaved men and women. For many freedpeople, legalizing marriages was an important step in claiming equality. Eliza and Reddick worked as sharecroppers on the land of Clinton Williams (Benton’s oldest son) before purchasing 43 acres of land from Clinton in 1877. Finally able to work for themselves, Reddick farmed the land and Eliza took charge of the care and keeping of her home and family.

06/04/2026

We heard you! Come find out how your feedback helped shape the schematic design of the future at Lake Crabtree County Park! 🚵‍♀️

Join Parks for our second community meeting:

📆 Thursday, July 9
🕟 4-7 p.m. (drop in anytime!)
📍 Downtown Cary Park, Academy Pavilion Event Space

Get all the details: https://bit.ly/4u5NsIw

Town of Cary, NC
Town of Morrisville, NC
Triangle Off-Road Cyclists

06/04/2026

Congratulations to Instagram's .thegreatdane for being chosen the winner of the May Instagram Contest for this beautiful boating selfie taken at ! Want to enter the contest in 2026? Just tag your photo with the tag and you are in the running for a feature and a great prize.

06/03/2026

Alert! Instagram contest!

When you’re out at our parks or preserves and take a fantastic photo, share it on Instagram and tag for your chance to win a custom water bottle! We’ll pick a new winner each month. In addition to the prize, we’ll also feature your photo on our socials.

Good luck, and happy snapping!

06/02/2026

¡Esperamos que sus pequeños puedan unirse a nosotros para disfrutar de un divertido cuento seguido de una actividad artesanal con ! La historia destacada es Amor de colores por Melanie Romero, 9 de junio. Esta actividad está diseñada para familias con niños de seis años o menos. Este programa es gratuito.

Regístrese aquí: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/wakeparks/activity/search/detail/8959?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

We hope your little ones can join us for a fun story followed by a craft activity with Ms. Maya! The featured story is Amor de colores, a bilingual book by Melanie Romero. This activity is designed for families with children ages six and under. This program is free of charge. Please note: This storytime will be in Spanish.

06/01/2026

! Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Division preserves open space, promotes stewardship, and provides equitable and inclusive education and outdoor recreation for a diverse and growing community. This month and all year long, Oak View welcomes and celebrates our LGBTQIA+ park visitors.

Find our June programs at wake.gov/parks/register