History

Friends of Johnston County Parks was formed in October 2020 when Dave Herpy, a Cleveland Community leader, organized the group’s first official meeting at a Clayton coffee shop. Dave elicited support from a handful of community volunteers and neighbors, many of our current board members, who were motivated to see more parks and recreational opportunities in Johnston County. The early days were focused on what you would expect, developing our mission, doing paperwork, and establishing our organization as a trusted resource to support the continued investment in parks and open space.

Over the years, we’ve put on some incredible events including the Earth Day Countywide Cleanup and the Walk and Talk about Trails. We’ve attended ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings in multiple communities. Our small team has adopted segments of trail along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail that cuts across Johnston County to ensure residents and visitors can hike safely and comfortably. We served on steering committees for master plans, park plans, and transportation plans so that our perspective is heard. All to say, we are proud of what we’ve been a part of and what we have accomplished, so far. There is still work to be done and we look forward to welcoming more Friends to advance our mission.