Wake County approved $6.6 million Monday for a lakeside education center, more boat ramp parking and new restrooms at Lake Crabtree. Parts of the park will close.

Lake Crabtree County Park is getting a $6.6 million makeover, with a new education building on the waterfront as its centerpiece.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the construction contract Monday. The county announced the vote the same day. The money comes from the parks, greenways, recreation and open space bond that Wake County voters approved in 2018.

The park sits at 1400 Aviation Parkway in Morrisville, about four miles north of downtown Cary, according to the county’s park page. It is the northern end of the Black Creek Greenway, the 7.1-mile paved trail that runs south to Bond Park, so many Cary walkers, runners and cyclists start or finish there.

What the project includes

The county said the work includes:

  • a 4,805-square-foot education building near the waterfront, with indoor classroom space for up to 86 people, a covered deck over the water, restrooms and storage for park programs
  • a stormwater wetland beside the new building, with public art around it
  • new roofs on the park’s administration and maintenance buildings
  • accessible walkways connecting the park’s main features
  • expanded parking at the boat ramp
  • a new 724-square-foot restroom building

The county said the education building could host advanced fishing classes, accessible bird- and butterfly-watching, paddle skills lessons and an adult lecture series. Community groups will also be able to meet there.

When it happens

Construction is expected to start later this year and finish in December 2027, the county said. Parts of the park will be closed to visitors while the work goes on. The county has not yet said which areas or when.

Separately, the park’s fishing pier and platform are closed for repairs from September to November, the park page said.

What they said

“Since it opened in 1988, Lake Crabtree County Park has been a popular destination for Wake County residents for fishing, boating and much more,” said Don Mial, chair of the Board of Commissioners. “This project will help us protect and enhance that experience so the park can continue to serve our community for years to come.”

The park has drawn more than 250,000 visitors so far in 2026, the county said. It was Wake County’s first park.

“I hear every day how excited visitors are for these improvements,” said Susan Jones, the park’s manager. “These updates will greatly improve accessibility, help us provide programming year-round and create new ways for people to enjoy a park they already love.”

What it means for you

  • The park stays open for now. Some areas will close once building starts, and the county has not yet said which.
  • Check the Lake Crabtree County Park page or the park’s Facebook page before a trip. The county said it will post updates in both places.
  • The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. It closes on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The park office number is 919-460-3390.
  • Our Cary walking and biking trails guide lists every trailhead with parking, and our Cary parks guide covers the town’s own parks.