OLD WAYNESBORO PARK-GOLDSBORO NC

This park in Wayne County, NC, is located on the site of the original  town of Waynesboro, NC, which was at one time the county seat. The site of Old Waynesboro Park is on the south edge of Goldsboro, NC off Hwy. 117 bypass. There is an antique village at the front of the park, holding several original buildings from the town. Behind the village, the park stretches over 150 acres along the Neuse River. It is mixed forest pine and hardwood with several open fields and a very old peach orchard leading to the swamp environment near the river. There are 4 trails with a total hiking potential of about 4 miles. The trails are well marked and in excellent condition, the exception being that the trail(orange)nearest the river can be flooded when the Neuse is overflowing its banks. There are excellent markers indicating tree species, of which there are several less seen varieties including Elder, Locust, Hawthorn, Southern Red Oak, and Thorny Olive.

The mixed open field-forest terrain is ideal for multiple bird species. The old peach orchard is very neat and one is almost guaranteed seeing bluebirds and several sparrow species there. This site was just recently added to the NC Birding Trail Guide indicating its value as an excellent bird site. I highly recommend this site. To see bird photos from this site, please go to the Journal entry of March 7, 2016.