Marsh Creek Corridor

After a year and a half of diligent research and negotiation, the City of Oaks Foundation has successfully secured an agreement with a local landowner to preserve over 12.3 acres of wooded wetlands. Located near Raleigh’s 540 Beltline and adjacent to industrial and residential neighborhoods, this conservation easement, tentatively named the “Marsh Creek Conservation and Connectivity Corridor” (naming suggestions welcome!), safeguards a vital Neuse River tributary and wildlife migration pathway. It also creates a natural buffer that shields neighbors from highway traffic noise and sets aside land for a future greenway connection, enabling pedestrian access between neighborhoods inside and outside Raleigh’s 440 Beltline.

Although this area might not fit the traditional image of “wilderness,” the rapid development and loss of long-standing trees and green spaces north of the Beltline have alarmed many community members. They have advocated for the preservation of these essential natural buffers between the highway and their neighborhoods. The presence of the Marsh Creek tributary further enhances the conservation value of this property, making this agreement a win-win for all parties involved.