Triangle Land Conservancy announced on October 14, 2026, that it protected 69 acres beside the 450-acre Sarah and Bailey Williamson Nature Preserve in eastern Wake County at the Johnston County line. The protection took effect September 22, 2026.
Known as the Neuse River Connector, the property consists of two parcels in the Shotwell community. TLC owns and manages the land, with a conservation easement held by the state. The project protects forest, stream buffers and 10 acres of wetlands and floodplain in the Marks Creek priority area.
For people planning a visit, the distinction matters: protected land is not automatically a new public trail. TLC says the tract can be seen from the Neuse River Greenway, but it is currently closed to public access.
TLC plans to incorporate the land into Williamson Preserve and eventually add walking trails and a greenway access point. Its announcement does not give an opening date. Follow TLC’s own preserve guidance for current visitor access rather than entering the newly protected tract.