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As parents seeking to nurture lasting faith in our children, the activities we choose – and the conversations that follow – play an important formative role. This post is part of a series offering ideas and reflections on local places to visit in and around Raleigh, NC, along with ways to leverage these experiences to help shape your child’s heart towards Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.

Green Hills County Park, located off Durant Road between Capital Boulevard and Falls of Neuse, is one of several parks in the area, but it has a few unique factors that make it worth a visit, even if you pass other parks and playgrounds along the way.

Leverage the Experience

While there are many normal park aspects available, such as trails and playground equipment, there are two unique items to Green Hills that allow for unique leverage specific to this location.

The first distinctive about the park is evident as you first arrive. When you turn into Green Hills County Park, you find yourself on a long road (one-way) going around a large green hill, with a variety of pipes sticking out of the hill. What makes Green Hills unique is that it is built on an old landfill, and traces of this remain. As you enter, there is also a waste collection center on your right, which is far away from the play area and entirely disconnected. Seeing the waste center allows for conversations about waste and its hidden impacts to our city. Leverage this for conversations with your child(ren) around our responsibility as stewards of Earth along with the tension of being placed in dominion over Earth:

• Genesis 1:26: What does it mean for the Lord to have placed us in “dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing…”?
• Psalm 19:1-7: Since creation itself helps display the glory and greatness of God, what are our obligations as stewards to hold in tension the knowledge He has given us to use creation while still protecting creation?
• How has this transition from landfill to green space impacted this area? Does it change what is on the surface to know what is underneath?

The second distinctive is that the highest natural point in Wake County is a man-made summit found at the park. Reaching heights of 469’ above sea level, your family can walk the path up to the top of the hill and enjoy the views of the surrounding area. Conversation topics and observational items abound when standing atop this summit:

• Discuss that, as of the time of this posting, the tallest building in Wake County is 538’, with the next tallest only 431’. As you stand on the summit, there is only one other place in Wake County where you can stand at a higher elevation. How does that make you feel?
• How does height change our perspective? What are other things that can change how we view things (simple physical answers are acceptable, but as age appropriate push towards world view implications)?

Encourage your child(ren) to observe, to wonder, and to ask questions, linking what they see in creation to what Scripture reveals about God’s character. Highlight His creativity, His order, His provision, and His delight in creation and the role He has given us in creation.

Know before you go

• There are restrooms available at the park.
• Features at the park include:
  • The hill with path (gravel) to climb (great views plus kite flying opportunities!
  • A walking/biking path around the primary hill, separated from vehicles by a curb
  • Access to the greenway (near Falls River)
  • A playground with multiple structures for different ages
  • Large fields, often with hills, and some with a few large rocks to climb on
• The street address is 9300 Deponie Dr; Raleigh, NC 27614.
• The park is open 8am-sunset other than Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
• Do not park at the first lot on the immediate right when you pull in unless you are hiking to the top of the hill – if you have not driven around to the other side of the hill then you are not near the greenway access, playground, and fields.

A visit to Green Hills County Park can provide a normal playground experience with trails to hike, but more importantly, it also provides opportunities to leverage specific unique elements into meaningful conversations. As you enjoy playing as a family or taking a walk, you’re not simply filling an afternoon; you’re helping your child(ren) see the world as God made it and to trust Him more deeply because of it.

Return to the Around Town series here.

Disclaimer: The above article solely represents the views of the author and does not represent any endorsement or statement by the Academy. Read more here.