On July 24, 2026, Clayton hit a milestone that residents have been anticipating for years: the Johnston County Regional Park officially opened its gates at 444 Matthews Road, becoming the first county-owned and operated park in Johnston County's history. For families living at 297 Bonaventure Dr in the gated Portofino community, this new amenity means even more ways to enjoy the outdoors without leaving Clayton.
Phase 1: What Opened on Day One
The park's first phase, built at a cost of approximately $4.35 million, delivers four major amenities spread across 81 acres:
- Four pickleball courts — one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, now available in your backyard community.
- Two full basketball courts — open play for pickup games, league practice, or weekend shooting sessions.
- An ADA-accessible stocked fishing pond with an ADA-compliant fishing pier — a tranquil spot for morning casts or afternoon family outings.
- A picnic shelter and parking area — ready for birthday parties, team celebrations, or simple weekend lunches under the trees.
What Is Coming: Future Phases
Phase 1 is just the beginning. Johnston County's master plan for the Regional Park includes a long list of additional amenities in future phases:
- Multi-use athletic fields for soccer, lacrosse, and other team sports
- Walking trails and accessible sidewalks connecting all areas of the park
- A K-12 playground designed to serve every age group
- A splash pad for hot summer days
- A dog park for Portofino's four-legged residents
- A disc golf course
- A skate park
- An amphitheater for community performances and events
These future additions will transform the Regional Park into a true destination — not just a neighborhood amenity but a regional draw that serves the entire growing corridor between Clayton and Smithfield.
How Close Is It to Portofino?
The park is located on Matthews Road in the Cleveland community of Clayton, approximately 10 minutes from Portofino's gate. You can take US 70 Business to Covered Bridge Road, then a short drive down Matthews Road. For residents of 297 Bonaventure Dr, it is an easy after-school or weekend outing that requires no highway driving and almost no planning.
This proximity matters. One of the strengths of the Portofino location is that it sits at the crossroads of established amenities (Flowers Plantation, the Clayton River Walk) and emerging ones (Johnston County Regional Park, the future West Edge retail corridor). The park is another dot on the map that makes the case for Clayton as a self-sufficient community where families do not need to drive to Raleigh for recreation.
A Park That Complements Portofino's Own Amenities
Portofino already offers an impressive roster of on-site recreation: two resort-style pools, 7+ miles of nature and riding trails, a fully equipped equestrian center, clubhouses, and fishing ponds. The Johnston County Regional Park does not compete with these amenities — it extends them.
Portofino's trails are perfect for morning jogs, evening dog walks, and horseback riding. The Regional Park's pickleball courts, basketball courts, and future splash pad serve a different kind of recreation — the kind that draws neighbors together for games, tournaments, and community events. Between the two, residents have access to both private, resort-style tranquility and public, community-oriented recreation within a 10-minute radius.
What This Means for Home Values
New public amenities within walking distance or a short drive are one of the strongest long-term value drivers in residential real estate. The Johnston County Regional Park represents a county-level investment of $4.35 million in the immediate area around Portofino — and future phases will add even more public infrastructure. For buyers considering 297 Bonaventure Dr, this is the kind of community development that supports property values over time.
When you combine the new park with the other developments underway — the West Edge retail corridor with Target and Costco, the Waterfront District at Flowers Plantation, and the Neuse River Trail expansion — the trend line is unmistakable: Clayton is investing in quality-of-life infrastructure at a pace unmatched by most Triangle suburbs.
Plan Your Visit
The Johnston County Regional Park is open daily from dawn to dusk. Parking is free. For residents of 297 Bonaventure Dr, it is a 10-minute drive that opens up a whole new set of weekend activities — fishing off the ADA pier, challenging a neighbor to pickleball, or simply enjoying a picnic under the shelter.
To learn more about the park and planned future phases, visit the Johnston County Parks and Open Space Program website.
Come See the Lifestyle at 297 Bonaventure Dr
The new Johnston County Regional Park is just one piece of the puzzle. The full picture includes a 3,561-square-foot home with four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a gourmet kitchen with farmhouse sink and pot filler, plantation shutters throughout, a private home office, a screened-in back porch overlooking a half-acre wooded lot, and membership in a gated community with two pools, miles of trails, and one of the finest equestrian centers in the Triangle.
That lifestyle is available now at 297 Bonaventure Dr in Clayton, NC. Schedule a private tour with Phil Slezak to see it for yourself.
Phil leads one of the top-producing real estate teams in the Greater Triangle and Brunswick County areas — with over $100 million in sales.