A big thank you to everyone who came out on the 7th to help landscape the pond area in Justice Heights! It was wonderful to see neighbors rolling up their sleeves and working together to transform the space. What was once an overlooked corner of the neighborhood is quickly becoming a welcoming, natural gathering place filled with life and color. Recap the day in photos here!

We’re grateful to We Plant It Forward and Habitat for Humanity of Wake County for organizing the event and providing the tools, plants, and supplies needed to make it happen. Funding support from Habitat, the Wake Audubon Society, and the Town of Apex helped bring the project to life. A special shout-out also goes to volunteers from The Peak Church and F3 Peak City, who brought great energy, positivity, and plenty of helping hands. Apex’s own Mayor Jacques Gilbert was there too, giving back to the community he grow up in.

This coming Sunday, March 22 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, a small group of neighbors will stake the new trees and install protective wire to keep deer away. If you’d like to help, feel free to stop by! Our new garden will also need a little extra care this spring and summer while the plants establish their roots. Mouloud and Tizita have generously volunteered to help keep an eye on things. It takes a village, so if we all help and do our part, the plants will thrive.

Looking ahead, the benches are currently being stained by Justice Heights’ own Patrick Glaser and we’re close to receiving the permit for the concrete pads that will support them.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make the planting day such a success – it’s a reminder of what a special place Justice Heights is to call home. 🌿

Peak Plan 2055 🏔️

The Town of Apex is inviting residents to help shape the community’s future through Peak Plan 2055, our next comprehensive plan. This long-range roadmap will guide how the town grows, develops, and preserves the qualities that make Apex special over the coming decades.

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 pm (drop in anytime!)
Location: Apex Town Hall – 3rd Floor (73 Hunter Street, Apex)

Youth Hour: Middle and high school students are invited to attend a special youth-only session from 3:00 – 4:00 pm.

At Public Forum 2, residents will be able to review five different growth scenarios developed from community input gathered earlier in the process. Each scenario explores different ways Apex could grow which includes development patterns, housing types, density, infrastructure needs, and open space. Community feedback will help shape the final recommendation that becomes part of the plan for the area shown in the image below.

Town staff will be on hand to answer questions and collect feedback on what residents like (or don’t like) about each option. It’s a chance to help answer an important question for Apex: “How do we grow from here?”

Learn more about the plan on the apexnc.org/peakplan website.

Tingen’s Tracks 🚂

Big changes are coming to the railroad crossing at Tingen Road. Under an agreement between the Town of Apex, CSX, and NCDOT, the existing crossing will permanently close once the new Apex Peakway Southwest Connector bridge opens by 2027. While the closure will improve rail safety, it also raises an important question for nearby neighborhoods – how do people continue to cross the tracks conveniently?

To answer that question, the Town commissioned a feasibility study. After they evaluated many different options, the preferred solution is a pedestrian tunnel beneath the railroad. The below map highlights where it would be constructed.

For our neighborhood, the project is an important link. The proposed tunnel would sit just across from Justice Heights Street near the water tower. It would be a direct connection between James Street and South Salem Street. That means residents would still have a short and safe route to places like Apex Elementary School, downtown Apex, and nearby neighborhoods.

The study also includes improvements to the surrounding streets too. Plans show Tingen Road being realigned to meet South Salem Street directly across from Justice Heights Street. It creates a more traditional intersection that shortens pedestrian crossings and simplifies traffic movements. The renderings below illustrate how the tunnel entrance, pathways, and a future landscaped greenway connection could look once complete.

The Planning Board reviewed and approved the feasibility study on March 9. The next step is a Town Council public hearing on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 pm in Apex Town Hall (73 Hunter Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber).

Community input will help determine whether the project moves forward into final design and funding. If it does, this crossing could become a key link that keeps Justice Heights connected, walkable, and bike-friendly for years to come.

Learn more about the plan on the apexnc.org/tingen website.

Well Check Program ✨

Sometimes the best community programs are the quiet ones you don’t hear about until someone points them out. I was not aware of this program until I saw Councilman Terry Mahaffey mention it on his online forum.

The Apex Community Well Check Program, run by the Apex Police Department, is one of those. The program is designed for residents who live alone – especially seniors or those with medical conditions – and simply helps make sure someone is checking in on them each day. It’s a small but meaningful way our town helps neighbors look out for one another.

Participants receive a daily automated phone call at a scheduled time just to confirm they’re doing okay. If the call isn’t answered, the system contacts a designated emergency contact. If no one can be reached, an Apex police officer will stop by the home to make sure everything is alright.

Additional program information can be found online here.

Nature has a mind of its own! While we were eager to get our hands in the dirt for the Grant Plant Day this coming Saturday, the recent winter weather has left the ground a bit too frozen to give our new plants the healthy start they deserve.

To ensure our greenery actually thrives, we are moving the event to March 7th at 10:30 am. We hope you understand the delay – we want this project to flourish for years to come. A few extra weeks of thawing will make all the difference.

Even with the ground frozen, our progress remains heated thanks to some amazing support in our community. A huge thanks starting with the volunteers who joined us for that successful cleanup day in November. That foundation allowed Armando and Morales Masonry and Landscapes to step in and finalize the site prep, digging out invasive roots to clear the way for growth.

Additionally the three benches for Our Three Winners are now complete, courtesy of the hard work of John Nance and Mike Story from The Peak Church.

We are currently working through the permitting process to have them installed within the right-of-way near the sidewalk. We can’t wait to see these become a permanent part of our neighborhood landscape.

This transformation would not be possible without you foremost, the Town’s Community Development and Neighborhood Connections department that is empowering us, and our project partners that have contributed in so many ways.

• The Town of Apex

• F3 Peak City

• Garden Supply Company

• Habitat for Humanity of Wake County

• J&D Tree Pros

• Morales Masonry and Landscapes

• The Light House Project

• The Peak Church

• We Plant it Forward

Connecting to the Peakway 🔗

Progress is being made on the Justice Heights Street extension project, which will one day connect the western part of our neighborhood directly to the Apex Peakway. The team working on the project is currently working through final plan approvals and it is slated to go out for bid this spring. The goal is to complete the connection by the end of 2026.

More information can be found on the official project page with the Town of Apex and a copy of the plans is viewable here.

Historic St Mary AME Church ⛪

A new historical marker now stands near the entrance of the Justice Heights neighborhood, honoring the enduring legacy of St Mary African Methodist Episcopal Church. Named for Mary C. Baldwin, the church began its journey in the Tent Sister’s Hall on West Street before finding its permanent home as a beacon of hope for the community.

This recognition is part of the Town of Apex's ongoing commitment to highlighting significant local landmarks through its historical marker program. Today, the church continues to serve as a welcoming gateway to the neighborhood, greeting residents and visitors alike with its rich history and spirit of inclusion.

Reverend Dr. Sequola Dawson is the senior pastor and you can find a listing of upcoming church events here. An update from the Reverend is below:

St Mary AME Church is having its celebration of the installation of its historical marker on Sunday February 22, 2026 at 3 pm. All are welcome.

West Street Park Updates 🛝

The redesign of West Street Park is steadily approaching its final design phase, with the general layout and park amenities nearly complete. Delays with a sewer main project have required some pivoting to explore a new pumping system for restrooms and potential creek restoration for stormwater management.

Some updated renderings are attached for you to see the exciting direction this revitalized community space is taking. Note that these are not representative of a final design, as that could change with ongoing exploration work.

Winter Whispers ❄️

Our neighborhood recently enjoyed a nice dusting of snow. It was a beautiful backdrop for some early morning coffee views.

Enjoy the pictures from around the community, before it all melts away. Keep cozy and warm! 🧤 ☕

Today, May 6th from 4:30-6:30pm there will be a public workshop at West Street Park (108 West Street) that will allow our neighborhood to give the Town feedback on new concepts for the park!

Can’t make it? The design displays will remain up at the park anytime between May 7th through 14th. You can learn more about the project here.

Tingen Road Pedestrian Bridge Study 🚸

When the new Apex Peakway bridge over South Salem Street is completed, our connection to Tingen Road by the water tower will close. The Town is working on designing a bridge for bicycles and pedestrians that will allow us to continue safely crossing the railroad to Tingen.

On Thursday, May 22nd from 4:00-6:00pm we are invited to give feedback on the project, as well as see preliminary designs. Check it out at the Apex Senior Center (63 Hunter Street) in the Seaboard Room.

Neighborhood Beautification Grant 🌼

Our neighborhood applied and successfully won approval for a grant from the Town of Apex to improve the area along the sidewalk and around the retention pond on Ada Street! More details to come this summer!

Special thanks to all of our neighbors that signed in support of this project, the Town’s new Community Development and Neighborhood Connections department that is empowering us, and our project partners that have contributed in so many ways:

• Garden Supply Company

• Habitat for Humanity of Wake County

• Our Three Winners

• St Mary AME Church

• The Light House Project

• We Plant It Forward