About the West Ward

West Ward is that area of the City bounded by Country Club Road on the south, North Stratford Road on the east, the city limits on the west, and Robinhood, Polo and Reynolda Roads on the north.

West Ward is represented by Council Member Robert C. Clark. In size, it is the smallest of the eight wards, but it has the most registered voters.

Home is what West Ward is all about, from the prestige of the older addresses on North Stratford Road...to the many subdivisions that dot the western side of the ward, such as Peace Haven estates...and the many phases of development in Sherwood Forest. Homes in West Ward vary widely in price. There's one for almost every pocketbook and new ones going up all the time.

Home means a town home or cluster home setting to many. There are both small and large complexes in West Ward. For some, home is an apartment such as Brierleigh Park or Savannah Place.

Major commercial areas have developed in the West Ward in response to the many residents. Continued commercial building and expansion around Country Club Road and Peace Haven Road and Jonestown Road are also the result of more steady area residential growth.

As the West Ward has grown, the City has responded with services and recreational facilities. The South Fork Park complex on Country Club Road serves residents with a very busy recreation center offering a variety of dance and craft classes. The Park tennis courts are busy almost every day and evening. Next door, the Recreation and Parks Department operates The Cricket's Nest, a retail store where senior citizens can sell their crafts to the community. The Winston-Salem Southbound Model railroad club building houses a fabulous train layout with over 1000 feet of track.

The tennis courts, soccer fields and greenway trail at Schaffner Park are also maintained by the City Recreation and Parks Department. Across Silas Creek Parkway is the City's first Par Course. It seems as if someone is using this facility every daylight hour all year round for a serious workout or just a leisurely stroll.

Speaking of Silas Creek, it meanders diagonally through West Ward. Its original name was Spangenberg Creek, named for the Moravian Bishop who led the first settlers here in 1752. Later maps changed the name to Spankinback creek and by 1832 it's listed as Silas Creek. Polo Park Recreation Center also offers a wide variety of programs and in the summer there's no better place than the Polo Park Pool. Get your exercise on the ballfields or tennis courts or maybe the playground area.

Many young people begin their education in West Ward at Jefferson, Sherwood Forest, Speas or Whitaker Elementary schools. The Summit School, a private education facility is located here as well.

Graylyn, originally the home of president and chairman of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Bowman Gray, its stone walls and slate roof resemble a British Manor House. The 87 acre estate on Reynolda Road features the 60 room Main House, living quarters for the Gray family after its completion in 1936....the Mews, a Normandy-style farm complex, and both outdoor and indoor swimming pools. The Gray family donated the estate to Wake Forest University in which now operates it as the Graylyn International Conference Center. There are 98 guest rooms and 15 unique conference rooms. Part of the original estate has been residentally developed with exclusive town homes.

On the northeast corner of the property is the Children's Center. This facility operated by the School System and partially funded by the United Way serves physically handicapped and other health impaired children, helping them to become productive citizens within the limits of their abilities.

Nearby is the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. It was originally the home of industrialist James Hanes. Today, its expanded galleries host an ever changing array of contemporary works by national artists while preserving a commitment to southeastern artists. There is a 300 seat theater and a unique gift shop here as well

Convenient shopping, businesses, special places...and to many people....home is in the West Ward.