There's no need (nor space) to do an exhaustive look back at 2003 from a northern Wake perspective, but I thought I would recap the three top events that will impact the area's future:

1) The awarding of a $67 million contract for the next leg of the Outer Loop in August. The 7.3-mile stretch to U.S. 64 should be completed in 2006.

This is part of an ongoing transformation of northern Wake from rural to heavily populated suburban. Anyone who doesn't understand the impact of the Outer Loop should drive Capital Boulevard north of the highway and see all the new development -- and the "land for sale" signs.

2) The passage of the parks and recreation bond referendum in October. The city has up to seven years to sell the $47.2 million in bonds, and will do so slowly so as not to raise taxes.

But when the facilities are built, they will be an important element in maintaining quality of life as the area grows.

The bonds will expand and improve existing parks, such as Optimist pool; build 11 greenway projects, with a healthy portion of them in northern Wake; and fund new parks, including a 500-plus-acre park on a peninsula on Falls Lake designed for "adventure-based recreation."

Is that cool or what?

3) The opening of the Wal-Mart Supercenter off U.S. 70 in October. It was the opening salvo in an assault on northern and eastern Wake.

The company has plans for another for U.S. 1 in Wake Forest, as well one at New Hope Road and U.S. 64, and they are expanding the store at Paddington Station into a supercenter.