FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 May 2, 2002

CARY, NC – The Town of Cary will dedicate Middle Creek Park and School, developed in partnership with Wake County Public Schools with the larger project including the construction of a high school, community center and park within the same area.

The 106-acre Middle Creek School/Park features four lighted softball/baseball fields with a combined concession, restroom & scorer’s tower, eight tennis courts, two basketball courts, and a paved walking path. Construction on phase I of this park cost $4,961,800 coming from parks and recreation bond proceeds and the Town’s general fund. The project area consists of two adjacent properties, one owned by the Town and one by Wake County Public Schools.

Town council members, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources advisory board members and committees, Wake County Public Schools representatives, and project consultants and contractors will be present to inaugurate this new facility at a brief ceremony in front of the Middle Creek Community Center at 10 a.m. This dedication is being held in conjunction with the Spirit of Sports Celebration which emphasizes sportsmanship and parental involvement in their child's recreation experiences.

Cherry Huffman Architects (Raleigh) was the lead consultant for this project with McNeely Associates (Raleigh) as Landscape Architects and The Wooten Company (Raleigh), Withers & Ravenel (Cary), and Lasater Hopkins (Raleigh) as engineers on the project. The park was constructed by Beers Skanska (Raleigh), Sage Construction (Durham), ABL Plumbing & Heating Co. (Raleigh) and Southern Piping Co. (Wilson) and the softball scoring tower was constructed by RP Construction (Raleigh), Tommy Lawrence Electrical Contractors (Roxboro), Progressive Plumbing (Durham) and Acorn Industrial (Raleigh).

The Town of Cary’s 1998 Parks, Greenways & Bikeways Master Plan calls for three new community parks and 15 new softball/baseball fields to be built during 1998-2002. Including this park, the Town of Cary has built and opened 3 community parks and 13 ballfields including those built at local schools.

Middle Creek School/Park is located at 151 Middle Creek Park Avenue off West Lake Road adjacent to the Middle Creek High School Campus. For more information about this project, call (919) 469-4061 or visit the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org.

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