TOWN OF CARY INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SHAPE
NEW PARK’S DESIGN

CARY, NC – A new park is about to take shape in southeast Cary, and citizens will have their chance to add a little “personality” to the future Walnut Street Park at a public meeting on Monday, October 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop in Cary.  The design team of Brian Starkey, landscape architect with OBS Landscape Architects, and Barbara Grygutis of Tucson , Arizona , selected artist for the project, will give an update on the park’s master plan and hear input from citizens about the park’s artistic design.

The team will show images of past work and gather information about the site and neighborhood from the public, including:

• Prominent images, geography or landmarks in the adjacent neighborhoods;

• The history and character of the adjacent neighborhoods;

• The demographic make-up of the neighborhoods;

• Notable local folks and their personal histories;

• Legends, folklore and anecdotes about the adjacent neighborhoods; and

• What the neighborhoods are most known for.

“Since this is the first step in developing public artwork for the new park, we hope that everyone will take advantage of this opportunity to add a special touch to the look of the park,” said Public Art Coordinator Denise Dickens.  

For those who can’t attend the meeting, the Town will accept comments through Friday, October 13, 2006 .  Ideas may be e-mailed to denise.dickens@townofcary.org, and they will be forwarded to the team. 

Walnut Street Park will be located at the southwest corner of Walnut Street and Lawrence Road . The Town purchased the 11-acre parcel in 2002.  Development of the park is part of a broader effort by the Town to improve the Walnut Street corridor as outlined in the Southeast Area Plan.

The master plan for the park was adopted by Cary Town Council on March 9, 2006 .  OBS Landscape Architects of Raleigh was selected to design the park. The firm designed Phase II of White Oak Park and two Town of Cary greenway projects.

Design fees including artist, surveying, permitting and engineering is about $165,000; the estimated cost for construction of the park is $1.5 million.  The project is scheduled to be under construction during the summer of 2007.  

For more, visit Walnut Street Park at www.townofcary.org.

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