TOWN OF CARY INVITES CITIZENS TO PREVIEW

 NEW COMMUNITY PARK’S DESIGN

Park to include Town’s proposed second dog park

CARY, NC – Design plans for Bartley Park in southeast Cary, including the Town of Cary’s second proposed dog park, will be unveiled at a public meeting on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop Road in Cary. The design team of Lappas & Havener of Durham will discuss plans for the first phase of construction, and artist William Moore will introduce ideas for including public art in the project.

Bartley Park is a 50-acre tract that was once a working farm. The approved master plan for the park includes the Town’s first interactive spray-ground, a 1.3-acre off-leash dog park, greenway trails, a children’s fantasy playground, picnic shelters and restrooms. A large portion of the park will be open space reserved for recreation and programming, showcasing the agrarian attributes of the site.

“The history and outstanding natural features of Bartley Park provided the Town with the opportunity to create a unique facility that blends environmentally-sensitive design with spaces for active and passive recreation,” said Paul Kuhn, Town of Cary Senior Parks Planner. “With many of the original farm structures intact, the site’s agricultural character will be preserved and reflected in the park’s design and activities.”

Artists Vollis Simpson of Lucama, NC and Moore of Pittsboro, NC have been commissioned to create unique public art that reflects the site’s history. Simpson is best known for his towering sculptures or “whirligigs” made of cast-off machine parts, whimsically depicting farm life. Moore will create a sculpture flock of Suffolk Sheep, which was a distinctive feature of the working Bartley farm.

Other off-site improvements that will take place during Phase I of construction at Bartley Park include utility service extension to the site and road widening and improvements to Penny Road.

Bartley Park is located in southern Cary on the south side of Penny Road near Holly Springs Road . Land for the community park was purchased by the Town of Cary in 2000. Lappas & Havener were selected to create the Bartley Community Park master plan, incorporating input from Town staff, a citizen design committee and other interested neighbors. Town Council adopted the plan in September 2004.

Bartley Park is part of the overall Town of Cary Parks, Greenways and Bikeways Master Plan, which addresses long-term facility needs for the community. The first phase of construction has been funded at $3 million and is scheduled to begin during the fall of 2008.  

For more, visit Bartley Park at www.townofcary.org.

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