Overview

The Town of Cary is initiating two important planning efforts: the update of its Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan as well as the Public Art Master Plan.

The Town is committed to providing high quality parks, recreation and cultural resource facilities for Cary citizens as these are key components of Cary’s recognized high quality of life. Comprehensive planning is the basis for Cary’s nationally accredited park system. When completed, the PRCR Master Plan will provide detailed recommendations for the next 10 years, from 2012–2022. These recommendations will include new parks and open space, community centers, greenways and cultural arts facilities for the entire Town.

>Public Art Master Plan Update - Visit the Public Art Master Plan web page to learn more about this important planning effort and find out how you can get involved.

Project Update (October 2011)

Phase 2 - Findings
The Master Plan is in second phase of the Plan Process, which is: Findings - Identification of Key Findings, Issues.

Please plan on attending the next Public Meeting for the PRCR Master Plan, which will be held at the Herb Young Community Center on October 26, 2011 from 6–8 p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to present the “Findings” which are based on input received from Master Plan Survey, July Public Meetings, Focus Group Meetings and specific “parksplan” e-mails received specifically for the Master Plan. The findings will form the basis for the plan recommendations so please plan on attending and providing additional input.

Below is a summary of the “Findings” to date:

> Project Vision

> Survey – The Town has completed a statistically-valid survey as part of the quantitative needs assessment portion of the plan. We are in the process of reviewing the data received and will make it available on-line as soon as the summary is complete. The survey data will be presented at the October 26, 2011 Public Meeting.

> E-mail – Citizens wishing to share ideas and concerns with the Town regarding the development of Cary's future parks system were given the opportunity to do so e-mailing: parksplan@townofcary.org between June and September of 2011. Here is summary of the input that was received via e-mail.

>Focus Group Meetings (Held in June, July and August 2011)
- Summary of Focus Group Input

> Public Meetings (July 18-19, 2011)
- Summary of Public Comments

> PRCR Advisory Board & Committee Meetings – The PRCR Advisory Board and Committees met in May 2011 to review the plan process and provide initial input into the planning process. Here is a summary of that meeting.

Citizens can attend monthly meetings for the PRCR Advisory Board, or any of the PRCR Committee meetings including the Cultural Arts, Athletics and Greenway Committee meetings. Each of these meetings provides an opportunity at the beginning of each meeting for public input. Schedule for the meetings is below:

- PRCR Advisory Board – 1^st Monday of each month – 5:15 p.m.
- Athletics Committee – 3^rd Monday of each month – 6 p.m.
- Greenway Committee – 3^rd Thursday of each month – 6 p.m.
- Cultural Arts Committee – 4^th Wednesday of each month – 6 p.m.

Schedule

The Master Plan will take approximately 16 months to complete. The planning process will include the following phases:

• April 2011: Start of Project
• May-July 2011: Phase 1 - Information Gathering
• Focus Group Meetngs
• Public Meetings
• Survey
• September-October 2011: Phase 2 - Findings
• Identification of key findings, issues
• November 2011-March 2012: Phase 3 - Plan Development
• Generate Options and Recommendations
• May 2012: Project Completion

Plan Objectives

1. Provide a balance of cultural arts, active recreation, and passive recreation facilities and programs that fulfill the current and future recreation needs of Cary residents.

2. Provide facilities and programs that respond to the diverse recreational and cultural arts needs of our residents, regardless of age or ability.

3. Establish public/private partnerships with nonprofit organizations, local corporations and citizens to encourage park, recreation and cultural arts facilities development.

4. Continue to seek intergovernmental partnerships with Wake and adjacent counties, municipalities, and the County school system to encourage joint development of facilities.

5. Provide a comprehensive greenway system that provides residents safe and convenient access to park, recreation and cultural arts facilities and allows alternative transportation opportunities.

6. Provide a comprehensive greenway system that provides residents safe and convenient access to park, recreation and cultural arts facilities and allows alternative transportation opportunities.

7. Provide facilities that promote the Town’s sustainability goals by developing environmentally sensitive design principles.

8. Provide facilities that honor and enhance Cary’s open space by providing natural areas and preserves, buffers and linkages to the overall open space system.

9. Allow for the flexible future development of land, encourage variations between facilities, and take advantage of unique natural features, community needs and existing adjacent facilities.

Background

The Town’s nationally accredited Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department oversees a park system of over 2,400 acres of combined parks and open space. This system consists of 22 developed parks, 58 miles of greenways, 3 community centers, 13 staffed facilities and 4 major sports and entertainment venues.

The previous master plan, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Facilities Master Plan, was approved in 2003.

2003 – Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Facilities Master Plan
1998 – Parks, Greenways and Bikeways Master Plan

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Master Plan initiative is considered an update of the 2003 plan. The document will have a lifespan of 20 years with detailed emphasis on the recommendations of the first 10 years. The Town's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan will represent the Town's commitment to continuing the tradition of providing a balanced system of cultural arts, active recreation, passive recreation and conservation facilities for all residents. This planning effort will recognize current needs within the Town as well as allow for the flexibility to incorporate future facilities that will address trends and the needs of residents as the Town continues to grow.

Master Plan Consulting Team

· GreenPlay:
Anne Miller, AICP, Senior Project Consultant

· LandDesign:
Beth Poovey, RLA, Senior Associate
Dan Dodd, RLA, Senior Associate
Ross Massey, PE, Senior Associate

· Stewart Engineering:
Iona L. Thomas, AICP, Greenway Design Group Manager
Curtis Bridges, AICP, Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner

· Clark Patterson Lee:
Bob Cwikla, AIA, LEED AP – Principal Associate
Jeff Sherer, AIA - Principal

Contact

Danny Hopkins, Director
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department
316 N. Academy St.
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 469-4061
danny.hopkins@townofcary.org

Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department
316 N. Academy St.
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-4973
doug.mcrainey@townofcary.org