Superlatives
Finance
The Town of Cary is one of seven municipalities in North Carolina with the best possible credit ratings from the leading New York investment firms – Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor's.
Commitment to sound budgeting
The Town of Cary is a perennial recipient of the Government Finance Officers award for Distinguished Budget Presentation, demonstrating the highest principles of governmental budgeting.
The highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting
The Government Finance Officers Association of United States and Canada annually recognizes the Town of Cary for excellence in comprehensive financial reporting.
Continuing excellence in accounting and financial management
The State Treasurer's office has honored Cary with its Governmental Award for Excellence for running innovative and progressive programs.
Sports & Leisure
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department was the first parks department in the Triangle to receive national accreditation.
Summer home of outdoor entertainment
Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park is a state-of-the-art performance center nestled in pine trees by Symphony Lake. An eclectic mix of entertainment including live music concerts and festivals, the North Carolina Symphony Summerfest Series and Movies by Moonlight fill the April through October performance season.
A Championship City where future Olympians and professionals come to play
In 2008, Cary was named one of six municipalities to participate in the NCAA Championship Cities Program. This multi-year pilot program has provided Cary with various NCAA Championships in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The championships awarded highlight Cary’s sports venues including the Cary Tennis Park, WakeMed Soccer Park and the USA Baseball National Training Complex through national exposure in the sports of soccer, baseball, cross country, and tennis.
The best place to spend a lazy summer Saturday
The Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, always held the 4th Saturday in August, is the top rated one-day festival in the nation as ranked by Sunshine Artist Magazine, September 2009.
Explore the Town by trail
Fred G. Bond Metro Park, located geographically in the center of town, serves as the hub of Cary’s greenway system. Additional amenities, including seven ball diamonds, Bond Lake, boat house, senior center, community center and Challenge Ropes Course, create the perfect atmosphere for community fellowship.
Home of Cary Band Day
Since 1959, the oldest marching band competition in the southeast includes an annual downtown parade and field competition.
Getting a quick start in tennis
Cary has one of the first facilities in the US to work with United States Tennis Association to install permanent Quick-Start courts. These smaller courts are size specific for the 4-8 age range and fill a perfect niche for the Cary Tennis Park programming for our young tots.
The Extreme Sports outlet
Sk-8 Cary was the first public skate park in Wake County. Skateboarders, BMX bikers and inline skaters are all welcome at Sk-8 Cary.
The place to tour on two wheels
With its safe cycling classes for children, annual Cycling Celebration, and growing bicycle network throughout the Town, Cary consistently receives national recognition as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” from the League of American Bicyclists.
A jewel in the crown of Mother Nature
Hands-on exhibits, Nature's Niche Gift Shop, native wildlife garden, and environmental education programs are just a few of the natural experiences awaiting you at the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.
Health & Safety
Fit Community
Designated as a Fit Community through 2010, Cary provides a variety of health and fitness opportunities that promote physical activity for youth including instructional programs such as Stretch-n-Grow, cheerleading, martial arts, sports leagues, dance, tennis and more. Additionally, the Town maintains over 53 miles of greenways, 24 parks, and 13 staffed facilities.
Safest Community in the south
Cary has been the safest community in North Carolina, in the South, and among the 20 safest large cities in America during all the years that it has been rated.
Proactive in fire protection
The Cary Fire Department became the second department in North Carolina to earn national accreditation.
Progressive in law enforcement
The Cary Police Department became nationally accredited in 1992 by voluntarily demonstrating adherence to professional standards. It is one of only a handful accredited police departments in the Triangle.
Environmental Protection
Leading the way in reducing what we throw away
Cary's curbside computer recycling program was the first in the state.
Protecting water quality by controlling stormwater runoff
The N.C. Sedimentation Control Commission granted Cary its Erosion and Sedimentation Control Award for helping protect our rivers, lakes and streams.
Keeping Cary green
For more than two decades, the Town consistently receives the Tree City USA, demonstrating its long-term commitment to urban forestry. Cary was one of the first towns in the state to get a tree protection bill through the N.C. General Assembly.
Conserving our natural resources
Cary was the first in the state to save drinking water by reclaiming treated wastewater for irrigation.
Where careful planning preserves high quality of life
The Town has received the Outstanding Planning Award from the N.C. chapter of the American Planning Association for its Open Space and Historic Resources Plan.
Putting the brakes on stop-and-go traffic
Cary is the largest municipality in the state to fully fund its own traffic signal system, reducing air pollution caused by frequent stops and delays. The system includes closed circuit cameras at key intersections, allowing the Town to change signal timing and keep traffic moving smoothly.
History
The Page-Walker Arts and History Center is located in Cary's oldest and most historic building. Built by Town founder Allison Francis (Frank) Page as a railroad hotel, Page-Walker is one of Wake County's best examples of Second Empire style architecture which was popular in 1868 when the hotel was built. It is also home to the Cary Heritage Museum.
A "friend of Britain in her sorest need"
Walter Hines Page, son of Frank Page, was an editor and public education proponent. He was also ambassador to Great Britain from 1913-1918 and is honored with a tablet in Westminster Abbey for advocating that the United States sided with Britain and its allies during World War I. Only two other Americans have received this honor.
Commitment to historic preservation
Cary is fortunate to have three National Register Historic Districts that recognize the past and provide incentives for preservation. Those districts are the Cary Historic District around Academy Street and Harrison Avenue in downtown Cary and the Carpenter and Green Level Historic Districts in west Cary which recognize farming communities from the last century. In addition there are two individual listings on the National Register of Historic Places: the Page-Walker Hotel (now the Page-Walker Arts and History Center) on the Town Hall campus and the Nancy Jones House on Chapel Hill Road.
