The Town Center Area Plan, which was adopted in 2001, envisions a unique, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown in which to live, work and have fun. The plan calls for a park since less than 1.5 percent of downtown currently is publicly accessible recreation space.

A park could be the focal point for Cary's core, providing a place for cultural events and spurring preservation and investment. The recommended location for a downtown park is within the block of Academy, Walnut, Walker and Park streets. It is across from the Cary Elementary School campus, a potential location for a Town cultural arts facility.

The firm of Wallace, Roberts and Todd of Philadelphia developed a concept plan, which the Town Council approved in August 2002. The firm has been involved with numerous downtown developments across the country, including Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Illustrated final concept

Plan - The Plan has been divided into several portions due to large file sizes

Cover Sheet (1,640 KB)
Introduction (640 KB)
The Planning Process/Planning Principles (370 KB)
Candidate Sites (2,580 KB)
Preferred Site (700 KB)
Themes (900 KB)
Preferred Theme/Next Steps (740 KB)

Next Steps

• Evaluate feasibility and terms for acquiring private property
• Explore sources of county, state and federal money for the park
• Investigate private sources of money for specific areas or park features
• Develop a master plan for paved surfaces, structures, landscaping, lighting, furnishings, etc.
• Identify first phase of construction; prepare detailed drawings and construction documents

Doug McRainey, parks planning manager
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
111 James Jackson Ave.
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-4973
(919) 469-4344 (fax)
doug.mcrainey@townofcary.org