CARY, NC – Citizens are encouraged to play a key role in guiding the development of parks, greenways and cultural arts facilities for the next decade in Cary by actively participating in a number of outreach efforts that are part of the Town of Cary’s master plan update project.

The process, which has been underway since June and will continue into the spring, has now reached a critical phase—that of getting input and feedback from the general citizenry. The first such opportunity is an upcoming public meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 2 at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center located in Bond Park, 801 High House Road. During this input session, citizens will receive a brief overview presentation and then move to breakout stations on each of the three key areas of the plan. The session will end with all participants reconvening and summarizing outcomes of the session.

"This effort is part of our continuing commitment to plan and provide outstanding service to all citizens," said Principal Planner Doug McRainey, "but for this to be our community’s master plan, the members of our community must participate." McRainey added that another public involvement component of the update process is a mail survey slated to go out to a random sample of Cary citizens in October. Citizens that receive these mailed surveys are encouraged to complete them to provide perspectives for the planning process.

In 1998 the Town produced the Parks, Greenways & Bikeways Master Plan, which set the direction for programs and facilities for the 21^st century. While many of the projects outlined in that plan have been accomplished, Cary has continued to grow and change, and it’s appropriate now for the Town to validate and, where necessary, update the plan based on these accomplishments and changes.

Because the Bikeways portion of the 1998 plan has since been spun off into its own documents, bicycle transportation is not part of this update process. It is being replaced by a cultural resources component. The updated plan, therefore, will be known as the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Facilities Master Plan.

The Town has hired two nationally recognized planning firms to assist in the process. The parks and greenways components will be guided by the SmithGroup JJR (SG JJR), a 39 year old planning and design firm with considerable experience with comprehensive park and recreation plans. The SG JJR team includes the local design firm of Mark Robinson & Associates and Dr. Gene Brothers of North Carolina State University. The cultural arts component of the plan will be guided by Wolf, Keens & Co, a cultural arts planning firm whose clients have included Washington DC’s Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian.

For more information, see the CURRENT PROJECTS section of the Town’s Web site, www.townofcary.org.

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