Town staff and consultants are getting to work on a master plan for Holly Springs’ first park west of NC 55. The 56-acre site is on Cass Holt Road across from Holly Springs High School. It consists of former farmland with woods at the edge, plus a stream and pond, and a house and large workshop.
“The parkland was a great acquisition for the residents of Holly Springs,” said Parks and Recreation Director LeeAnn Plumer. “It’s ideally situated, and the features of the site open up so many possibilities.” Planning for the first phase of development is underway and includes two prime opportunities for residents to weigh in on preferred park features. Visit hollyspringsnc.gov/cassholtpark for more details. The Town is under contract with a landscape design firm to complete a master plan for the park and to develop design documents for the first phase of construction. Public feedback will help Parks and Recreation staff and consultants evaluate potential uses and programming.
Providing Public Input
Two public input sessions are planned. The first session, tentatively scheduled for early September, will be a virtual public meeting so that residents can participate without venturing to a meeting location. Residents found the convenience of online sessions appealing during public engagement for the recently-adopted Parks and Greenways Master Plan. “We had really good participation because of the accessibility and convenience,” Plumer said. The second public input meeting will be held in early November at the future park. This in-person session will provide a chance to walk the property and get a better feel for ideal uses. Find details of the two input sessions at hollyspringsnc.gov/cassholtpark.
In addition to those scheduled sessions, there will be surveys and other ways to share your input. “The project webpage and public input surveys will be updated throughout the project, allowing for multiple opportunities to contribute feedback,” said Matt Beard, the Town’s Park Planner.
Developing the Park in Phases
The first phase is expected to cost $3 million to $3.5 million. Much of that will be for infrastructure such as water and sewer lines, restrooms, road improvements, and parking. Trails, play areas and public gathering space are other possible phase 1 features.
Although initial development will focus on infrastructure, park planners also are seeking feedback on what might be included in subsequent phases as part of the master plan for Cass Holt Road Park. The open, relatively level fields could be especially suitable for more active recreation uses, such as ballfields, tennis courts, aquatics, or possibly a community center. Woods at the back of the site could be ideal for trails or for observing nature. A draft master plan is expected to be available for Town Council consideration next February. First-phase design would follow, with construction likely starting in late 2022 or early 2023.
With Holly Springs’ population expected to top 50,000 by 2025, the Town has a goal of having 9.6 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. The idea is to spread parks equitably throughout Holly Springs to maximize how many residents are within a 10-minute walk of one.“Cass Holt Road Park represents a big step forward—and westward—in preserving our high quality of life by providing residents with the recreational amenities they desire,” Plumer said. “We’re planning for play, and we’d like your help.”
