BY Rebeccah Waff Cope
The Holly Springs Town Council voted unanimously on March 1, 2022, to approve the final concept “master plan” for a future park, to be located 2 miles west of downtown on Cass Holt Road, near Holly Grove Middle School and Holly Springs High School. Cass Holt Road runs along the eastern boundary of the planned park. Park resources are lacking on this side of town – both Bass Lake and Sugg Farm are on the east side. Development of Cass Holt Road Park will address many community needs.
Town Planner Matt Beard, AICP, was interviewed for this article and explained that the planned 56-acre park is made up of two parcels of land that were purchased from the Wright family, who made a partial donation, therefore receiving a tax write-off of $400,000. The land was appraised at $4.2 million but was bought by the Town for $3.8 million.
Mr. Beard said the property is a “beautiful green field site with no major historical or environmental constraints…It is on top of a hill so water drains away. The land was partially cleared for farming but the Town plans to reforest some areas.” Trees will be added along the park entrance and in parking areas, among other locations identified on the master plan. Mr. Beard hopes that in 15 years or so, the property will be healthier than it is now resulting from the change in use from working farm to a park site and due to these restoration efforts. He anticipates the park will have an increased tree canopy, the natural benefits for which include healthy air, soil and water, and new habitat creation.
An existing tractor barn on the property is already being used by Town staff to store maintenance equipment and supplies. Note that direct staffing for this park has yet to be determined, as has whether staff will be stationed at the park or provide oversight, care and programs from elsewhere in town, such as from the W.E. Hunt Center complex.
According to the master plan, a fishing pier would be added at the spring-fed pond that already exists on the property. New facilities include 2 picnic shelters, a pavilion/restroom facility, a playground and splash pad (“sprayground”) area, skatepark, areas for volleyball and pickleball, and a multi-purpose field about the size of the Town’s existing Ting and Womble fields, and which would have the same kind of sports lighting. There is also a recreational center planned, with 3 to 4 regular-size basketball courts which could support regional tournaments.
The recreation center would also have a multi-purpose classroom, where programming could take place, plus an indoor playground and an “advanced walking and training track,” which Mr. Beard says would “weave through the building, with obstacles such as stairs and curves, and not just go in a circle.” The plan for inside the center also includes a community gathering area and “technical lobby” with a Starbucks-like cafe counter, comfy seating, and laptop plugs. An e-sports setup is planned in a separate-but-visible room having high-speed internet and rentable large monitors which could support gaming events.
For outdoor recreation purposes, the plan includes mountain bike trails and walking/hiking trails with greenway connectivity – from Cass Holt Road, there would be a street-side greenway north to Avent Ferry Road, and a southern connection could lead to a future path at Honeycutt Road and other potential locations. Outdoor programs for this park will mainly focus on wellness and outdoor adventure, along with athletics.
Members of the Holly Springs community helped to develop this conceptual plan for the park. The town planning staff collected responses from two park surveys conducted in September 2021 (with 1,152 responses) and November 2021 (with 759 responses). The major public input period for the park ended with the adoption of the master plan but Mr. Beard indicated that people who wish to provide feedback or have questions may contact him via phone: (919) 567-4018 or email: matt.beard@hollyspringsnc.gov.
Core values for this park were defined as part of the public planning process and include: (1) the Environment and Nature (need areas for natural exploration), (2) Health and Wellness (need action fitness and play areas), and (3) People and Community (need places for community gatherings and celebrations). These values helped to define the park vision or ‘feel’, according to Mr. Beard. The core values are met through the development of these planned features: (1) a community garden, fishing area, hammock grove, walking/hiking trails,
mountain biking, and nature play; (2) outdoors sports courts, indoor sports facility, pump track, splash pad, inclusive play area, sports field, and disc golf; and (3) an outdoor event venue, amphitheater, open space/fields, picnic shelters, public art, and a market pavilion.
Communications & Marketing Director Cassie Hack told Suburban Living in a recent phone interview that the current timeline for Cass Holt Road Park suggests a possible opening in 2025, but funding for the park’s development is limited. The land was purchased with remaining 2011 Parks and Recreation Bond funds in 2020. Staff is developing the park’s design plan in collaboration with the community – $2 million was budgeted for this purpose. Additional funding will be needed to support park development and construction. The Town Council will discuss a possible park bond at their February retreat.
Mr. Beard said that “providing amenities that the community desires” was a big part of this park’s design, as was attracting the presence of nearby high school students. For years, residents have requested more indoor basketball courts and this facility would fill that need. He mentioned that the Town has even discussed the possibility of arranging for food trucks to be stationed at the park during the week – students could walk on the greenway instead of getting into their cars to get lunch.
Town staff are excited about this project and they hope you are, too! Mr. Beard said that staff really want to get started on final design and construction and that this park will be “a jewel in our Town’s crown.” Once built, it should be a well-used and much-loved park, and a true community asset. Learn more about this park development project and view the master plan here: https://www.hollyspringsnc.us/2316/Cass-Holt-Road-Park.
