Anyone who spends time in Holly Springs, knows residents love their parks and greenways and a vibrant, active community. Years ago, the community made investing in quality-of-life amenities a priority. In fact, most of the parks and facilities that make Holly Springs such a great place to live were financed by municipal bonds. This November, the Town is putting a Parks Bond Referendum on the ballot that would expand and improve parks for the future.
“When we looked at results from the 2021 Community Survey and Parks Master Plan, residents made it clear that abundant and quality parks and greenways are a high priority,” said Holly Springs Mayor Sean Mayefskie. “That’s why the Town Council voted to put forth a $100 million Parks Bond for voters to decide. We’ve already bought land to create the first Holly Springs park west of Hwy 55, but without bond funding it could take years for the Town to have the funding to build a community park on that gorgeous property.”
Municipalities Use Bonds to Fund Public Infrastructure
Those new to the area may not realize how pivotal bond funding has been to growing the parks infrastructure in Holly Springs. In 1996, General Obligation Bonds were approved to establish the Parks and Recreation Department and buy the land for Womble Park. In 2011, GO Bonds were approved to add turf fields and lights to Womble Park, purchase the land for Sugg Farm, build Ting Park, develop the Carl Dean Greenway, add a playground and disc golf to Jones Park and install the trail bridge at Bass Lake Park. The Town also used remaining bond funds to purchase the land on Cass Holt Road and fund construction for Middle Creek Greenway. When the last Parks GO Bonds were approved in 2011, the population of Holly Springs was 25,800, which today is approaching 50,000 residents. Holly Springs has an excellent AAA credit rating, which makes a GO Bond the most cost-effective method for the community to pay for needed parks and improvements.
New Park on Cass Holt Road
A new park on Cass Holt Road across from Holly Springs High School would have amenities that the community has asked for, including features like an outdoor splash pad, an all-wheels skate park, more pickleball courts to meet high demand, large outdoor turf fields, lighted basketball courts, a fishing pier, a picnic area and much more.
The park will include a 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art recreation center with four indoor courts that can be used for basketball, volleyball, and more, to meet the needs of a community that has outgrown the lone indoor recreation facility in town. The recreation center will also contain multi-generational amenities like an esports and technology lounge, indoor playground, fitness center, an indoor adventure track, and a café.
Wake County officials believe so much in the park project that they have granted the Town $2.3 million in hospitality tax proceeds to help with funding. The county wants to help support the addition of amenities for the county’s growing population, attract visitors and boost the economy.
Parks and Recreation Improvements Across Holly Springs
If approved by voters, the 2023 Parks Bond Referendum would also help finance other projects across town. Womble Park could see the addition of two outdoor lighted basketball courts and new baseball/softball dugouts. Sugg Farm Park would be upgraded with a new program pavilion with restrooms to serve the community garden and nature play space area and serve summer camp programs. The Holly Springs Cultural Center theatre would receive new retractable theater seating to give theater patrons a more accessible and comfortable experience when seeing some of the many performances that come to town. The Parks Bond would also help connect some popular greenway segments to bring neighborhoods together.
Why Does the Town Need Such a Large Investment in Parks and Recreation?
One hundred million dollars would be a significant investment, but all large public infrastructure projects today cost more than they did 10 years ago and will cost more 10 years from now. Building a 56-acre park with a nearly 100,000-square-foot recreation center is expected to cost between $85-$95 million alone. To give a cost comparison, the Town of Cary is just completing a new downtown park funded by bonds, at a cost of about $69 million for a seven-acre park without a large recreation center. By investing in the 2023 Parks Bond today, Holly Springs’ residents can shape the Springs to be a community that has abundant parks, greenways and recreation facilities for everyone to enjoy.
“Residents love to get out and play, but that also presents challenges for the Town as our population grows,” said Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Director LeeAnn Plumer. “We’ve already started to limit registration for popular programs, we know senior activities have waiting lists, and we have to rent gym space from the school system to provide basketball courts for residents. In survey after survey, residents have spoken up about the kinds of amenities and programs they expect for a community that is as spectacular as Holly Springs, and the Town would love to be able to provide residents what they’ve said they want in the way of parks and recreation amenities.”
Although the projected tax impact has yet to be finalized, for the median property tax assessed home value in Holly Springs, which is $375,000, a property owner would expect to pay up to around $15 per month.
How Do I Find Out More Before November?
Residents looking for information on the 2023 Parks Bond Referendum can visit hsbonds.com.
