More than 20 years in the making, Downtown Cary Park is a place of wonder, imagination and natural beauty. Multiple community workshops and interactive dialogue shaped the final design and programming decisions including space for fitness, leisure, games, hobbies, food and beverage, children, pets, arts and culture.

The site’s design and installation was an intricate partnership between the town of Cary, the general contractor, the landscape architect and the landscape contractor who worked closely together to bring this project to fruition.

The park’s irrigation system keeps grass, trees, shrubs and flowers thriving. The irrigation system contains 150 zones, 4800 LF of mainlines, 20,000 LF of laterals, 82,000 LF of drip lines and 725 spray heads.

Wetland areas within the project use plants that are well-adapted to the area’s hydrologic conditions such as Pickerel weed, Horsetail reed grass, Little Joe-Pye weed, water lilies and juncus, which provide valuable habitat for plant and animal communities and serves as a natural filter for water flowing into connected water bodies and groundwater.

We installed 300 tons of river rock around ponds and in stream beds to preserve soil integrity and prevent excessive erosion.

There were over 11 different soil profiles on this site. In this area, a rain garden soil was used to support the plants and trees that were installed here.

The after photo of this area shows shrubs, grasses and perennials established and thriving.

There were 830 trees were installed throughout the site ranging in size from 2”-5” caliper. With over 25 varieties of trees on the site, many were selected to connect with the project’s North Carolina roots including: sweetgum, dogwoods, magnolias, redbuds, hollies and serviceberry.

Excessive rain turned the project’s soil into mud during installation. Site personnel often kept multiple pairs of boots on hand to dry and rotate their use. Heavy equipment was equipped with wide track shoes, while mud mats and gravel were utilized in certain areas to enhance traction and prevent equipment from getting stuck.

One of the best features on the existing site today is the plethora of champion trees as seen adjacent to this playground. To save as many of these trees as possible, the concept of a grove allows for retention of a root zone while creating a unique space. Installation in and around these areas required great care.

Many areas in the park are geared toward children’s enjoyment. We installed 6300 SF of rubberized surfaces in this splash pad area and the playground.

The Bark Bar provides a social gathering hub for dog owners featuring shaded dining space for visitors and an adjacent play area for pets to enjoy their own socialization and playtime. We installed just over 2300 SF of shotcrete to created mounded play areas, 4000 SF of artificial turf and a pet drinking fountain.

One of the park’s goals is to provide outdoor entertainment for all areas. Spaces like this provide opportunities for all ages to play, relax and enjoy being outside.

Over 8000 SF of artificial turf was installed in several areas throughout the site including the parks 1800 SF putting green seen here. The putting green has different contours to create a realistic putting surface.

Green infrastructure design solutions included several rain gardens, planted with native and adaptive species. These water features throughout the site offer an opportunity to educate visitors on the value of these best management practices. And drain systems throughout the site help move rainwater to the stormwater pond.

There are many curated opportunities for park visitors to be near water. The Sky Walk weaves through the site, while lounge chairs and benches encourage visitors to enjoy the scenery. We installed $300,000 worth of site amenities including trash cans benches, bollards, bike racks, fireplaces and picnic tables.

Comprising seven acres in the heart of Downtown Cary, NC, this park has achieved its goal of inspiring arts and culture, being an inclusive space for children and families, creating recreational and fitness opportunities and enabling live entertainment.