You don’t have to drive, walk or ride through Downtown Cary for very long right now to see a buzz of activity. Recently, some new friends flew into downtown and it caught our eye and we thought, it’s time for an update on the Downtown Cary Park.
This week, we had a chat with Joy Ennis from the Town of Cary.
It’s February of 2023 and the updated Downtown Cary Park will be open before we know it (TOC is hoping to have it done this Fall, by the end of the year at the latest).
Here’s our Q&A with Joy!
Q: Before we talk about the park and the ongoing updates, you have a notable neighbor moving in across the street as the Ivey-Ellington House is set to be moved to the old library site on Monday, February 20th. How will that move impact the park?
A: We are really excited about Ivey-Ellington moving in, partly because we will have some of our Downtown Park team working from there. I’ve been inside before and it’s absolutely beautiful and I’m really happy our town is preserving the house, it will be a great place to overlook the park. I also love the juxtaposition of the new park right across the street from the historic house, I can’t wait to see it once it’s all done. I think it will keep the heart of Downtown Cary going, plus it’s going to be really fun to see it drive down the street on Monday.
Q: It’s February 2023, where are we in the ongoing efforts to create this incredible park?
A: We are about 80% complete, I mean wow! The fountain is currently being re-clad in granite, so that’s something folks might be able to actually see happening this week.
A (cont): All of our buildings in the new park are bring dried-in and every time I come over something new is happening, it’s very exciting. I can’t help but say ‘look at this, or look at that,’ every time that I’m here now. We’re targeting this Fall to have it open, but absolutely by the end of the year.
Q: We just saw those new friends arrive recently, a pair of giant cardinals that will now call the park home. Can you tell me about them?
A: They were crafted by a company called Earthscapes in Toronto, Canada. Those two cardinals were delivered on a big flat bed truck, five trucks to be exact. They will be a great addition to our park, not just to look at but play in-and-around. I mean, the day they brought them in I screamed because I was so excited to see them and I almost burst into tears, it’s so exciting. We then brought in a crane, so they literally flew into their new nest in the Downtown Park.
Q: Have you named them?
A: Well, it’s unofficial, to be sure, but I’ve been calling them Burt and Inez. I’m sure we’ll have an official naming event or contest, but so far I’ve been calling them Burt and Inez.
Q: What have you learned about our community during this entire project and process?
A: One thing that jumped out to me was that when we started this our architecture and landscape partners held a survey and they had more responses from the surveys from public meetings than they had ever had. That tells me that our community wants to be part of this, because they want to make sure that where they live, work, and play is beautiful.
Q: When the park is open, where will Joy be hanging out?
A: Oh wow, that’s like picking your favorite child. I think it depends, I really plan to enjoy it all. We have a dog, so we’ll definitely be at the bark bar. But, I’ll also enjoy the pond, or is something needs to be done, I’ll be there doing that too. We have an amazing programs staff and this park is going to be full of incredible events and activities. I don’t think there will be a day where there isn’t something happening in here for folks in Cary. I hope that we’re creating a place in the park for everybody, no matter if they want to be in a nice quite space or if they want to bring their kids to play with the cardinals, or for the person that wants to sit by the water and work (there will be wifi running through the park), we just want it to feel like a very welcoming and safe place.