Bonds for parks, education and libraries are often placed on the ballot in November, but one bond in particular has raised eyebrows this year for its size.
This election, the City of Cary is asking residents to vote on two bonds totaling $590 million. A much larger $560 million bond will be used to build multiple parks and recreation facilities. Cary voters will also consider issuing a $30 million affordable housing bond. Those bonds are only with Cary. As Wake County residents, Cary voters will also vote on a countywide $142 million library bond.
The $560 million parks and recreation bond will fund six projects, the bulk of which is $300 million for a sports and recreation community center in the South Hills area. Town Councilor Sarika Bansal said these projects are aimed at meeting the needs of Cary’s growing population.
“The town really needs these next-level facilities,” Bansal said. “Given our growth, we can’t afford not to build this. We absolutely need it for community centers, parks, and facility upgrades and maintenance.”
Since 2010, Cary’s population has increased by approximately 38%. According to town officials, about 187,000 residents currently live there. As more people live in Cary, demand for recreational services is increasing, said John Collins, the town’s parks and recreation director.
“When you go to the Cary Arts Center, the classes are really full,” he said. “There’s a waiting list for most of the things we do there. So from a demand perspective, our citizens are actively participating in the programs and services that we can provide, and we’re making them even more There are many things I want.”
If all three bonds – parks and recreation, library and affordable housing – are approved, the town will increase its property tax rate by 9 cents. The current tax rate is 32.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value, so the increase in property taxes would be approximately 28%. This increase will not happen all at once, with increases of 3 cents in 2026, 2028, and 2030.
Park bonds accounted for by far the largest portion of this increase, about 8.5 cents. Effectively, this means that the owner of a $400,000 home will see their property tax bill increase by $340 per year.
Campaign signs installed at the Cary Senior Center on Oct. 28, 2024, include an orange sign urging voters to vote against the parks and recreation bond.
The News & Observer reports that some residents are questioning the cost of parks and recreation bonds, including longtime resident Mary Collins, who posted a website protesting the cost of certain bonds. It is reported that “carybonds.info” has been opened.
After factoring in interest costs, the cumulative cost of the Parks and Recreation Bond could reach nearly $875 million over the life of the bond, including an estimated $314 million in interest.
Carybonds.info makes several arguments for voting against the park bond, including the town’s cooperation in repaying the 2019 park bond that funded Downtown Cary Park. The website also states that the $560 million bond will help pay for the planning and construction costs of these projects, but not for operating costs.
“We, the citizens of Cary, are concerned about the potential for overruns and blank checks on this project,” according to a PowerPoint on carybonds.info. “This is one big bond, so you can easily move the money from one project to another. Given that the cost of operating a $70 million downtown park is $7 million a year, this bond The increase in operating costs will be significant.
Asked about the cost of the parks and recreation bond, Collins acknowledged that the plan is substantial.
“This is certainly a bold investment,” Collins said. “I think this is somewhat consistent with Cary’s history. We’ve made some bold investments in the past, and they’ve served us really well.”
He added that the project will not move forward unless the bond is approved by voters. The town council may try to pursue either project again later.
Projects reflect a growing and changing community
Sarika Bansal, who was elected to town council in 2023, said the bond-funded project has been in the works for years. She said the council believed it would have been more difficult to get residents’ approval for these projects if it had broken up the parks and recreation bond into smaller pieces.
“It made more sense at the time to keep this as a series of projects throughout the town of Cary,” she said.
Projects funded by parks and recreation bonds include:
$10 million for the Asian Garden at Raftley Park on White Oak Church Road $60 million to expand the clubhouse and stadium at Cary Tennis Park, including a number of new pickleball courts $150 million for the Mills Park Community Center Ernest Jones $10 million for natural parks, roads $300 million for the South Hills District Sports and Recreation Community Center $30 million for a three-mile greenway extension along Walnut Creek
If residents vote in favor of the bond, three of the projects will be built in the Bansal area, which covers western Cary. Michelle Gao, 43, was one of several Cary residents who told WUNC they voted for the bond because they felt the benefits outweighed the costs.
“I live in West Cary, and it’s a 30-minute drive everywhere,” said Gao, who has lived in the town for 16 years. “West Cary really needs more facilities, like a senior center and a recreation center.”
One of the projects, the Asian Garden, is an idea from Rep. Ya Lieu, D-Wake, a former town council representative who represents the Bansal district and whose district in the North Carolina House of Representatives covers parts of Wake County from west of Cary. . Chatham County border. Liu said he proposed the project shortly after he was elected to the town council in 2019, and was inspired by the popularity of the Chinese Lantern Festival, held at the Kokaboos Open Air Theater each winter.
“Cary has a very large Asian population,” Liu said. “Having something that reflects our culture and heritage will mean a lot to all of us. A botanical garden with flowers and trees from all over Asia is something for everyone to enjoy.”
Cary’s Asian population has grown significantly in recent years and now represents 21% of the town’s total population.
South Hills Mall is Cary’s oldest shopping mall and is home to Roses, DMV Offices, and Grand Asian Market. The Cary Town Council last Tuesday approved a developer’s request for a zoning change for a mixed-use development.
Meanwhile, a sports and recreation center proposed in the bond would also be built on the site, which includes South Hills Mall. South Hills, also known as Cary’s oldest shopping mall, has struggled in recent years, but its parking lot is still occupied by Grand Asia, which has served North Carolina’s Asian American population for nearly 30 years.・The market is crowded with regular customers shopping.
Raleigh-based development company Roden Properties purchased the South Hills property in 2021, and redevelopment plans have been in the works since then. The Cary City Council approved the company’s rezoning request for a mixed-use development last Tuesday.
Collins said approval of the proposed bond will determine whether the Town of Cary can construct the proposed sports and recreation facility on the South Hills property. The facility will include a 70,000-square-foot community center, senior center space, and esports facilities. Center, various courts for indoor sports. Even if the bond proposal is not passed, Roden plans to proceed with the redevelopment.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, Roden Properties partner Henry Ward said in an email to WUNC. The company offered Grand Asia Market an opportunity to remain in South Hills, but the grocer declined, adding that it is considering other options. .
