Good people of Cary,

Are you ready to make a splash? Cary’s spraygrounds officially turn on today, which is great because next week’s weather forecast is expected to be HOT.

This week we have a big community story about the Painted Tree vendors finding a new home for a day, the Avalon Downtown Cary development plan result, and a couple of pieces of good news about Cary that are worth sharing.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

As of the day of publishing, May 13, Cary's spraygrounds are open for the season.

That means the sprayground at Jack Smith Park and the sprayground and splash pad at Downtown Cary Park are all up and running through September 21. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting, and they close one day a month for routine maintenance.

If you have not taken kids to Jack Smith Park's sprayground, it is worth knowing about. The park has a full setup: dump buckets, water sprayers, spray rings, and bubbling fountains on a non-slip concrete surface, surrounded by shaded picnic tables and benches so parents actually have somewhere comfortable to sit. Right next to the splash area is a playground with structures for different age groups, a rock climbing wall, and walking trails. There is also a dog park if you are bringing the whole family.

Downtown Cary Park has two separate water features. The sprayground is on Academy Plaza, and the splash pad is inside The Nest play area. Both are open on the same schedule.

Just in time for the warm weather!

Additional reading: Town of Cary

The Avalon Downtown Cary Mixed Use development plan (case 25-DP-6236) was approved by the Cary Zoning Board of Adjustment at its May 4 meeting.

No timeline on the project has been made public as of yet. We will have more specifics in a future issue as the project moves forward.

Additional reading: Meeting Minutes (PDF)

When Painted Tree Boutiques shut its doors without warning at its Cary and Raleigh locations, it left dozens of independent vendors scrambling. For a lot of them, Painted Tree was their primary sales channel, their storefront, and in many cases the result of months or years of work building a small business from scratch.

This Sunday, the Downtown Cary community is doing something about it.

On May 17 from 1 to 5 p.m., more than 20 former Painted Tree vendors will gather for the Painted Tree Relief Market and Block Party along Hunter Street and inside The Meridian East Chatham clubhouse. Hunter Street will be closed between East Chatham Street and the entrance to the parking deck, creating a full walkable block party atmosphere.

The event was put together by Jessica and Stephen McNulty, who own The Refreshery, the cold-pressed juice café and market on East Chatham Street in The Meridian building. When the closures happened, they started making calls.

"This event is really about the community showing up for local small businesses," said Jessica McNulty. "A lot of these vendors poured their hearts into what they built. We wanted to create an opportunity for people to come out, discover these businesses, and help support them during a difficult moment."

The vendor lineup covers a lot of ground: handmade goods, boutique apparel, jewelry, candles, baked goods, artwork, stationery, vintage items, custom décor, accessories, and gifts. There will also be music, fairy hair, food trucks, and family-friendly activities for kids.

Admission is free. Parking is available in the first floor of the parking deck (reserved for retail parking), along East Chatham Street, Hunter Street, and throughout downtown.

Go support these vendors if you can.

📍Hunter Street & inside The Meridian East Chatham Clubhouse (near 253 E Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511) Sunday, May 17 | 1–5 p.m. | Free

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at [email protected] and let's find something that works for you.

Wheels on Academy Saturday, May 16 | 10 AM – 2 PM | N. Academy Street, Downtown Cary

Classics, hot rods, EVs, and exotics lining Academy Street for Cary's annual car show. Live music by Vertigo, food vendors, and a Touch-a-Truck experience for kids. Free to attend. Note: N. Academy St. will be closed. Access parking from Wilkinson Ave. You can also hop on any GoCary route; the bus depot is right across the tracks from the event.

Learn more

Painted Tree Relief Market & Block Party Sunday, May 17 | 1–5 PM | The Refreshery & The Meridian East Chatham | Hunter Street (near 253 E Chatham St)

More than 20 former Painted Tree vendors gathering for a community market and block party in Downtown Cary. Handmade goods, food trucks, live music, fairy hair, kids' activities, and more. Free admission. Hunter Street will be closed for the event. Park in the first floor of the parking deck or along East Chatham Street.

Cary Town Band at Downtown Cary Park Saturday, May 17 | 5–6:30 PM | 327 S. Academy St, Downtown Cary Park

The Cary Town Band's debut Downtown Cary Park performance of the season, part of the Live & Local! series. Free.

More info

Panther Creek Greenway is one of Cary’s newer greenways, but it has all the charm that you would expect.

The trail winds through the west Cary neighborhoods of Cary Park and Cameron Pond, running along the shores of Cary Park Lake before following Panther Creek eastward through woodlands and parks. The full out-and-back is about 3.1 miles, relatively flat, fully paved, and wide enough to bring the whole family.

The trail passes under Green Level Church Road, winds around Mills School Park, and has a spur that connects south toward Mills School and the small shopping center nearby. It also connects west to Cary Park Lake Greenway and Southbridge Greenway if you want to extend your route.

The easiest place to park is at the Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road, which connects directly to the greenway and has a ton of parking. While you are there, the park itself is worth checking out too. It has a playground, dog park, basketball and futsal courts, baseball fields, and its own paved loop trail that feeds right into Panther Creek Greenway.

It has a nice misting station too for the kids to run through (or adults, we won’t judge).

Address: Access from Carpenter Fire Station Neighborhood Park, 7119 Carpenter Fire Station Rd

Hours: Dawn to Dusk

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