Good people of Cary,

We made it to 20 issues! That definitely feels like a milestone.

You’ll notice that the design has been subtly updated again. Mostly, the headers for each section has been enlarged and easier to read on mobile. Please let me know what you think!

We have a packed issue this week. There is a new paid parking lot in downtown that does not really make sense, the Town of Cary is proposing a tax rate increase, the free boat rentals are back at Lake Crabtree, and Shake Shack opened down the road.

We also have a few events on the horizon worth knowing about.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

The Town of Cary released its FY 2027 Recommended Budget last week, and it includes a property tax rate increase.

Interim Town Manager Russ Overton's proposed budget would raise the property tax rate by 3.75 cents, from 34 cents to 37.75 cents per $100 of assessed value. For the average Cary home, that works out to about $20 more per month. The proposal also raises the solid waste and recycling fee by $2 (to $28 per month) and applies a 4% utility rate increase, which adds about $3.08 per month for a typical household.

The proposed $573.5 million budget is heavy on public safety. It includes 21 additional police officers, six new 911 operators, six more firefighters, and funding to begin designing two new fire stations in west Cary. The Town is calling it the single largest investment in public safety in decades.

It also adds two positions in the Finance department, which is notable given the ongoing investigation into former town manager Sean Stegall's financial mismanagement.

If you want to weigh in, there are two public hearings scheduled at Town Council meetings on May 28 and June 11, both at 6:30 p.m. at Town Council Chambers (316 N. Academy Street). You can register to speak at carync.gov/publichearings. The Town Council will vote on the final budget on June 25.

Additional reading: Town of Cary

There is a new paid parking lot in downtown Cary, located in the old Perfect Piece parking lot.

I made a reel about this last week, but the short version: downtown Cary has over 2,000 free parking spaces, and two brand new parking decks just opened up. There is almost no reason to use this paid lot.

Here is where to actually park for free:

The Library Parking Deck at 113 Walnut St is connected to the library and Downtown Cary Park. Probably the most obvious option.

The new Cedar Street Parking Deck at 136 E. Cedar St just opened with 296 free spaces. It is a short walk to Chatham Street, has EV charging, and connects to Rogers Alley. This lot is very close to the new paid one.

The new Academy Street Parking Deck is the other one that came online recently. I park here very often and am usually one of the only cars inside of it. Don’t sleep on it!

Old Library Park at 310 S Academy St sits across the street from Downtown Cary Park. Fills up quick, but great during weekdays.

First United Methodist Church Lot at 121 Waldo St is open to the public during non-church hours/events. Very central and where I usually direct folks to park if it isn’t closed.

Town Hall Parking Deck at 121 Wilkinson Ave is your best bet during big events. It is about a ten minute walk, but the free GoCary shuttle runs Thursday through Sunday every 25 minutes and is fully ADA-accessible.

The paid lot might be useful for families or anyone with mobility challenges depending on where you are headed, but the free options are just as central, if not more so.

Additional reading: The Cary Report

If you have never paddled around Lake Crabtree, this is your time to fix that.

Lake Crabtree County Park's free boat rental program is officially back for the season. From now through the end of summer, residents can borrow kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats from the park's boathouse at no cost.

Here are the details:

The boathouse is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last rental going out at 5 p.m. It is also open on Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth, July 4, and Labor Day. It is otherwise closed Monday through Thursday.

Rentals last for two hours and are first-come, first-served. You need a valid ID (driver's license, student ID, military ID, passport, or state ID) and you will sign a waiver at the boat house. Life jackets and paddles are provided. You must be 18 to rent a boat, and 16 or older to use one solo. Dogs are welcome on boats but need their own life jacket.

The lake itself is 520 acres of flat, easy water that is perfect for beginners and casual paddlers. You will see herons, turtles, and the occasional bald eagle if you are lucky. The shoreline is wooded for most of the loop, so it feels much more remote than a park sitting fifteen minutes from RDU should feel.

What to know:

The program is popular, especially on holidays. If you want a guaranteed boat, get there right when the boathouse opens at 10 a.m (or a little before).

Swimming is not allowed in the lake (and uh, you really wouldn’t want to anyway), but you can fish from your boat or from the shoreline. All fishing at Lake Crabtree is catch-and-release only due to a long-standing NC Department of Health and Human Services advisory.

Go get on the lake!

📍 Lake Crabtree County Park | 1400 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560 Free | Boat rentals Fri-Sun, 10 AM-6 PM (May 15-Sept 7)

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

Historic Preservation Series: The Changing Face of Downtown Cary Thursday, May 21 | 7-8:15 PM | Page-Walker Arts & History Center

A talk on how downtown Cary has evolved over the decades, hosted by the Town of Cary as part of the ongoing Historic Preservation Series. Free.

Learn more

Thursday Night Music Club: Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light Thursday, May 21 | 7:30 PM | The Cary Theater | 122 E Chatham St

The Thursday Night Music Club series continues with Rachel Sumner and Traveling Light. Intimate venue, great sound, always a good time.

Get tickets

ZZ Top & Dwight Yoakam: Dos Amigos Tour Friday, May 22 | 7 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

Two legends on one stage at Koka Booth. ZZ Top and Dwight Yoakam are co-headlining their Dos Amigos Tour and Cary is a stop.

Get tickets

Lake Crabtree County Park is a fantastic spot for many activities.

Before we dive into what to do, there are a few things that you should know. This park is likely going to change very dramatically in a few years.

RDU has plans to build a 136-acre recreation destination in this area. It would include things like restaurants, zip lines, and other activities. Quite the change from the quiet park it is today.

This plan has been met with mixed-reactions, and has been covered extensively by other news sources. I would recommend reading this WRAL article to get caught up to speed.

Additionally, there was a major wastewater spill near RDU on Tuesday, May 12. A temporary pipe failure during the airport's runway expansion released about 1.1 million gallons of untreated wastewater, some of which ended up in Turkey Creek, a tributary of Crabtree Creek. Sound Rivers is recommending people avoid contact with Turkey Creek and Crabtree Creek downstream of Lynn Road and Glenwood Ave until cleanup is complete. Lake Crabtree sits downstream of the affected area.

The City of Raleigh said no fish kill or vegetative damage had been observed as of May 14, and the spill is still under investigation. The park is still open as usual.

In the meantime, you still have the chance to enjoy the more natural feel of the park today.

The park sits on 520 acres of lake just off Aviation Parkway, right between Cary, Morrisville, and RDU. Despite being that close to the airport, it feels surprisingly tucked away. Wooded trails wrap around the water, and most of the park has a quiet, easy energy to it.

The big draw right now is the free boat rental program, which runs Fridays through Sundays from May 15 through September 7 (more on that in the featured story above). But even if you are not paddling, there is plenty to do. The park has more than five miles of paved and natural walking trails, a fishing pier with a handicap-accessible platform, picnic shelters, two playgrounds, sand volleyball, and an observation tower with great views over the lake.

Fishing is allowed in designated areas and is catch-and-release only due to a long-standing fish consumption advisory. The lake does not allow swimming.

📍 1400 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC 27560 Free | Open daily, 8 AM to sunset

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