Three Decades of Play: The History of Holly Springs Parks & Recreation
The Town of Holly Springs may be celebrating a monumental 150 years, but for over a century of that history, its park system didn’t even exist. The Holly Springs Parks & Recreation Department is a relative newcomer at just 30 years old. In Holly Springs’ earliest days, small-town life centered around churchyards, school fields, and private farmland. In only three short decades, the evolution of parks and recreation in Holly Springs has been nothing short of spectacular.
Holly Springs Parks & Recreation has transformed from a single, modest 7-acre plot of land 30 years ago into a sprawling network of seven parks on more than 600 acres of land today, along with 20+ miles of greenways and natural surface trails. Program and event offerings span from preschool dance to pickleball, from a flourishing downtown farmers market to senior trips to out-of-state destinations, to community-wide festivals that draw thousands, and so much more.
The Foundation & First Acres
When the Town of Holly Springs first established a Parks & Recreation Department in 1996, the Town’s only park was located where the Holly Springs Cultural Center stands today. It hosted two tennis courts, one athletic field, a basketball court, and a picnic shelter. The Town’s first Parks & Recreation Director, Len Bradley, started a fall soccer league with just 40 participants. But the parks system and program offerings wouldn’t stay small for long.
A voter-approved $2 million bond changed everything. Land was acquired for Parrish Womble Park, which would become a hub for Town athletics, and the Town purchased a former school and began converting it into a community center. The W.E. Hunt Recreation Center remains a focal point for indoor fitness and a variety of programs. The recreation center's name honors a former principal at the school, which was originally established in the 1920s to educate African American children in the community.
The 24 acres that would become Jones Park were acquired in 1997. Also that year, the Town passed an ordinance to require residential developers to dedicate land, build greenways, or pay a fee-in-lieu to expand recreation and leisure opportunities in Holly Springs. The property that would become Bass Lake Park, one of the Town’s most beloved natural spaces featuring a mulch trail around a serene lake, was purchased in 1999.
In 2006, the Holly Springs Cultural Center opened, creating a hub for performing arts and community gatherings alongside a Wake County library in downtown Holly Springs.
Growth in Population, Growth in Parks
As the Town’s population grew exponentially, so did its need for parks. In 2011, voters approved a $20 million bond that supported the purchase of 117 acres of former farmland that would become Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park, home to the Town’s most well-attended celebrations, including July 5th and HollyFest. Sugg Farm also features the Town’s dog park, a community garden and nature play area.
The Town opened the Carl Dean Greenway, a 1.3-mile paved trail that links the active fields of Parrish Womble Park to the natural scenery of Bass Lake Park. North Main Athletic Complex also was constructed, opening in 2015. This facility put Holly Springs on the map with a 1,800-seat stadium that hosts the Holly Springs Salamanders baseball team. The park offers tennis and pickleball courts, large multipurpose turf fields, and outdoor basketball.
Recent greenway projects include the Middle Creek Greenway, spanning nearly 3 miles and creating a trail connection between Holly Springs Road and Sunset Lake Road (and a neighboring Town of Apex trail), as well as multiple neighborhoods in between. Other key greenways in Holly Springs include the nearly mile-long Utley Creek Greenway, which features a tunnel under NC 55 to connect downtown with western Holly Springs, and the 2-mile Oak Leaf Greenway, which serves the 12 Oaks community and beyond
Programs & Events Expansion
As park acreage continued to grow, the Town Parks & Recreation Department also expanded its community programming opportunities. What began as a fall soccer league of just 40 participants 30 years ago has developed into an athletics program that today serves 3,000+ residents in a variety of sports.
Holly Springs Parks & Recreation offers a diverse catalog of programs for people of all ages. Toddlers take their first steps in preschool ballet, students find adventure in summer and year-round camps, and hundreds of residents gather weekly at the award-winning Farmers Market in downtown Holly Springs.
Packed performances at the Holly Springs Cultural Center include community theater, comedy, and music both inside and outside the facility. Local artists showcase their work in the gallery, and the next generation of performers find their voices in drama and dance classes. Once a year, the Town brings in a concert so big that it takes place at the North Main Athletic Complex stadium. Live at the Springs concerts have included the nostalgic musical performances of Everclear, Sister Hazel, and David Nail.
Looking into the Future
Growth in Holly Springs Parks & Recreation won’t stop anytime soon. In November 2023, voters approved a $100 million parks bond, funding a number of Parks & Recreation initiatives, including the construction of Eagles Landing Park, a 56-acre project on Cass Holt Road across from Holly Springs High School. The park will include an indoor recreation center, outdoor splash pad, multipurpose fields, pickleball courts, and more.
As Holly Springs celebrates the dual milestones of 150 years of Town history and 30 years of Parks & Recreation services, the continuing effort to build the parks system and programs never stops. From its creation, through today, and into the future, Holly Springs Parks & Recreation is working to ensure that every resident, whether their roots here go back five generations or five days, has a place to connect, play, and truly belong.
The Holly Springs Cultural Center
Bass Lake Park
Jones Park