More time: No opening date set yet for Cary's Jack Smith Park, sprayground

Unfortunately, the weather and other construction delays have set back the opening.

Posted 12:55 a.m. Jul 19, 2016 — Updated 12:55 a.m. Jul 19, 2016

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

What's up with Jack Smith Park in Cary?

That's the question I've been getting a lot on Facebook and by email from readers who are excited for the new park to open and are eager to splash in its sprayground before summer ends. Two years ago, town officials had hoped to open the park and sprayground by spring 2016.

Unfortunately, the weather and other construction delays have set back the opening. At this point, crews continue to work and progress is being made, but there is no official opening date yet, Susan Moran, the town's public information director, tells me.

"As we approach the completion of Jack Smith Park, we estimate another 4-6 weeks are needed before the park can be officially opened," says the park's recently updated page on Cary's website. "We'll use this page and social media to let you know once we open the park. We appreciate our community's support as the contractor working on our behalf completes the final details of the park construction."

The 50-acre Jack Smith Park will sit at 9725 Penny Rd., a former family farm on the south side of Penny Road near Holly Springs road. It's named after Smith, who is the longest serving council member on record and has been in office longer than any mayor in the town's history (though he never was elected mayor).

The park will be home to the town's first sprayground; what's being called a "major children's play area;" the town's second dog park; a climbing rock; picnic shelters; restrooms with an outdoor shower to rinse off; paved and unpaved trails; and an open lawn area. There also will be public art pieces, including three large whirligigs by folk artist Vollis Simpson and a grouping of nine concrete Suffolk sheep sculptures by William Moore, which kids will be able to climb on and play with.

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