Historic moment: After decades of dreaming, Cary to break ground on Downtown Park

It's a historic moment, taking place during their 150th anniversary year.

After an official public groundbreaking on Saturday, town officials have multiple special events planned to help residents 'see the vision' of the 'wonder and exploration' that's in store.

A new 3D model of Cary's entire Downtown Park will be available for viewing as part of the celebration after a public groundbreaking this weekend.

For a broader bird's eye view, officials will also lay down luminaries on the actual park acreage to light up the footprint and outline of the park's future trails, facilities and water features. The lights will be viewable on Friday and Saturday evening.

During the weekend, tours and information sessions will be offered, allowing locals a deeper perspective on what the groundbreaking urban park will mean for Cary.

Like hopping into a Mary Poppins chalk painting, the miniature model feels like shrinking down and exploring the park in a whole new way.

The detailed model gives a miniature look at the park's features – as if you could shrink down and walk around inside.

The entrance is instantly recognizable. It features a tiny version of the fountain area, complete with the grassy lawn, umbrella-covered seating and miniature Caryites walking through the park.

The model showcases the elevated skywalk swirling above the colorful botanical gardens, and gives perspective on the unique water features planned to flow through the park, creating ponds and islands.

The twirling, circular architecture of the main park building, which is said to hold build-your-own-picnic options inside a marketplace, is recognizable on Academy Street.

A tiny version of the matched cardinals, who will be 20-feet-tall in real life, can be seen tucked into 'The Nest' area, which will be a playground area when the park is complete. You can even see little sprinkles shooting from rocks, a water feature that will doubtlessly be popular during the hot NC summers.

Easily recognizable are the Mayton Inn and Cottonhouse Brewery on Academy Street, as well as the new apartments alongside the future park.

'Wonder and exploration:' Cary's plan for expanded Downtown Park unlike anything Triangle has seen before

From the first spark of an idea to the groundbreaking on Saturday, the Downtown Park has taken roughly 20 years to become a reality, according to Mayor Pro Tem Don Frantz.

"It's taken forever to get here, but it's happening," he said.

"As we recognize Cary's 150th anniversary, this groundbreaking is another way to celebrate – by creating this park that will last for another 150 years," said Joy Ennis, general manager for the Downtown Park.

Like the building of the first train station, or the doors opening at Ashworth's, the new park is expected to bring both cultural and economic growth.

"It's history in the making," said Ennis.

Frantz said the park will be a huge economic driver, as businesses and residential areas grow around the park.

"They know it's coming. They want to be near it," he said. "There's going to be development occurring across the street from the apartments. All the way down Kildaire Farm Road, you're going to see change over time. On Chatham Street, both sides, you're going to see changes."

'Wonder and exploration:' Cary's plan for expanded Downtown Park unlike anything Triangle has seen before

Frantz said he recalls a time when downtown Cary was closed up and quiet on evenings and weekends, saying, "I remember when at 5 o' clock on a weekday, we'd roll the sidewalks up. Everybody went home."

Now, he said, people can be seen walking the streets of downtown at all hours of the day and night – grabbing ice cream, getting a beer, drinking coffee while they work remotely, walking their dogs, or hanging out at the fountain.

The park, he said, is a catalyst for all of that.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for Saturday, June 26 at 11 a.m. at the current site of the park.

A 150th Anniversary history tour will immediately follow the groundbreaking ceremony.

A Discover Downtown Park presentation will be hosted by the park's designers at the Cary Arts Center at 2 p.m. on Saturday.