Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan
Shaping spaces, enriching lives... together we grow and thrive!
Welcome to the community engagement website for the Town of Chapel Hill's Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan.
We partnered with BerryDunn, a nationally recognized consulting firm, to create a Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Informed by community engagement, local needs assessment, and industry best practices, the plan will guide our programs, facilities, and services over the next 10+ years. The planning process will lay the foundation for Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation to be accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association.
The planning process kicked off in Fall 2024 and is expected to be complete in Fall 2026, when Town Council will receive the plan.
The planning process has five phases:
- Discovery
- Engagement
- Visioning
- Analysis & Assessment
- Draft/Finalize Plan
The engagement period for this project has concluded.
From March 2025 to January 2026, in addition to our in person events and mailed surveys, we captured your feedback on this engagement site through:
- 4.1K visits
- 87 Budget Prioritization contributions
- 30 pins added to the “Tell us on the map!” activity
- 26 idea board contributions
Your input will help guide our parks, recreation facilities, programs, connectivity, and open spaces that’ll serve our community today and in the future.
Thank you for helping us shape spaces and enrich lives—right here in Chapel Hill.
We'll share the Master Plan with Council and on this site when it's finalized in the Fall.
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Roll & Stroll Community Feedback
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The Second Annual Roll & Stroll was a huge success! Look at all those dots!
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August Engagement Opportunities
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Your input will help us decide the types of parks, recreation facilities, programs, connectivity, and open spaces that will serve our community today and in the future. Drop by one of our pop-ups to share your thoughts:
- August 16 at Hargraves (216 N Roberson St) from 10-noon
- August 23 at Scroggs (501 Kildaire Rd) from 10-noon
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4th of July Engagement
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We had wonderful engagement with 867 people at the fireworks event at Southern Community Park!
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Upcoming Events June - August
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Help us shape spaces and enrich lives—right here in Chapel Hill.
Your input will help the Town decide the types of parks, recreation facilities, programs, connectivity, and open spaces that’ll serve our community today and in the future.
Attend a Pop-Up event to learn more.
Let’s GROW together—plant your ideas today!
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June Pop-ups
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Your input will help us decide the types of parks, recreation facilities, programs, connectivity, and open spaces that will serve our community today and in the future. Drop by one of our pop-ups to share your thoughts:
- June 7, 12 - 3 p.m., Pride Promenade
- June 19, 4 - 8 p.m., Juneteenth Celebration
- June 24, 4 - 5:15 p.m., Swim Lessons at Homestead Aquatic
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Pop-up at the Teen Center
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We’re hosting a pop-up event this Friday, 5/16 from 6-8pm at the Teen Center to get feedback for the Master Plan. Nuggets, snacks, and treats will be available!
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Upcoming Pop-Ups
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Help shape the future of parks and recreation in Chapel Hill by meeting us where you are. We'll be at several locations in early- to mid-May. Stop by, share your ideas, and enter to win a YETI cooler.
- Tuesday, May 6: 2 - 3:30 p.m., Davis Library, UNC (208 Raleigh St.)
- Friday, May 16: 6 - 8 p.m., Teen Center "Teen Night" pop-up (179 E. Franklin St.) Refreshments provided.
- Saturday, May 17: 10:15 a.m. - 12 p.m., Chapel Hill Public Library, Plaza A (100 Library Dr.)
- Saturday, May 17: Time TBD, Food Lion pop-up (1720 Fordham Blvd.)
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How to Get Involved
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Share your input on this project page. Post your thoughts on the ideas wall, pin your feedback on the interactive map, complete the budget prioritization exercise, and stay informed on plan progress.
Join us at local events and pop-up activities to share stories, complete comment cards, and connect at various in-person events. Next week, members we will engage with the community and collect feedback at the following locations:
- April 25, 5:50 – 7:10pm: Homestead Aquatics Center
- April 25, 10:30am – Noon: Town of Chapel Hill Library Plaza
- April 26, 8:00 – 11:00am: The Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market
- April 26, 11:30 am - 1:30pm: Magical Hill Festival at Chapel Hill Community Center
- April 26, 2:00 – 4:00pm: Bolin Creek Greenway Mural Walk & Artist Talks at Community Center Park
Anyone who completes a comment card at a public event will be entered in a drawing to win a YETI cooler. Don’t worry, if you miss us in April, there’ll be plenty of additional opportunities to engage through early July. We look forward to your input. Together We Grow and Thrive!
