News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (Feb. 13, 2025)
In this issue, Carrboro wins a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award from the League of American Bicyclists. Check out Visit Carrboro on Instagram and Facebook to see what local businesses are offering to make your Valentine's Day extra special! A unique Black History Month program is scheduled this Sunday at 3 p.m. Join for an immersive experience of Black history using music, theatre, and mixed media arts when United Strings of Color comes to the Carrboro Century Center. The program is free and open to all ages!
Black History Month Celebrated in Carrboro
Our Town Council is proud to support Black History Month in Carrboro! A unique program is planned this Sunday at 3 p.m. Join for an immersive experience of Black history using music, theatre, and mixed media arts when United Strings of Color comes to the Carrboro Century Center. The program is free and open to all ages! Visit our Black History Month webpage for details!
The Town of Carrboro is proud to recognize and celebrate Black people and Black history in Carrboro and across the nation during Black History Month. Pictured above are family members pictured at the Strayhorn House at 109 Jones Ferry Road, one of the most historically significant structures in town. The home was built around 1879 by Toney and Nellie Strayhorn, who were formerly enslaved people. Home to generations of the Strayhorn name, the house stands as a testament to one family's success in the midst of racial violence that consumed Orange County during Reconstruction.
We invite and encourage all Carrboro residents to participate in local Black History Month events and to learn about and celebrate the lives, history, and contributions of Black people during this month and throughout the year.
Check out all the great events planned and organized by the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department.
For more information, please contact Recreation Supervisor Michelle Blume at mblume@carrboronc.gov
Tours of the Drakeford Library Complex
Thanks to Tammy Grubb (News & Observer) and Aisha N. Frazier (Carolina Week) for their interest and coverage of the Drakeford Library Complex. Town of Carrboro and Orange County staff members provided a tour and answered questions of the journalists prior to the grand opening celebration set for Friday, Feb. 21. Look for their stories coming soon. Public tours of the facility will be available during the grand opening next Friday! For more information, contact Carrboro's Communication and Engagement Department at communications@carrboronc.gov
Drakeford Library Complex Grand Opening set for Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
Literacy, Education and Cultural Opportunities all under one roof in downtown Carrboro
The grand opening celebrating the completion of the Drakeford Library Complex located at 203 S. Greensboro St. is set for 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. All are welcome!
The $42 million development is the home of the Orange County Southern Branch Library, the Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department, Orange County Skills Development Center, WCOM Radio, and public performance and multipurpose spaces. The civic development is a partnership between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County.
The largest public facility in the history of Carrboro, the three-level building was designed by Perkins & Will Architects and built by Barnhill Contracting Company. At about 52,000 square feet, it features a library, workrooms, classrooms, meeting rooms, flex spaces, a radio studio, third-floor terrace, a performance space and more. The building is attached to a parking deck consisting of 171 parking spaces.
Grand Opening
The grand opening will feature a ribbon cutting, remarks by special guests including members of the Drakeford Family, and tours throughout the day. Refreshments will be provided by Neal’s Deli and Open Eye Café.
Officiating the public ceremony will be Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee and Orange County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jamezetta Bedford, joined by U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, Town Manager Patrice Toney, Orange County Manager Travis Myren, and members of the Drakeford family, including Derrick Drakeford and Bobby Drakeford, sons of the late Dr. Robert Drakeford.
More information:
The Town of Carrboro posts regular updates to the community on the Town website and through social media. Sign up to receive Carrboro Town News updates.
Watch the Lecture featuring Dr. Michelle Laws and James Shield Jr.
At the Town of Carrboro's Black History Month Lecture on Monday night (Feb. 10, 2025), Dr. Michelle Laws, shared extensive research and local connections to the topic African Americans and Labor, while James Shield Jr., enthralled the audience with stories of local Black characters and history from the African American Cultural Arts and History Center in Burlington, NC. Thanks to all who came out for the interactive lecture prompting critical thinking and reflection.
Pictured in photo above (left to right) are Chief Race and Equity Officer Anita Jones-McNair, James Shield Jr., Dr. Michelle Laws, Mayor Barbara Foushee, and Carrboro Council Member Cristóbal Palmer.
Dr. Laws is a dynamic leader, teacher, preacher, and public speaker who is known for her passionate and often provocative messages advocating for social justice, human rights, persons with mental illness, and poor women and children. Dr. Laws is a native of Chapel Hill, NC. She holds a PhD in social and behavioral sciences from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Department of Health Behavior and Policy (Phi Kappa Phi); master's degree in sociology from North Carolina Central University (Magna Cum Laude); and bachelor's degree in communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Shields is currently the manager of the African American Cultural Arts and History Center in Burlington, .NC. Prior to this latest appointment, he served for 20 years as the director of the Bonner Center for Community Service and Learning at Guilford College.
COMING UP - UNITED STRINGS OF COLOR
Join us for an immersive experience of Black history using music, theatre, and mixed media arts when United Strings of Color comes to the Carrboro Century Center at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. Enjoy the same program that premiered at the NC Museum of Art earlier this month. This is a great program for all ages - and esp. children!
Watch the Chrishawn Darby Quartet
Watch the Lecture featuring NC Superintendent of Instruction Maurice "Mo" Greene
Carrboro's Green Neighborhoods Grant Program now accepting applications
The Green Neighborhoods Grant Program seeks to benefit low-income households and residents of color by bringing neighbors together to pursue projects which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create natural areas that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Residents can receive up to $2,500 to complete a project that will either reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency, or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement.
Grant Program Goals:
Educate and empower neighborhoods to address climate change.
Build neighborhood capacity to engage in climate action.
Develop and enhance community and Town partnerships.
Leverage Town and neighborhood involvement and resources
Distribute resources to low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately affected by climate change.
Maximum grant amount: $2,500.00
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
All projects must:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency, or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement.
Be completed within eleven months of grant award.
Be initiated, planned, and implemented by community members.
Obtain Town permits required for construction, if applicable.
Designate a fiscal agent with Federal Tax ID number, also known as an EIN.
Learn more and apply for the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program here.
Carrboro named a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists
Carrboro was the first in North Carolina to receive Silver Status in 2010
The League of American Bicyclists has honored the efforts of Carrboro to build better places for people to bike with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award.
Carrboro joins 460 communities across the country in the movement for safer streets and better bicycling for everyone. The award recognizes Carrboro for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit its residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices.
The League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making biking better. The League strives to provide continual updates to the application as part of our commitment to help communities raise their standards for safety, equity, and accessibility.
Carrboro was the first community in North Carolina to obtain Silver status, first doing so in 2010. From 2004-2010, the town had Bronze BFC status. The next step will be going for Gold status in the future, something no community in North Carolina has ever obtained. We have expanded our capacity to educate the community on bike safety with three town employees obtaining League Cycling Instructor certification. We will continue to implement the Carrboro Bike Plan and make Carrboro a safer place for people of all ages and abilities to ride a bike both for transportation and recreation.
Join us as The Coven (a coworking community focused on creating spaces of belonging to help women, non-binary, and trans individuals grow in their careers) co-founders, Alex West Steinman and Erinn Farrell, hit the road to inspire and connect bold entrepreneurs, build vibrant communities, and spark purposeful change. Through transformative workshops, we’re bringing the magic of The Coven to cities across the country - like Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
Growing Purpose into Your Work
Living a purposeful life goes far beyond career milestones or surface-level success—it’s about connecting deeply with what truly drives you and channeling that passion into the work you do. In today’s fast-paced world filled with distractions and pressures, uncovering your “why” and aligning it with your career is more important than ever.
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 25 Time: 8- 9:30 a.m. Location: The Chapel Hill Public Library Registration Online
In this workshop, Alex and Erinn will share their journey from navigating demanding careers in award-winning advertising agencies to founding a brand that sparks creativity and possibility. Through this session, you’ll learn how they aligned their personal purpose with impactful work, embraced authenticity, and cultivated an entrepreneurial mindset to fuel both personal fulfillment and professional success. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and Town of Chapel Hill.
CARRBORO, NC -- The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources Department (RPCRD) is excited to announce the upcoming replacement of playground equipment at Baldwin Park, 400 Broad St.
The new playground design will feature a main play structure catering to children ages 2-5 and 6-12 years old, with inclusive elements incorporated to enhance accessibility for all users. These upgrades will provide a more engaging, safe, and inclusive environment for families in the community.
The Town of Carrboro looks forward to completing this project and enhancing Baldwin Park as a welcoming and vibrant space for all residents. During the improvements, the playground area will be closed through June 2025. The Baldwin Park Community Garden, pavilion, and basketball court will remain open to the public.
About Baldwin Park and the Playground Improvements
Located in a historically Black neighborhood, Baldwin Park spans 2.5 acres and provides vital recreational space for the community. Baldwin Park is named in honor of Henry W. Baldwin, who originally donated the land to St. Joseph C.M.E. Church. The church later sold the property to the Town of Carrboro with the request that it be named after Baldwin.
Community engagement played a key role in shaping the playground improvement project. The RPCRD hosted an engagement event specifically for residents within a 10-minute walkshed of the park. Additionally, a survey was conducted to assess park usage and community preferences. Findings revealed that 70% of respondents favored playground improvements over other amenities.
The RPCRD collaborated closely with the Town's Planning Department to develop a walkshed map of Baldwin Park, ensuring outreach efforts were targeted effectively. The department also partnered with the Communication & Engagement Department to design and distribute surveys. Town of Carrboro employees went door to door distributing flyers that included details about the survey and an invitation to a community feedback event.
The $277,000 project is under contract with Barrs Recreation of Pittsboro, NC.
Town Council Update
The Town Council is scheduled to meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, Feb. 11 for a work session. The Council received an update from CodeWright, the consultant team preparing the Land Use Ordinance rewrite. Public comment is not accepted during work sessions, and votes are not taken.
ABOUT CARRBORO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. You can reach the Town Council with your ideas, views and questions anytime at Council@carrboronc.gov Meetings are open to the public to join in person at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. OR via Livestreaming at YouTube.com/CarrboroNC
Regular business meetings are generally held the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Work sessions are generally held the second Tuesdays of the month. Public comment is not accepted during work sessions, and votes are not taken.
The Town of Carrboro is a welcoming and inclusive community. We will continue to build trust with our community and to protect the lives and property of every Carrboro resident. We are also dedicated to fairness and excellence in all that we do for and with the community.
We want to encourage every resident to visit http://www.carrboronc.gov for updates and information about community events, projects, our local government and so much more. Sign up to receive updates by email or text at https://www.carrboronc.gov/list.aspx We are a trusted resource for the community.
We stand ready to answer questions and to share resource information when needed. Please continue to email council@carrboronc.gov
Yours in community,
Mayor Foushee
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Greene Tract Project Update
The Greene Tract is a 107-acre parcel of land jointly owned by the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and Orange County. In 2024, the three jurisdictions endorsed a draft land use plan for the property. The development proposal includes mixed-income housing, natural area and recreation space, and potential school and commercial spaces.
Currently, the public team is working with UNC's School of Government to perform a financial analysis. They'll conduct a financial feasibility analysis on the adopted Master Plan; determine how much public investment is required; help staff with public engagement; market the project to developers; and support the jurisdictions in their work with a private developer who will eventually construct the project.
Also, staff teams from all three jurisdictions are reviewing and recommending standards for inclusion into the zoning approval application.
2025 Winter-Spring Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Program Guide Now Available
The 2025 Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Winter-Spring Program Guide is now available! This guide covers programs and events from January through April, including Spring Athletic Leagues, and registration for 2025 Summer Camps.
Register at the Carrboro Century Center at 100 N. Greensboro St. during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and online via RecConnect at www.carrbororec.org
If you are a new participant who wishes to register online, please be sure to set up via our online registration site (linked below). Please allow at least 3 business days for account review and approval.
If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department at 919-918-7364.
It’s easy to find free two-hour public parking in Carrboro, where you can access convenient parking at 11 public lots all over town.
Please remember that the Carr Mill Mall parking area is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. When in doubt, always park in public lots, and enjoy a hassle-free and relaxed shopping and dining experience.
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