Overview
With an ambitious investment totaling $60 million, Cary is set to embark on a transformative project to enhance the Cary Tennis Park clubhouse and stadium, combined with the addition of 25-30 new state-of-the-art pickleball courts. This visionary expansion isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s a commitment to broadening access to both tennis and pickleball, helping ensure that every citizen of Cary has ample opportunities to engage in these beloved sports.
Project Scope
The proposed expansion includes:*
- Enlargement of existing clubhouse to include the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame
- 25-30 new pickleball courts
- Enlarge existing stadium from 530 seats to just over 900 seats
- Additional shaded seating for spectators
- Structure parking
- Sustainability – including solar, EV chargers & green stormwater infrastructure ($5M)
*Proposed plans still in progress and subject to change following additional citizen engagement if the bonds are approved.
Anticipated Project Schedule if Funded
About 5-7 years once funding is allocated, including master planning, design, bidding, construction, and opening.
Project History
Since its opening in 2002, the Cary Tennis Park has grown to become a nationally recognized venue, hosting local, regional, and professional tournament events that include ACC Tournaments, USTA Amateur, and Pro-Circuit play. Cary recently hosted the PPA professional pickleball tournament at the facility. These events bring large crowds, which quickly fill and overflow the existing facilities.
Identifying the need to enhance court quantity and diversity, including dedicated spaces for pickleball, emerged as a key community priority in the 2012 Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Master Plan. Additionally, the plan underscores the vision of positioning the Cary Tennis Park as the central hub for tennis activities in Cary, advocating for the expansion of its existing clubhouse. In the fall of 2021, the Town Council allocated funding to conduct a study for the tennis park clubhouse project. The draft study and concept plan recommended the replacement of the current clubhouse and the development of the adjacent Town-owned property to the south for the expansion of pickleball facilities.
Potential Economic Impact
If approved, the construction portion of Cary Tennis Park expansion would be expected to:
- Retain $13.5 million locally
- Result in a total economic output of $22.7 million
- Support 161 full-time equivalent jobs and $7.6 million in wages
Annually, the expanded facility is estimated to generate:
- $4 million in net new direct spending
- $6.7 million in total economic output
- 82 full-time jobs
- 9,700 hotel room nights
- $163,600 in county tax revenue
For more details, please review the complete Economic Impact Analysis.
ROI studies are estimates based on current knowledge and assumptions and should not be interpreted as guarantees. Further ROI and fees and charges studies will be conducted if the bond is passed, and the projects move forward.
Tax Implications
Approval of $590 million in general obligation debt would raise Cary’s property tax rate by 9 cents. This increase occurs upon debt issuance and goes towards repayment. The tentative plan, subject to change, is 3 cents in 2026, another 3 in 2028, and an additional 3 in 2030.
Note, this increase would not cover the operating costs of the proposed new facility. If approved, those costs would be determined through master planning and likely funded by additional property tax increases.
