Current Status

Spring & Summer 2026 Update: The project was paused over the winter. The current goal is to finalize the plan based on the feedback received in 2025 and take it to the Council for final approval sometime in 2026.  

Summer 2025 Update: We worked toward plan approval. The draft plan, based on feedback received, is posted below. Staff were at Lazy Daze in August to answer questions. We gathered feedback online in September 2025.

Overview

The Cary Community Plan (Imagine Cary) was adopted in 2017 and consolidated past plans. In 2022, Cary began updating or creating additional plans to help guide Cary’s future. This plan will build upon the following existing plans, some of which are currently being worked on or updated:

• Bike Plan
• Count Me In, Cary! Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy
• Historic Preservation Master Plan
• Public Art Master Plan
• Stormwater Master Plan
• Urban Forest Master Plan
• Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan

Project Scope

The project's scope includes public engagement and research on historical planning efforts. The plan will define open space in Cary. And it will outline the many benefits of open space for both people and wildlife. The planning effort was broken into the following phases:

• Phase 1 – Open Space Analysis
• Phase 2 – Vision
• Phase 3 – Recommendations & Implementation

The Cary Open Space Plan defines open space as both protected and unprotected land, including any parcel, area, or water devoted to the preservation of natural, historic, and cultural resources; recreational uses; and/or the protection of water quality, habitat, and scenic landscapes.

The draft Cary Open Space Plan identifies 5 goals and 13 objectives to guide Cary toward successful preservation and stewardship of its open space network. Each objective is followed by recommended action steps that staff and community members can take to implement the plan. The Cary Open Scape Plan concludes with a toolkit of potential policies and incentives that encourage positive behavior on private property and an implementation matrix that identifies priorities and key partners in successfully accomplishing each action. Due to the consistent location of open space and forested lands in Cary, the plan will be monitored by the Urban Forester, with implementation across various departments, including Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources; Utilities; Public Works; and Stormwater. 

Overall Map.

Public Input Opportunities

Outreach opportunities began in January 2023. We have held stakeholder meetings, had booths at Spring Daze, Great Trails Day, and Lazy Daze, and offered three public workshops to date. We have had over 470 pop-up participants, 100 focus group participants, and 1344 survey responses on the plan. The Environmental Advisory Board has also provided valuable feedback along the way.

Staff were at Lazy Daze in August to answer questions. We gathered feedback online in September 2025.

Master Plan Consulting Team

• Agency Landscape + Planning

Contact

Phone: Dial 311 within town limits or (919) 469-4000 outside of Cary
Email: 311@carync.gov
Online: services.carync.gov
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Requests made by email may take up to one business day to receive a response.