Holly Springs (NC) Town Council Approves Womble Park Upgrades, Adding Basketball Courts and Replacing Dugouts
$319,625 design contract advances $1.07M project to build first courts at Womble and modernize aging baseball facilities
Holly Springs, NC Apr. 27, 2026 — Holly Springs is moving forward with upgrades to Womble Park that will add the park’s first basketball courts and replace aging dugouts, after the Town Council approved a $319,625 design and pre-construction contract during its April 21st council meeting. The work is part of a broader project with a total budget not to exceed $1,075,000 and represents the first phase of improvements at one of the town’s most heavily used recreation spaces. (project documents)
The project includes the construction of two new outdoor asphalt basketball courts with lighting, fencing, benches, and ADA-accessible walkways. The courts are expected to be built to high school regulation size, a notable upgrade compared to existing options elsewhere in town.
Town staff said the addition addresses a clear gap in the town’s park system. “Basketball is underserved,” staff said during the presentation, noting that Holly Springs currently has limited options, including a half-court at the Hunt Center and two smaller, confined courts at North Main Athletic Complex. Those existing courts measure approximately 60 feet by 35 feet, well below the 84-by-50-foot dimensions of a regulation court.
The Womble Park courts will be the first full-sized outdoor basketball courts in the town’s system, designed to accommodate both casual play and more structured use. Lighting for the courts is expected to operate similarly to the town’s tennis courts, allowing extended evening use.
In addition to the basketball courts, the project includes replacing eight existing baseball dugouts constructed of solid concrete walls. Staff said those structures limit visibility and do not reflect current design standards. The new dugouts will be open-air, chain-link structures with separate storage areas, improving sightlines for spectators and providing a more functional setup for players and coaches.
Womble Park serves as a central hub for youth sports, hosting games, practices, and daily recreational activities throughout the year. While newer facilities such as Eagles Landing Park will expand the town’s overall recreation offerings, Womble remains one of the most consistently used parks, making upgrades to its core facilities especially noticeable for families who rely on it.
The design contract approved by the council covers site planning, engineering, and cost development. The project is expected to move quickly once design is complete, with preliminary timelines indicating construction could begin as early as mid-summer. Dugout replacements are expected to be completed ahead of the fall sports season, with basketball court construction to follow, and overall project completion anticipated later in the year.
For residents, the upgrades represent both a near-term improvement to aging facilities and a longer-term investment in recreational infrastructure. The addition of basketball courts in particular addresses a gap that has become more visible as demand for court space has increased across town.
Wasn’t there a recent piece about the Town Council actively discussing the need for additional revenue to cover non‑discretionary spending? And yet, the same Council just approved this — a Womble upgrade. Interesting timing.
If this were a family I was advising — and that’s my line of work — the right answer would be obvious.