Holly Springs Town Council Charts Vision for Ting Park Redevelopment
Concept includes new commercial buildings, a boutique hotel, green space, and potential for a parking deck.
Holly Springs, NC, Apr. 9, 2025—During its April 8th workshop, the Holly Springs Town Council moved closer to a long-term vision for redevelopment around Ting Park. It reviewed the results of a February design charrette and signaled support for a vibrant, mixed-use district centered around community gatherings, entertainment, and retail.
A Preferred Concept
Planning Division Manager Sean Ryan presented three redevelopment options: Concepts A, B, and a hybrid Concept C, which combined what the Council favored from the earlier versions.
“Concept C really did emerge as that blend between the energy and the activation of Concept A, but also having the street-front presence, the catalyst potential that Concept B brought forward.”
Concept C features a central “festival street,” new commercial buildings, a boutique hotel, green space, and potential for a parking deck. It also identifies two catalyst development sites on Town-owned land—one near the current playground and one behind the Ting Park stadium.
Playground and Hotel Among Key Concerns
While Council members supported the overall plan, they emphasized preserving the playground experience and ensuring the proper scale and context for the proposed hotel. Several expressed concern that a large hotel could clash with the look and feel of the surrounding area.
“I think six stories of hotel is out of scale and doesn’t belong on Main Street in Holly Springs.”
“Every time I’m there for a tournament or a practice or whatever, there are always kids playing on that playground. It’s a very popular place.”
Public-Private Partnership Strategies Outlined
Town Manager Randy Harrington walked the Council through possible partnership frameworks with a private developer. These included long-term leases, land sales, and land contributions with strings attached, such as job creation or community amenities.
“This doesn’t necessarily have to be just a traditional sale of property at market rate… you can convey property for less than market rate if you can tie it to an economic development outcome.”
Councilmembers were receptive to the flexibility such options could offer and emphasized the need to balance control, vision, and return on investment.
Next Steps: Public Input and Refinement
Town staff outlined plans to continue refining Concept C and engage the public through upcoming events, including a Farmer’s Market outreach and presentations to advisory boards. A Request for Proposals (RFP) process will follow, informed by community feedback and Council priorities.
While the redevelopment would take years to realize, the Council signaled its desire to keep moving.
“If we were to say no now, you’d say then when? … we’re still talking probably eight to ten years out.”
A Transformational Opportunity
As Holly Springs grows, the Ting Park area is poised to become more than just a sports venue. With community input, Council guidance, and wise public-private investment, Town leaders see an opportunity to build something unique.
“It’s not just retail. It’s not just entertainment. It’s not just a hotel. It’s a combination of all those things that is centered around a walkable area that gives you a place to come and gather.”
The Council is expected to revisit the plan in future workshops as staff continues to prepare the groundwork for long-term implementation.
Ting Park is unique. It offers a lot of athletic opportunities, yet is small enough that we feel safe letting our kids go there. Adding retail, hotel, and other businesses in that area takes all of that away. It’s not additive to the area, and really doesn’t seem necessary. It’s OK not to develop every inch of the town. A large community center, with activities for teens and senior citizens, would be much more in keeping with the area, and is very much needed in Holly Springs.
I didn’t get the benefits. It’s unclear how this benefits Holly Springs residents.