Read the latest Our Town: Free Parking, Book Bingo, and Parks and Rec Programs

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December 12, 2024

Hello, neighbors! We’re excited to bring you some holiday cheer this week. Enjoy free parking downtown every Saturday, perfect for your holiday shopping and festive outings. Don’t forget to register for our Parks and Rec Winter Programs—there’s something fun for everyone. And for all you book lovers, our Winter Reading Book Bingo has just started. Grab some books at the library and start reading to win a limited edition winter reading mug.

Park Downtown for Free on Saturdays in December

As you head downtown and stock up on Tar Heel swag, gift cards to your favorite restaurant, or catered food for a holiday feast, there's a little relief for your budget:
Downtown public parking is free on Saturdays in December! That's a full weekend of free parking because Sundays are always free.  Here are some options:

• 125 E. Rosemary St. Deck - 1,000 new spaces, bike parking, EV charging
• Wallace Deck at 150 E. Rosemary St.
• 140 West (Franklin St.) Parking Deck
• and many lots sprinkled along the way

Thinking about using Chapel Hill Transit this holiday season?  Check out their winter holiday service changes to plan your trip:

Stormwater Bill Delays for Durham Co. Residents

For our Durham County residents who live in Chapel Hill corporate limits, your stormwater bill is running late. We expect that you'll get them next week. (For Orange County residents who live within city limits, your bill is included in your Orange County tax bill.)

Register for Parks and Rec Winter Programs

Registration for winter Parks and Rec programs is open!  Get a head start on Spring Break camps, find fun family events, and give competititive athletic leagues a shot.

E. Rosemary St. Temporary Closure

Transit Rolls Out More Service

Starting on January 6, 2025, Chapel Hill Transit will roll out a series of significant service changes in response to customer feedback. These updates restore several schedules affected by the pandemic, add an important Saturday destination, and alleviate common delays on one route.

Reading is SNOW Much Fun

Welcome to Winter Reading 2024.  Get ready to cozy up with a good book, record your reads, and earn yourself a limited edition winter reading mug. Happy reading, Chapel Hill!

 Cedar Falls Courts are Closed; Others Remain Open

Reconstruction on Cedar Falls Park tennis courts is underway.  While this work happens, we invite our tennis community to play at Ephesus Park, Phillips Middle School, and Oakwood Park courts.  We expect work to finish in June 2025.

Tree Removal at 422/430 W. Franklin

This work shifted a week due to weather.  Staff determined that two willow oak trees at 422 and 430 W. Franklin St. are in deteriorating health.  They need to remove them between Dec. 16 and Dec. 20. The sidewalk and westbound bike lane will be closed for everyone's safety while crews work.

Artist Call: Art + Transit Bus Shelters

Start off the new year with a new work of art.  We need more 2-D designs for bus shelters in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.  Artists must be 18+ and live within 40 miles of Chapel Hill.  Finalists get $100 and selected artists get $500-600, depending on shelter size.

Human Services Funding Process Gets Update, Applications Open December 6

For nonprofit organizations requesting funding for their community programs and services, we've improved the process. Changes include:

• Increased funding award amount
• Simplified funding award types
• Prioritization of Public Housing resident needs

The Human Services Funding application will be available online starting December 6, 2024.  For more information contact Jackie Thompson at 919-969-5081 or email humanservices@townofchapelhill.org.

Engage with Us

Engage Chapel Hill is a space for you to learn and share feedback about major Town projects and initiatives.  Right now you can learn about Vision Zero Chapel Hill, Bolin Creek Greenway Extension, Rewriting Our Rules: LUMO Update, Downtown Streetscape, and the Greene Tract.

Learn about LUMO

We're hosting several meetings this month to tell you about an update to our Land Use Management Ordinance.  Come learn about this important step towards realizing a Chapel Hill that's more connected, sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant!  We'll host another Public Information Meeting on Dec. 12.

Give Us Feedback on Wayfinding Signs

As we work on future plans for the downtown streetscape, we also want to help people navigate downtown.  This concept is called "wayfinding."  Give us feedback on wayfinding concepts and a temporary sign near 125 E. Rosemary Parking Deck.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Town, our weekly e-newsletter, for news, events, stories, and alerts from the Town of Chapel Hill.  It's one of the best ways to stay in the know!

If you drive a 2011-2022 Kia or Hyundai with a turn-key ignition, you might want to swing by the Chapel Hill Police Department to pick up a free steering wheel lock (they're first come, first served). There's been a national trend of vehicle thefts involving these vehicles as well as certain Chrysler Street and Racing Technology (SRT) models.  Our Guardians of the Hill remind you not to leave your keys or valuables in your car, and always lock it.

Check the Town calendar for a variety of public meetings. The upcoming schedule includes:

Rewriting Our Rules: A LUMO Update Public Information Meeting

Thursday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m., virtual

Council Committee on Economic Sustainability

Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 a.m.

Human Services Outside Agency Application Q&A (virtual)

Monday, Dec. 16 at 9 a.m.

Community Design Commission

Monday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.

Planning Commission

Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.

New for the Week of December 8

The Oaks Google fiber work
Dec. 9 - Dec. 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sugarbery Rd. sewer line installation
Dec. 12 - 13, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

E. Franklin St. between Elizabeth St. and Boundary St. Google fiber work
Dec. 12 - 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Berkley Rd., Oakwood Dr., Rogerson Dr., Douglas Rd. Google fiber work
Dec. 12 - Dec. 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

422 and 430 W. Franklin St. tree work (rescheduled)
Dec. 16 - Dec. 20
Northern sidewalk will be blocked while crews remove two unhealthy trees.

Ongoing

Ridge Rd. at Boshamer Stadium residence hall work
Dec. 1, 2024 - Jan. 8, 2025
Ridge Rd. closed in front of Boshamer Stadium.  Follow posted detour signs.

Ephesus Church Rd. lane closures water and sewer work
Dec. 2 - Dec. 20*, 24/7
Southbound lane of Ephesus Church Rd. from Fordham to Legion Rd. closed.
Follow posted detours.  U-turns are not allowed at the intersection.
*Two additional days added due to weather

S. Columbia St. Carrington Hall work
Present to December 2024*
A pedestrian detour is in place along S. Columbia St. near Medical Dr. as crews work on Carrington Hall.
*NOTE: This end date is subject to change

Upcoming

Pope Rd. near Ephesus Church Rd. culvert repair
Dates to be determined.
For more information, email Jcmanuel-nelson@ncdot.gov

All road work depends on the weather. Schedules may change accordingly. Google Maps and Waze show the most up-to-date traffic conditions