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Hello, neighbors! This weekend, BOLO for more pedestrian and vehicle traffic around town as UNC's Class of 2025 celebrates commencement. Learn more about the Interim Town Manager's Recommended Budget, visit our new pollinator garden at Southern Community Park, and catch a campfire and a movie at the Community Center. |
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Congratulations, UNC Class of 2025!
UNC's spring commencement is Saturday night. Here's some info to make sure it's a GDTBATH:
- We expect downtown Chapel Hill and surrounding areas to be busy with lots of out-of-town visitors. We encourage community members to slow down and watch for more pedestrians.
- If you're headed to commencement, Chapel Hill will run free Tar Heel Express shuttles starting at 4:30 p.m. from the Friday Center Park and Ride to Kenan Stadium. Service ends 45 minutes after the ceremony.
- There will be new temporary traffic pattern changes along Ridge Rd. and Manning Dr. before and after the ceremony.
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Interim Manager Presents
Recommended Budget
Every year, the Council adopts a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget provides funding for all Town services, from solid waste and sustainability to police and parks. At the May 7 Council meeting, the Interim Manager presented her recommended budget, which senior staff across all Town departments helped develop. Over the next few weeks, Council will consider the budget and welcomes your thoughts and questions. You can share those at the upcoming Budget Public Forum on May 21 at Chapel Hill Town Hall or email mayorandcouncil@townofchapelhill.org.
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We Biked and Rolled to School May 7
Big kudos to everyone who participated in the recent Bike to School Day. Families, school officials, and community leaders across the United States strapped on helmets, checked their tires, and laced up their shoes to participate in this annual national event. Our Safe Routes to School Coordinator was on site at Culbreth Middle School to celebrate the biking and rolling community!
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Bring on the Bees!
Whether you're playing a round of disc golf, taking Fido to the dog park, or bringing the kids to the playground at Southern Community Park, you can swing by one of our pollinator gardens. Marie-Claude F. said, "What a treat and an inspiration to walk by it every morning. I'm going to try the same in my front and back yard." Thanks to Larry Rhodes, our Park Maintenance Supervisor, for coming up with the idea and implementing it!
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"the poet is a verb" Event on May 8
We're closing out Poetry Month with our Chapel Hill Poet Laureate, Donovan Livingston. He invites you to the third annual installment of "the poet is a verb" on Thursday, May 8, at the library, where we'll have a showcase of Triangle-area poets followed by an open mic.This free event starts at 6:30 p.m. and is open to all ages.
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Grab Coffee with a Cop on May 9
The Chapel Hill Police Department invites you to Coffee with a Cop on Friday, May 9, at Starbucks at 1800 E. Franklin St. Our Guardians will be there from 8:30 to 10 a.m. with coffee. The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down barriers between police officers and the community they serve.
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Campfire and a Movie on May 9
Bring your blankets, your lawn chairs, and your time machines to Community Center Park on May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and journey Back to the Future. Join us for s'mores and Back to the Future on the big screen. See you there!
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May 17 is Kids to Parks Day
Celebrate Kids to Parks Day with us on May 17. Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. We invite kids aged 3 - 7 to celebrate with us from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Community Center with Art in the Park: Spring Flowers.
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Future Uses of 828 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
We're collecting feedback about possible future uses for the 828 police station property. Because community input is one of many factors the Town Council will consider in its decision-making process, we invite you to review new materials posted on our engagement site and fill out a short feedback form.
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Parks and Rec Comp Plan Pop-Ups
We continue to collect feedback on our Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. Join us at one of our community engagement pop-ups this month, including one on Saturday, May 17 at 10:15 a.m. at the library's Plaza A. Visit our engagement page for a full list of upcoming events.
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Council met for a regular business meeting on Wednesday, May 7.
Read the agenda.
Read the highlights.
Council will meet for Council retreat follow-up on Tuesday, May 13. This is an informal meeting without a public comment period and no live-streaming.
Read the agenda.
Council will meet for a work session on Wednesday, May 14. The agenda will be published later today.
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Council Proclaims May as
Historic Preservation Month
At their May 7 meeting, Council proclaimed May as Historic Preservation Month, encouraging everyone to learn more about the people and places that have shaped our community. Here are some ways you can celebrate our historic people and places:
- Take a free walking tour. Enjoy a 90-minute, 1.25-mile tour starting at the Morehead Planetarium sundial. Travel down Franklin St. to see some of the town's oldest buildings, outdoor murals, and more.
- Go on an audio tour of Northside. Featuring the voices of over a dozen community members and narrated by Northside longtime residents, this audio tour is an introduction to some of the stories, struggles, and aspirations of our community.
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Artist Call: Public Spaces 2025-2026
We're looking for the next round of Public Spaces exhibitions at the library and Town Hall. Selected art will be displayed for two-month periods between September 2025 and September 2026. This call is open to Triangle-area artists, collectives, and curators ages 18+ who create original art that we can hang on indoor walls. Each exhibit's lead artist gets a $300 stipend.
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Sign Up for OC Alerts for Heat Season
Here in Chapel Hill, the heat season runs from May to September. We know that extreme heat can have significant health impacts. We encourage our community to sign up for OC Alerts to get timely weather-related information, including heat advisories and excessive heat warnings. Consider reducing your time outside, visiting cooling centers, and staying hydrated.
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Sustainability Staff Talk E-Bike Lending Library
We have a free e-bike lending program available to Chapel Hill residents. Brennan B. talked with WCHL about the program's inception, available bikes, and more.
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Economic Development Staff Talk Small Business Week with WCHL
We're celebrating Small Business Week through Saturday, May 10. Sarah P. and Sarah Grace A. sat down with WCHL to talk about our campaign and to encourage people to support their favorite local businesses.
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Historic District Commission
Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m., in person |
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New for this Week
1102 S. Columbia St. sewer work lane closure, temporary bus stop
May 12 - 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Drivers should remain alert to bicyclists merging into the main travel lane.
Ongoing
121 W. Rosemary St. sidewalk walk-through container on site
April 28 - May 19
A contractor will place a walk-through container on the sidewalk while the building is being demolished.
207-209 Meadowmont Lane sidewalk and bike lane closure
March 13, 2025 - March 13, 2026
Drivers should remain alert to bicyclists merging into the main travel lane.
S. Columbia St. Carrington Hall work
Present to December 2026
A pedestrian detour is in place along S. Columbia St. near Medical Dr. as crews work on Carrington Hall.
Upcoming
Pope Rd. near Ephesus Church Rd. NCDOT 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
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