A new mini park will be constructed in front of Chapel Hill Tire near the northwest corner of W. Franklin and Roberson Streets.

The park, which is an experiment led by the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and the Town of Chapel Hill with assistance from Chapel Hill Tire, is part of the Town’s Downtown 2020 Work Plan to enhance visitor experiences and add green spaces in downtown Chapel Hill.

Executive Director of the Downtown Partnership Meg McGurk says that while the park is temporary, there may be more “pocket parks” coming to downtown in the future.

“This is where one of the older trees that was diseased and damaged had to come down,” said McGurk. “The town and the Downtown Partnership said ‘instead of just replacing the sidewalk and the tree, which will come eventually, why not take this opportunity to activate this space and see what we can do.’”

The park, which is about 20 by 70 feet, will include seating, bike racks and seasonal planters. The planters will be made out of tires provided by Chapel Hill Tire and painted by summer campers from the Hargraves Center.

More information on the project is available at the Town’s website.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Runs Survey on Local Pride Flags
Ahead of Pride Month in June, the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is taking feedback from community members about which LGBTQIA+ flags they wish to see. The nonprofit, which partners with the local government, has installed and displayed the flags for the past several years. In 2022, however, some community members shared concerns of certain LGBTQIA+ […]
Chapel Hill Marks High Foot Traffic Downtown in 2022, Outpacing Statewide Rates
As the calendar year comes to a close, it marks what’s widely regarded as the most “normal” year since the coronavirus pandemic began. What did that mean for downtown foot traffic and tourism, as events started to pick up and people became more confident in public health? Some local experts report that for Chapel Hill, […]
Chapel Hill Tire Opens 10th Triangle Location Ahead of 70th Anniversary
Chapel Hill Tire, a Triangle fixture since 1953, is opening a new location in Cary. By acquiring Bull and Tire Service on Maynard Road, the company will be able to add Cary to its list of nine locations, which currently includes four shops in Chapel Hill; two in Raleigh; and one each in Carrboro, Apex, […]
On Air Today: Matt Gladdek of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership
Executive Director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Matt Gladdek joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell to discuss the town government's recent deliberations over requesting control of Franklin Street from the state.
Two Popular Franklin Street Stores to Close
The lease on The Bookshop of Chapel Hill at 400 West Franklin Street runs out on July 31, but this year the owner won’t be renewing. The landlord, Bolin Creek Books, has put the building on the market for 1.6 million dollars. Chapel Hill Comics is also closing its doors at the end of March. […]
Chapel Hill Police Department, Downtown Partnership Prepare for Halloween
The Chapel Hill Police Department is planning the yearly shut-down of Franklin Street for Homegrown Halloween, Chapel Hill’s Halloween celebration. CHPD starts planning for Halloween a year in advance. “We really start planning each year for the next Halloween November first,” said Police Chief Chris Blue. “It’s a year round event as we consider what […]
Honors, Tours, And Curiosities!
Award winners, CHDP meeting, doc screening, food drive, insurance, walking tours, and "cabinets of curiosities"!
Combination Jimmy John's, Baskin-Robbins Store Coming to West Franklin Street
A combination Jimmy John’s and Baskin-Robbins store will soon open on West Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill. The store is located at 143 West Franklin Street, Suite 90, in the same building which houses Target. The suite was most recently occupied by pūrvelo cycle. Currently, neither Jimmy John’s nor Baskin-Robbins have any open stores […]
‘Mind Your Business’: Local Openings, Closings and Updates in April-June 2026
The spring led to some exciting openings for some and quiet closings for others. Read details on the greater Orange County business scene.
Kitten Rescued, Adopted After Found in Car Serviced by Chapel Hill Tire Crew
When a Chapel Hill Tire technician was working on an SUV, he was surprised to hear meows coming from the front right side of the vehicle.
›