In the past dozen years, 18 projects have been funded, totaling $21,120,085, including $1 million to Ting Park in 2013.
"We always drive by and my husband goes, 'wow, what's going on there today?' It's always busy. They have the soccer field. They have baseball games. There's always something going on here," said Lavina Romero, who lives in Holly Springs.
She was at the park Friday afternoon, showing a friend the gated-in playground area.
"My daughter plays flag football here; my son loves the park. It's safe for special needs kids, as my son has special needs," Romero said, and she added that her family enjoys Holly Springs Salamanders games.
In 2022, Holly Springs was awarded $2.3 million toward Eagles Landing Park, which would include the construction of an indoor recreation center and athletic park. The recreation center would include four basketball courts and eight volleyball courts, while the park includes two multipurpose turf fields. Amenities would include locker rooms, concessions, two outdoor basketball courts, six outdoor pickleball courts, and a large gathering plaza.
Over in Morrisville, community members have used the lights at Church Street Park, a popular site for cricket matches.
"The lights have put Morrisville in line with Minor League, Major League Cricket, and also the U.S. Cricket National Team coming here and playing matches," said Rajesh Uppalapati.
The lights were funded in part by a $258,000 award in 2016.
"It brings up the safety aspect of it also, because we can bring families in the evening. Even if my team is playing or my friends' teams are playing, we come out here, have the kids walk around the ground, play the match, watch the match," said Uppalpati.
He said about 200 local teams compete, with the crowds also driving sales to local businesses.
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"Whenever there's matches being played here, most of the time we always have an event at one of our local restaurants or pubs," Uppalapati said.
Other prior recipients of hospitality tax revenues include Pleasant Park in Apex, Marbles Museum, the Triangle Aquatic Center, Fleming Loop Park, Yeargan Park, Wake Stone Athletic Park, Wake Competition Center, Gregg Museum of Art & Design, NC Museum of Art, Dueling Dinosaurs Exhibit, Renaissance Center, Wendell Athletic Field Complex, WakeMed Soccer Park, and Cary Tennis Park.
Wake County issues a 6% tax on overnight stays at hotels and motels and 1% tax on food and beverages purchased at restaurants and bars.
This year, there is $23.5 million available for qualifying projects that meet the following requirements:
- Be fully located in Wake County
- Construct or improve facilities for sports, arts, culture or conventions
- Have a minimum value of at least $100,000
- Rely on other funding sources to comprise more than half of the total project cost
- Have a commitment for 50% of the other funding secured
- Be willing to accept hospitality tax funds on a reimbursement basis
Proposals can be submitted until Nov. 6.
An evaluation team from Wake County, the City of Raleigh and community partners will review proposals and share recommendations with the Wake County Board of Commissioners and Raleigh City Council in early 2026. The respective bodies are expected to vote on the recommendations in February.