Chapel Hill Review

June 13, 2024

Estes Drive has reopened after two years of construction, featuring new crosswalks, bike lanes, and sidewalks between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Caswell Road. The road now accommodates two-way traffic.

The annual Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration will take place at Hargraves Community Center on Sunday, June 16, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will include live performances, stories from local businesses and nonprofits, activities for children, and food trucks.

Wednesday, June 19 is a town holiday in observance of Juneteenth. Most offices will be closed. Affected services include the closure of the Chapel Hill Public Library and a modified schedule for Chapel Hill Transit.

Weekend parking in downtown Chapel Hill will be free throughout July on Saturdays and Sundays.

A panel discussion on the Voting Rights Act of August 1965 will be held by the Chapel Hill Public Library and Carolina Public Humanities. The event is free and open to the public.

Food distribution services will not operate on June 19 due to Juneteenth but will resume on June 26 with distributions scheduled for the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month starting in July.

The Chapel Hill July 4th Celebration returns to Southern Community Park with festivities beginning at 6 p.m., parking at 7 p.m., and fireworks around 9 p.m.

Chapel Hill Public Library's Summer Blast program offers various activities including concerts, movie screenings, summer reading programs with free books, and prizes.

Family Fun Friday kicks off on June 14 with music from Triangle Afrobeat Orchestra at the library.

July is Parks and Recreation Month; events celebrating local parks' contributions to community belonging are planned throughout the month.

Pride flags along Franklin Street were temporarily removed for Flag Day but will return on June 17.

Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture has installed nine new art pieces on Chapel Hill Transit buses by artists Rich Gurnsey, L Jamal Walton, and Elemental Choice.

Chapel Hill Transit provided transportation for participants in the Valor Games Southeast last month.

Bergen Watterson was recognized by the North Carolina Vision Zero Network for leadership in Vision Zero initiatives during an institute held at UNC last week.

Several members of the transit team qualified for the State Transit Roadeo after competing locally in skill-based challenges simulating daily bus driving obstacles.

Updates to land use rules (LUMO) aim to create a more connected community; information can be found on a newly launched website detailing upcoming meetings and planning topics.

Council met on June 12 at Town Hall Council Chamber; highlights are available online. Another meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 17 to discuss bond orders for a November referendum among other topics.

Chapel Hill received $14.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing to build affordable homes at Trinity Court Apartments.

Upcoming road work includes:

- Fordham Blvd. at S Estes Dr.: Lane closures from June 17 - July 2

- Kings Mill Rd. & Sourwood Dr.: OWASA work from June 17 - July 19

- W Rosemary St.: Outdoor maintenance near AC Hotel from June 17 - July18

- Ongoing work: W Rosemary St., Greenwood Rd.

Schedules may change based on weather conditions; check Google Maps or Waze for updates.