Garry of TV’s ‘Parks and Recreation’ to help Cary open new park. Or is it Jerry or Larry?
Among the many experiences Downtown Cary Park has to offer this weekend is the appearance of a beloved parks expert — at least a fictional one.
Jim O’Heir, who portrays the awkward and lovable character Garry Gergich on the hit NBC comedy show “Parks and Recreation,” will make an appearance on Sunday to help celebrate the park’s opening.
The Emmy Award-winning actor starred in the show alongside actors Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Retta and Aziz Ansari. The series, which aired from 2009 to 2015, follows a small fictional town’s parks and recreation department in Indiana.
O’Heir will be one of the few celebrities helping celebrate Downtown Cary Park’s opening, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. He will participate in a story time at 12:15 p.m. in the park’s Botanical Garden and will sign autographs from 5 to 6:45 p.m.
On “Parks and Recreation,” the group of characters handles the day-to-day functions of the town’s parks department. O’Heir’s character Gerry (also known as Jerry, Larry, Lenny Gengurch, or Terry, depending on the season) loves his job as a public servant, even though his coworkers have never gotten his name quite right. He’s regularly the butt of jokes.
Much like the organizers and leaders who worked for over 20 years to bring the Downtown Cary Park to fruition, the fictional parks staff works toward constructing a unique park for town residents to enjoy.
Opening Day events at Downtown Cary Park
Cary’s park is in the heart of downtown surrounded by Academy, Walker, Park and Walnut streets, and includes features like a botanical garden, dog park, bar, children’s play area, and a market.
The park is opening on Sunday morning with a day of events and activities for visitors.
The park’s opening will also mark the town’s start of the downtown social drinking district. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., people can walk around the park’s contiguous area with alcoholic beverages. The social district includes indoor and outdoor businesses participating in the social district like the Bark Bar and Market 317 at the park, Peck & Plume, SAAP and the Cotton House. Participating businesses will display signs in their windows.
Beginning at 3 p.m., the town’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially commemorate the grand opening and kick off the park’s programming calendar. The day will be filled with live performances by Imagine Circus, a flyover by the Raleigh-based Bandit Flight Team, face painting, music, and light shows.
Other celebrities stopping by the park to welcome all the furry friends are some famous canines, Durham Bulls’ Ripken the Bat Dog and Apex’s very own stars, Ruby Rose and Emerald.
Due to limited parking around the park, the town has announced a shuttle schedule to transport people back and forth to the park, located at 327 S. Academy Street. Shuttles begin running at 10 a.m. until 8:45 p.m.
The park opens at 7 a.m. on Sunday. The itinerary for the day reads:
10 a.m. — Shuttles begin running from Cary Academy (1500 N. Harrison Ave.) to Downtown Cary Park
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Meet & Greet: Ripken the Bat Dog
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Food Truck Rodeo
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Interactive Performances by Imagine Circus
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Live Performances by Shaleigh Dance Works
noon to 2:30 p.m. — Musical Performance by Al Strong Quintet & Friends
1:30 to 2:15 p.m. – Barks n Rec Trivia Round 1
3 to 4 p.m. — Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
4 to 7 p.m. — Paperhand Puppet Intervention
4:30 to 5:15 p.m. – Barks n Rec Trivia Round 2
5 to 7 p.m. — Meet & Greet: Jim O’Heir
5 to 7 p.m. — Meet & Greet: Celebrity Dogs Ruby Rose & Emma Grace
6:30 to 7:15 p.m. – Barks n Rec Trivia Round 3
6 to 11 p.m. — Fountain Light & Music Show
8:45 p.m. — Last Shuttle Departs the Park
More information about Downtown Cary Park, opening day, and what to expect can be found at downtowncarypark.com.
