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Good morning. Citing security concerns at Festival Park, Fayetteville PRIDE has decided to move its annual festival indoors.
The June 21 event will take place at the Crown Complex instead of Festival Park, where it has been in the past.
“Because of security concerns and recent actions in the community, the Crown is a better fit for right now because there’s no way to sneak in and there’s no fear of weapons being able to get in,” Fayetteville PRIDE president Krystal Maddox told CityView.
Event organizers say the move indoors — a change first announced in February — will also provide air-conditioning, ensuring attendees are comfortable throughout the 10-hour festivities. More in our lead story.
Welcome to CityView Today. In today’s newsletter: The Fayetteville Public Works Commission is considering a $450.1 million annual budget for general operations in the 2025-26 fiscal year to provide water, sewer and electricity service in and around the city. That’s a 2.4% decrease from this year. Despite the drop, money for capital projects would increase by $58.3 million. Also, a jaw-dropping increase in Cumberland County property values stoked fears among residents. The county manager on Thursday recommended that the county commissioners cut the property tax rate to a revenue-neutral level — but that doesn’t mean homeowners’ tax bills won’t rise.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Nagem
Editor for CityView
Fayetteville PRIDE moves annual festival to Crown Complex
The group first announced the change in venue in February. Organizers say air conditioning at the Crown Center, which is sponsoring the festival, will ensure attendees are comfortable.
More from CityView
Homeowners could pay more, businessess less, under Cumberland’s proposed tax rate
Data from the county suggests most homeowners will see higher tax bills even with the reduced tax rate, while owners of commercial properties will see their property tax bills shrink.
Fayetteville PWC budget would reduce operating budget, boost construction
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 28.
Events
LET’S MAKE SOME ART
- Where: Spring Lake Community Library, 101 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake
- When: 10-11 a.m., Tuesday, May 27
- What: Join us as we prepare for our 2025 Summer Reading Challenge “Color Our World” with sidewalk chalk. We will be decorating the sidewalks with our beautiful creations.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
- Where: Cliffdale Regional Library, 6882 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville
- When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, May 27
- What: Our Community Navigator links customers and patrons to needed resources and information.
LAKE RIM PARK NATURE STORY TIME
- Where: Lake Rim Park, 2214 Tar Kiln Drive, Fayetteville
- When: 1-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 27
- What: A free preschool nature story and craft time presented at Lake Rim Park!
Obituaries
John Michael Marr
John Michael Marr passed away on Friday, May 16.
Linda Lin Young
Linda Lin Young, 91, passed away on Friday, May 16.
Corey Lamar Clark
Corey Lamar Clark, 40, of Lumberton, passed away on Monday, May 19.
Until tomorrow!
🏆 The NC History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction will host the sixth annual Hari Jones Memorial Lecture at 7 p.m. June 16 at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 1217 Murchison Road, Fayetteville. Khadija McNair, a public historian and manager of Freedom Park in Raleigh who is a speaker with the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, will speak on “Echoes of Emancipation: Juneteenth and North Carolina.” The event is free and open to the public.
~ Sarah Nagem
