05/20/2026
Last night’s Town of Fuquay-Varina Board meeting made one thing crystal clear:
The citizens of this town have not changed their position on the proposed recreation developments at Hilltop Needmore Preserve and Fleming Loop Park.
Over the last five years, Fuquay-Varina’s tax base has exploded alongside rapid development, generating millions in additional revenue while residents continue facing higher taxes, utility rates, and infrastructure fees year after year.
The room was packed. Speaker after speaker voiced opposition to the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget containing these recreation developments alongside another tax increase.
The mayor visibly lost control of the meeting because of the overwhelming public response.
My dad does not usually get involved in politics. But I can assure you that if the town commissioners do not remove the line items in this proposed budget for the recreation developments at Hilltop Needmore Preserve and Fleming Loop Park, developments the citizens of Fuquay clearly rejected both in the 2023 Parks Bond Referendum and again last night, we will do everything in our power to make sure you are replaced in the next election.
Most of you already know how that worked out for the proposed roundabout project at the intersection of Holland and Purfoy, at our business location.
Last night, my dad and our owner, Donald Mangum, asked Town Manager Adam Mitchell an important question:
Why was the 4.03-acre parcel at 626 W Academy Street, located on the northeast corner of Judd Parkway and W Academy Street, sold in March 2022 as “excess land” to Bluff Valley Contracting LLC instead of being retained for the very recreation developments the town now claims are so urgently needed?
The parcel is relatively level, has direct road access, and sits immediately adjacent to Fleming Loop Park.
But now the town is attempting to use approximately 5 acres at Hilltop Needmore Preserve for baseball/softball fields and pickleball courts instead, while maintaining that they can’t purchase suitable land elsewhere for these projects.
The people of Fuquay-Varina are paying attention— and we are not going away.