Cumberland County officials took part in a City-County Liaison Committee Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1, with leaders from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County Schools and other organizations within the community. The meeting was held at Fayetteville City Hall.
The meetings, which are typically held every other month, provide County and City leaders with an opportunity to provide updates and discuss issues of mutual interest. Three elected officials from each governing board comprise the Committee, including the chair and vice chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, as well as the mayor and mayor pro tem for the City of Fayetteville. County elected officials who attended Thursday’s meeting included Board of Commissioners Chairman Glenn Adams and Commissioner Jimmy Keefe.
During Thursday’s meeting, one of the topics discussed was a potential Aquatics Center in the County. An indoor aquatics center was among the top recommendations from the 2020 Parks & Recreation Master Plan.
Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation Director Michael Gibson presented a possible concept for an Indoor Aquatics Center that would include multiple water elements and other amenities. He discussed a possible cost range for a facility, as well as potential partner organizations that could participate in the project.
Chairman Adams offered for County staff to take the lead in moving the discussion forward at a staff-level. The committee voted unanimously for their respective boards to work through the County to determine the next steps to move an Indoor Aquatics Center forward.
Additionally, City staff presented an update regarding the feasibility of an amusement park located in the County and that next steps would be to engage a consultant to conduct a feasibility study at an estimated cost of $75,000. Chairman Adams said due to the number of major County capital projects currently in development, the County was not interested in participating at this time.
Other items discussed during the meeting included a presentation on the City’s Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study and an update from Cumberland County Schools.
At center, Chancellor Darrell T. Allison and Juanette Council, Ed.D., vice chancellor for student affairs, cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand reopening of Fayetteville State University's newly renovated Spaulding Building, joined by campus leaders
FCEDC has officially moved its staff and operations to 611 W. Russell St. The 35,800- square-foot center was previously home to Homemakers Furniture and Interiors. Renovations began in the fall of 2025 and are expected to be completed in the next six to eight months. Currently, FCEDC staff are working within an open 7,500-square-foot floor plan as initial improvements progress.
Inset: Systel’s first corporate headquarters was a small rental house turned office on Fort Bragg Road in Fayetteville in 1981. Large photo: The company’s new corporate headquarters reflects years of growth into a multi-million dollar company that pr
