Generous Donation to Fund New Park Amenity, Trail Extensions

Published on September 23, 2026

A $10 million gift to the Town of Chapel Hill will fund a new building at Cedar Falls Park and two greenway extensions in town.

At its regular meeting on September 23, the Town Council thanked the Bill & Peggy Britt Foundation Inc. for the donation and approved naming the new facilities in memory of Bill and Peggy Britt, longtime Chapel Hill residents, business owners, and philanthropists.

“Bill and Peggy built a life here, and we are incredibly honored that their legacy will make a difference for Chapel Hill residents for many generations to come. These projects reflect our vision for a Complete Community — places where people can connect with one another, enjoy the outdoors, participate in recreation, and access the amenities that make Chapel Hill such a special place to call home,” said Mayor Jess Anderson. “The Britt Foundation’s extraordinary gift will help make that vision a reality and is a wonderful example of how philanthropy can create lasting benefits for an entire community.”

$5.8 million of the donation will cover the cost of planning, designing, and building the Bill and Peggy Britt Building at Cedar Falls Park. This indoor pavilion will provide flexible, year-round space for wellness activities, recreation programs, and community meetings, complementing the park’s extensive outdoor amenities.

$4.2 million will fund extensions of the Campus Recreation Trail connecting the NC Botanical Garden to Barbee Chapel Rd. and the extension of the Pritchard Branch Trail connecting W. Cameron Ave. to Morgan Creek. These two projects were identified in the Town’s Mobility and Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways Plans. New markers will be installed on each greenway in memory of the Britts.

“Parks and greenways are essential to the fabric of our community,” said Parks & Recreation Director Atuya Cornwell. “This generous gift will add a great new amenity to one of our busiest parks, close to where the Britts lived in Chapel Hill, and create two new greenways that will benefit and connect our community, both now and in the future.”

Bill and Peggy Britt built one of the largest Amway businesses in the world and maintained homes in Chapel Hill for more than forty years. Bill passed away in 2013, followed by Peggy in 2024.

Mrs. Britt created the Bill & Peggy Britt Foundation to support causes that were important to her. Since her death, The Foundation has continued to support projects consistent with her wishes and is making the donation in recognition of the pride and affection the Britts had for the Chapel Hill community.