Program Highlights
Garner Performing Arts Center
Garner Performing Arts Center( GPAC) hosted an exciting season of It’ s Showtime featuring national touring artists like the Kruger Brothers, Riders in the Sky, and The Drifters. GPAC Playhouse, for children, welcomed performances of Barter Theatre’ s Frosty: A Musical and Theater Works USA’ s Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends.
GPAC received three grants for this fiscal year from SouthArts, N. C. Arts Council, and United Arts Council of Wake County. GPAC also received the Garner Chamber of Commerce Summit Award for Creativity and Innovation for initiatives to make the arts more accessible to people with disabilities.
White Deer Park Nature Center
Garner Senior Center
The Garner Senior Center achieved a major milestone by being recertified as a Center of Excellence by the State of North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services, a designation that extends through 2029. This esteemed status is the culmination of a five-year process that documents the facility ' s adherence to best practices across five operational areas: outreach and access to services; programs and activities; planning, evaluation, and input from older adults; staffing; and operations.
The Senior Center continues to serve as a social hub for the community. Meals on Wheels continues to host one of the largest congregate food services in the Triangle area, while also offering classes, entertainment, and other wellness sessions to share with the community. The facility continues to offer a variety of programming including, the Native American Heritage Program, pickleball clinics, gardening, and On the Mend( sewing and crafting for hospital patients).
White Deer Park remained a hub for environmental education and community connection throughout the 2024 – 2025 fiscal year. The Nature Center welcomed Recreation Program Specialist Martha Fisk, whose zoology background has enhanced our nature programming.
Highlights included a standout Moth Night event, continued success of preschool and youth programming, and expanded live exhibits featuring new fish and crayfish.
The year also saw a safe and successful Boathouse season with more than 1,700 visitors enjoying time on Lake Benson. Together, these efforts underscore our commitment to accessible, enriching, naturecentered experiences for all.