Briar Chapel is proud to partner with local organizations to bring innovative art, education, environmental and charitable programs and facilities to the residents of Briar Chapel and throughout Chatham County.
Chatham County Schools
For many years now, Newland Communities has contributed significant gifts whether land, time or money, to help open schools in many of Newland’s planned communities. Examples of such giving are evident at Briar Chapel with Newland donating 18.53 acres of land toward the development of a permanent building for Woods Charter School, which opened in Fall 2008 and the donation of 33 acres for Margaret B. Pollard Middle School.
The Woods Charter School facility gives students and educators music and art rooms; a stage for performances; an on-site gymnasium; chemistry, biology, biology-prep and school science rooms.
The Margaret B. Pollard Middle School is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building. With a focus on energy efficiency, it is part of ENERGY STAR, a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Features of the school include twenty-first century technology, twenty-seven classrooms, two science labs, an arts wing, and athletic facilities.
Chatham Arts Council
Briar Chapel is proud to partner with the Chatham Arts Council in bringing innovative arts and education programs to the residents of Briar Chapel and throughout Chatham County. This includes art exhibitions and special events held right here in Briar Chapel.
The Chatham County Arts Council was founded in 1982 and has played an instrumental role in the economic revitalization of North Carolina’s Chatham County area. The Chatham County Arts Council supporters make programs possible including the Chatham County Arts Galley, arts in education programs in the local schools and community festivals.
When Briar Chapel opened in 2008, Newland Communities and the Chatham County Arts Council formed a partnership with a two-prong approach. First, a public art program was created to ensure original art and sculptures commissioned by local artists to be placed throughout the community’s parks and 24-mile trail system. And second, Briar Chapel has strongly supported the Creative Arts in Public Schools Program, giving students the opportunity to experience and create art with local artists.
TORC (Triangle Off-Road Cyclists)
Newland Communities has been an important sponsor and partner in helping TORC fulfill its mission of safeguarding the future of mountain biking in the Triangle area of North Carolina through the promotion of responsible riding, establishment and maintenance of mountain biking trails and preservation of North Carolina’s natural resources.
Newland has worked with TORC to identify and preserve areas of open space to accommodate sustainable trails in order to encourage healthy outdoor activity with minimal environmental impact. This includes 15 miles of sustainable 18-inch wide single-track mountain bike trails in and around the community of Briar Chapel. The off-road mountain bike trails opened in 2008 and since then TORC has regularly held trail building and riding events in the community— including the first ever endurance race was held in November 2009. To learn more about TORC or to get involved, please visit their website.
Abundance Foundation
Abundance NC brings people together to exchange ideas and build strong communities resilient in the face of challenge. It is a hub of sustainability and local economy in North Carolina, sourcing out abundant local and sustainable resources, helping people tap into those resources, and supporting the people making those resources available.
Abundance aims to build a stronger, more sustainable and interconnected community in North Carolina. We believe we have everything we need, right here at home, to eat well, live amazing lives, and take care of the land on which we live.
To learn more, visit the Abundance NC website.
PORCH
PORCH Briar Chapel sponsors monthly community food drives to bring together Briar Chapel neighbors to support Chatham County residents who need emergency food. PORCH Briar Chapel collects food monthly for the Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) in Pittsboro, NC.
To learn more about PORCH or to get involved, please visit their website.