FVR was officially formed on April 1, 2015. It has been 5 years since FVR formed with the main purpose to help the town acquire the 300 acres of land on Lake Rhodhiss for a park. We are still going strong with amenities coming to Valdese Lakeside Park this year. And, along the way we have held programs and events (for seniors, kids & everyone), beautified parks and raised lots of money. None of this would have been possible without our members, donors, volunteers and participants! We were hoping to celebrate together today, but as with everything social, it will have to wait!! Right now, the plan is for Wednesday, June 3.

After 6 trail building workdays, amazing progress is being made at Valdese Lakeside Park. The FVR Trail Blazers meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month at 9 am to work on the trail from the greenway to Meditation Point. Find us at the start of the greenway between the blue trail and the ribbon cutting area.

There are jobs for all abilities – digging out roots, raking trail clear, cutting out trail with a rogue hoe, hauling off down limbs, cutting briars. If that isn’t your cup of tea … the cove always needs cleaning. Continue reading →

Our annual Friends of the Valdese Rec general membership meeting was held on Tuesday, March 10.  The program – State of Parks and Recreation – was provided by Doug Knight, Valdese Parks and Recreation Director.  The meeting was open to the general public.

Those in attendance: Doug Knight, Beth Heile, Pat Zimmerman, Cutie Kaplan, Gavin Smith, W.T. Sorrell, Nancy Tucker, Val Scott, Susan Stevenson, Will and Rose Mueller, James Sweezy, Paul Mears, Rick Pons, Debbie Montanez, Sam Fitzwater.

The FVR year runs April 1 – March 31. President FVR Beth Heile provided the following information as a summary of the past year.

Valdese Lakeside Park Funding and Hours
Transferred $84,875 of park donations to Town of Valdese for Phase 1 that starts this year
$119,853.30 available for Bridge – need $40K
Applying for $250K RTP Grant for Mountain Biking Trails and Pump Track Continue reading →

Amazing turn out for the March 1 Group Walk on the Greenway. About 70 people joined the organized event and plenty more there on their own at the park and along Lake Rhodhiss Drive. We had a few who could not walk the distance take part in the Sit & Socialize – and they turned out to be the “greeters.” Representative Hugh Blackwell and his wife Ann participated. FVR President Beth Heile thanked Rep Blackwell for getting the Wilderness Gateway State Trail to connect to Valdese Lakeside Park – and for now working to get the Fonta Flora Trail to come along the river to Drexel, Valdese, Rutherford College and on to Catawba County! We would also like to thank The News Herald for a photo reminder of this event and all the coverage they give to the park.

One mother’s love of reading to her children motivated her to give back. And, her generous gift has snowballed into a monthly educational program for children. Continue reading →

Our first Valdese Lakeside Park Group Walk on the Greenway of this year kicked off on Super Bowl Sunday. Thirty people enjoyed the 2.6 mile walk along Lake Rhodhiss and McGalliard Creek enhanced by the unseasonably warm weather. Adventurers also tried out the new connector trail to Meditation Point. The FVR Trail Blazers have been working on this trail since December and hikers gave it a thumbs up – even though there is a little more work to be done before completion. Join the group walk next month – Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 pm.

The Wilderness Gateway State Trail Public Input Meeting included 29 folks from Valdese!! This included Town Manager Seth Eckard, Parks and Recreation Director Doug Knight, Town Councilman Roy Sweezy, FVR President Beth Heile and 13 FVR members. Continue reading →

Friends of the Valdese Rec organized a public input meeting at McGalliard Falls Park to discuss possible improvements to the park and a state grant opportunity. Continue reading →

The second annual New Year’s Resolution Trail Runs took place on January 1, 2020 on a cold but sunny morning. 5K and 10K runners started at the same time on a road that took them to the Valdese Lakeside Park trails where they split onto different courses. Proceeds from the event go to Valdese Lakeside Park amenities. Continue reading →

To save $6,000 on Phase 1 amenities, Friends of the Valdese Rec will be hand building a trail from the greenway to the Wildlife Viewing Platform (at Meditation Point) – instead of paying a professional with a machine. Continue reading →