all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit supporting Valdese Parks & Recreation
This long-awaited amenity on Lake Rhodhiss is now open for everyone to enjoy. Designed and built by North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC), the $200,000 pier was funded by an NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grant, NCWRC and community donations.
Continue reading “Kayak Launch – Fishing Pier Ribbon Cutting”
Friends of the Valdese Rec, Inc (FVR) hosts a free monthly Lunch and Learn Program for Young for the Young at Hearts in the community. Every third Thursday of the month at Noon, FVR provides lunch, time to socialize and a 20-minute program for those adults who are retired or have time for lunch. First United Methodist Church of Valdese provides the space for the lunch event. Continue reading “Lunch and Learn Program”
Friends of the Valdese Rec’s fiscal year runs April 1 through March 31.
We have created a report to celebrate and share our successes over the past year:
If we have your mailing address, the 23 page Lasting Impressions Annual Report is on the way to your mailbox. If you want a printed copy, let us know!
Friends of the Valdese Rec and Town of Valdese worked together to submit a technical assistance planning grant from Appalachian Regional Commission and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The program is called “Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies (CORE)” and the goal is to help rural communities leverage natural assets to increase economic opportunity through the outdoor recreation economic sector. ARC/NC Commerce facilitator Kyle Case led a local working group in developing a plan for Town of Valdese. The process included 4 in person meetings with the working group, a community survey about recreation use and spending (114 results) and 6 phone interviews with members in the community very involved in outdoor recreation.
Town of Valdese Council adopted the plan at the July 10 Council Meeting. Read the plan – Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies Strategic Plan
Continue reading “Outdoor Recreation Economy Plan for Valdese”
Thanks to a grant from Burke Youth Organized Philanthropists, 36 children (K-5) will learn the art of Plein Air Painting from a professional instructor at the kick off of the Valdese Plein Air Fest during Friends of the Valdese Rec’s Free Family Fun at the Falls. En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air”, and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Kids will take home a completed 8×10 canvas board painting and their extra paints. Photographs will be taken of their work, printed and placed along the Story Book Trail at Valdese Lakeside Park for a “gallery showing” in time for the adult artists’ show on September 17 at the Old Rock School.
Taking place on September 9 at 10:30 am this year, the annual FVR Free Family Fun at the Falls has attendance of approximately 200 people for crafts, outdoor educational programs and hot dogs. Kids will move from activity to activity 10:30 until 11:30 am. The painting lessons start at 11:00am for those present and interested. Located at 1400 Falls Road in Valdese the park includes a picnic shelter, restrooms, volleyball court, creek and the beautiful McGalliard Falls. It is also a terminus for the 2-mile Valdese Greenway.
In 2022 Friends of the Valdese Rec, Rock School Arts Foundation, and Town of Valdese started the Plein Air Fest to highlight Valdese parks and introduce park goers to art. In planning for the 2023 event, organizers wanted to include children. The art lesson, starting at 11:00 am on September 9 is one way kids are being included, the other is a free Chalk it Up sidewalk chalk art event from 2 -4 pm at the Valdese Family Splash Park, 312 Massel Ave SE. Continue reading “Painting for Kids Grant”
Highlights of the report…….
What does Valdese Lakeside Park bring to Valdese in visitor and resident spending? Does the park save residents money? Do visitors really stop in town to eat?
These are the questions Friends of the Valdese Rec set out to answer. The economic impact of parks and trails can sometimes be understated. Thanks to FVR board member Zakk Heile, the value Valdese Lakeside Park brings to Valdese can be shown in numbers.
The Economic Impact Study looked at these areas
Friends of the Valdese Rec (FVR) held an NC Year of the Trail grand opening group walk on Sunday, April 16 to celebrate the completion of the Valdese Greenway. The entire 2-mile greenway is now crushed cinder for an easier walk along Lake Rhodhiss and McGalliard Creek. In 2021, one mile of the former grassy sewer easement was upgraded while the other mile remained grass. In 2022, with the McGalliard Creek Suspension Bridge installation it became obvious upgrading the entire path was the next amenity most desired by park attendees. Friends of the Valdese Rec raised the $250K needed for improvement with donations from the Rostan Family Foundation, NC State Grant assisted by Rep Hugh Blackwell, Dianne Searcy and many individual and small business donors.
Just in time for Read Across America Day, and to celebrate NC Year of the Trail, Friends of the Valdese Rec held the ribbon cutting for their new Story Book Trail at Valdese Lakeside Park. The home school community was invited to take part in the celebration that included walking the new trail that showcased the Dr. Suess book The Lorax, and crafts and refreshments with The Lorax theme. The Story Book Trail is made up of 16 pedestals that hold pages of a book giving visitors the chance to read and be out in nature. The pedestals were made possible with a $3840.00 grant from the Community Foundation of Burke County, a $1,000.00 donation from the Pilot Club of Valdese, $1,000.00 from FVR including 10 volunteers working 4 days to install the pedestals. In addition, FVR will purchase and update the book each month. To experience the trail, visit Valdese Lakeside Park at 1149 Lake Rhodhiss Dr, Valdese. Once there, take the Greenway to the Meditation Point Trail that is just past the Dog Park.