New Trail Opens at Valdese Lakeside Park
A perfect fall Saturday morning brought out 28 hikers to celebrate the opening of a new section of trail at Valdese Lakeside Park. A fitting surprise for the event was the attendance of former Valdese Mayor John “Chip” Black.
Back in 2015, when Friends of the Valdese Rec (FVR) founder Beth Heile first shared her idea of starting the organization with the goal of purchasing 300 acres on Lake Rhodhiss for a public park, Mayor Black’s office was her first official stop for the town’s blessing. Having seen how outdoor recreation transformed Morganton through its greenway and the Upper Catawba River Paddle Trail, Mayor Black immediately understood the vision. He pulled out a paddle map during that first meeting and said, “Just make sure Valdese is on this map.”
60 Volunteers – 376 Hours – 5 Weeks
As part of the Valdese Lakeside Park Master Plan, FVR volunteers have completed the Red Outer Loop Trail in just five weeks—relocating portions of the trail off unsustainable logging roads, separating sections shared with the Hollipop Mountain Bike Trail, and extending the path to the property boundary.
The five weeks required for the 0.8-mile project stand in stark contrast to the group’s first trail-building effort—the 0.1-mile Meditation Point Trail—which took five months to complete entirely by hand.
An excavator rented with FVR donor funds was operated by volunteer Eric Heile, who logged 80 hours of machine time over 14 days. Though there was no set deadline, “finishers” Sam Fitzwater and Johnny Poteat worked nearly six days a week to keep the project moving. Heile repeatedly told them to slow down, but they refused—proving that dedication knows no pause. Eric Heile, Fitzwater, and Poteat have all been named FVR Volunteers of the Year, and truly, they are the Volunteers of the Decade for FVR’s first ten years.
Other volunteers included 11 members of the DHS Anchor Club; 30 members of Morganton CORE; and Beth Heile, Sam Erwin, Wes Presnell, Howard Perkins, Denise Clay, Ron Blanaflor, the Darling Family, Debbie Thompson, Bruce Buchanan, Ken Moore, Linda Betancourt, Santis Limez, and Mark Rostan.
Something New Every Year
With over 6,000 volunteer hours, $3.8 million in funding ($1.6 million in private donations and $2.2 million in state grants), and a community filled with passion, Valdese Lakeside Park continues to grow year after year. Following the original Destination by Design Master Plan, FVR has worked to add a new amenity annually.
Many of the state grants were secured with the assistance of Representative Hugh Blackwell, who attended the ribbon cutting. State funds have supported gap financing for the McGalliard Creek Swinging Bridge, an additional mile of greenway, the Hollipop Mountain Bike Trail, the pavilion and open green, and more.
Park Progress by Year:
- 2021: Restrooms, parking, overlook, 1-mile greenway, Meditation Point Trail
- 2022: 1.5 miles of new trail, dog park and obstacles, 160-foot swinging bridge
- 2023: 1-mile greenway connecting to McGalliard Falls Park, Lakeside Loop Trail, kayak launch/fishing pier
- 2024: 4.5-mile Hollipop Trail optimized for mountain bikes
- 2025: Pavilion and Open Green, 0.8-mile trail (Outer Loop Reroute)
What’s next? A new sidepath along Lake Rhodhiss Drive to give walkers and cyclists a safe route separated from traffic. Engineering is underway now, funded by a $2.2 million state grant for creek restoration.
The day ended with homemade cookies provided by volunteer Howard Perkins and smiles all around. FVR was deeply appreciative of the turnout—including Rep. Hugh Blackwell, incoming Valdese Mayor Keith Huffman, and Burke County Commissioner Mike Stroud.
To explore the new 0.8-mile Outer Loop Reroute, start from the Valdese Lakeside Park parking lot at 1149 Lake Rhodhiss Drive. Take the Outer Loop Trail (behind the restrooms) for 2.3 miles to the Greenway, then return 1.2 miles along the Greenway for a scenic loop.