$55,000 in Support for Playground Rebuild in Valdese
The momentum continues for improvements at Valdese Children’s Park.
Thanks to strong leadership and collaboration from the Rotary Club of Valdese, a total of $55,000 in Rotary funding has been secured to support the rebuilding of the park’s playground following damage from Hurricane Helene.
Rotary Investment in Action
The funding includes:
- $25,000 from Rotary Zone 33
- $20,000 from Rotary District 7670 (Western North Carolina)
- $10,000 from the Rotary Club of Valdese (that includes $500 each from Shawn Hamm, Sarah Griffin, and Beth Heile)
This investment reflects Rotary’s long-standing commitment to youth, community spaces, and hands-on service.
A Project Rooted in Community
Children’s Park holds a special place in Valdese. Established as a memorial to five children lost in a tragic 1972 explosion, the park has served generations of families as a place to gather, play, and remember.
Hurricane Helene brought new urgency to improving the park. Flooding along Micol Creek damaged the existing playground and highlighted the need to relocate it to safer, higher ground.
With Rotary’s support, the community is moving forward with plans for a new, inclusive playground designed for children of all ages and abilities — ensuring the park remains both a place of remembrance and a vibrant space for today’s families.
Leadership Matters
This effort began with local Rotary leadership.
Past Rotary Club of Valdese President Shawn Hamm identified the grant opportunity and helped bring it forward. Past Rotary President and Friends of the Valdese Rec (FVR) President Beth Heile worked closely with Rotary partners to develop and submit a successful application.
Their leadership — combined with the strength of the Rotary network — turned an opportunity into a major investment in Valdese’s future.
What Comes Next
The Rotary funding is a significant step toward fully funding the playground, but additional resources are still in progress.
The Town of Valdese is expected to hear this Friday (March 27) on a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Helene grant that would support broader park improvements, including flood resiliency, accessibility upgrades, and additional amenities.
Regardless of the outcome, the project is moving forward — backed by a community committed to rebuilding stronger with $20K from Friends of the Valdese Rec and $100,000 from the Rostan Family Foundation.