Accomplishments

The FVR year runs April 1 – March 31.  This list covers April 1, 2022 – March 4, 2023:

Funding and Hours

VLP To date  – for appraisal to start purchase negotiations, land purchase and amenities
Private Donations: $850,815, Grants: $1,465,300, Total Project: $2,316,115
(state grant funds and larger private/business donations went directly to Town of Valdese)

VLP Volunteer hours after January 31, 2018 closing (not promotional events, just work)
3524

Park Improvements

Story Book Trail Installation ($6K)
Greenway – Crushed Cinder ($250K)
Suspension Bridge ($200K)
Bimbo Bakeries Steps ($4K)
Dog Park – clearing, fence, sod, obstacles ($25K)
Worked with FCNC to purchase 5.8 acres north of Children’s Park ($40K)
Bench Program
True Outer Loop – BRIDGE Crew

Workdays
Kellex Mulch and Gravel
FVR Mulch and Gravel
Paint back walls of Children’s Park
Rotary Workday
Trail Workday – April 2
Workdays on Burke River Trail east of VLP
Cove Cleanup

Events/Programs

Story Book Trail Ribbon Cutting
365 Challenge
Greenway – Crushed Cinder
McGalliard Falls 40th Anniversary Celebration
Lunch and Learn
Paint the Park
1st Sunday Group Hikes
Every Wed Morn Group Hike
Booth at McDowell Trails Expo
VLP Survey
5K, 10K and Fun Runs on Dec 31
Year of the Trail – First Day Outdoors
Pickleball Demo
Hosted Town Staff and Council at V:P
Free tennis for kids
Trail Camera – ongoing
Upper Catawba River Trail Mapping

 


April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022:

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

 


The FVR year runs April 1 – March 31.  This list covers April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021 (the year of COVID):

Funding and Hours

Paid $942 for survey to accept Valdese Weaver Gift of 6.77 acres at Lovelady Road

VLP To date (3-31-2021) – for appraisal to start purchase negotiations, land purchase and amenities
Private Donations: $850,815, Grants: $1,465,300, Total Project: $2,316,115
(state grant funds and larger private/business donations went directly to Town of Valdese)

VLP Volunteer hours after January 31, 2018 closing (not promotional events, just work)
2018: 330 hours — 2019: 388 hours — 2200: 736 hours; 2021 (thru 3/31): 329 hours

Raised $18K for Dog Park with Mull Foundation Grant and Farris Insurance support.

Workdays
Trail Blazers Finishing Meditation Point Trail at Valdese Lakeside Park –
Grass Cutting/Cove at VLP – every other week
Lovelady Roadside Cleanup –
Clean up the River – By Boat –
Tree Stand Clearing Day – 75 volunteers

Park Beautification
Mural
Benches
1.5 miles by volunteers
Bimbo Landscaping

Events/Programs
Trail Camera – ongoing
Conservation Kids – 5 events
Trail Blazers for HS – 18 events
Group Walks on the Greenway at VLP
Virtual 5K & 10K at Valdese Lakeside Park
Holiday Decorations outside Rec Bldg
Story Trail – 7 different weekly books – Dec – Feb
Sculling Interest Meeting
Mural at Children’s Park Meeting
November Groundbreaking at VLP
2 mile walking-exercise tour of downtown
First Citizen Rec Scholarships
Upper Catawba River Trail Mapping

Fundraisers
Nothing due to COVID
Valdese Stitchery Hat Sale
Valdese Stitchery t-shirt Sale

Incoming Donations (other than money)
Porta John at VLP = Farris Insurance
2 Benches at VLP = Peter Skelton
Ducks (400) at VLP = Beth Heile
20 acres for McGalliard Creek Greenway  from Shaw-Tate and Caldwell Timber
6.77 acres at Lovelady Road from Valdese Weavers (FVR paid for survey)

FVR Involvement
Burke River Trail – Public Input Meeting  FVR Members attended
Burke River Trail Feasibility Study – Beth represented
FVR Members on Town Rec Commission
Burke County Chamber Member

Financial Report

Apr-2020 through Mar-2021

Membership – $595.00
Donations VLP & Bridge – $56,875.20
Donations  General Fund – $3,050.00
Grants – $7,051.89
Misc – $178.26
–———————-
Revenue $67,750.35

Park Improvements – $1349.15
Events – $261.69
Programs – $190.86
Operating Expenses – $1412.63
–———————-
Expenses $3,214.33

 


April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020:

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

To date (1-27-2020) – for appraisal to start purchase negotia

 

 

 


The FVR year runs April 1 – March 31.  This list covers April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021 (the year of COVID):

Funding and Hours

Paid $942 for survey to accept Valdese Weaver Gift of 6.77 acres at Lovelady Road

VLP To date (3-31-2021) – for appraisal to start purchase negotiations, land purchase and amenities
Private Donations: $850,815, Grants: $1,465,300, Total Project: $2,316,115
(state grant funds and larger private/business donations went directly to Town of Valdese)

VLP Volunteer hours after January 31, 2018 closing (not promotional events, just work)
2018: 330 hours — 2019: 388 hours — 2200: 736 hours; 2021 (thru 3/31): 329 hours

Raised $18K for Dog Park with Mull Foundation Grant and Farris Insurance support.

Workdays
Trail Blazers Finishing Meditation Point Trail at Valdese Lakeside Park –
Grass Cutting/Cove at VLP – every other week
Lovelady Roadside Cleanup –
Clean up the River – By Boat –
Tree Stand Clearing Day – 75 volunteers

Events/Programs
Trail Camera – ongoing
Conservation Kids – 5 events
Trail Blazers for HS – 18 events
Group Walks on the Greenway at VLP
Virtual 5K & 10K at Valdese Lakeside Park
Holiday Decorations outside Rec Bldg
Story Trail – 7 different weekly books – Dec – Feb
Sculling Interest Meeting
Mural at Children’s Park Meeting
November Groundbreaking at VLP
2 mile walking-exercise tour of downtown
First Citizen Rec Scholarships
Upper Catawba River Trail Mapping

Fundraisers
Nothing due to COVID
Valdese Stitchery Hat Sale
Valdese Stitchery t-shirt Sale

Incoming Donations (other than money)
Porta John at VLP = Farris Insurance
2 Benches at VLP = Peter Skelton
Ducks (400) at VLP = Beth Heile
20 acres for McGalliard Creek Greenway  from Shaw-Tate and Caldwell Timber
6.77 acres at Lovelady Road from Valdese Weavers (FVR paid for survey)

FVR Involvement
Burke River Trail – Public Input Meeting  FVR Members attended
Burke River Trail Feasibility Study – Beth represented
FVR Members on Town Rec Commission
Burke County Chamber Member

Financial Report

Apr-2020 through Mar-2021

Membership – $595.00
Donations VLP & Bridge – $56,875.20
Donations  General Fund – $3,050.00
Grants – $7,051.89
Misc – $178.26
–———————-
Revenue $67,750.35

Park Improvements – $1349.15
Events – $261.69
Programs – $190.86
Operating Expenses – $1412.63
–———————-
Expenses $3,214.33

 


April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020:

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

To date (1-27-2020) – for appraisal to start purchase negotiations, land purchase and amenities
Private Donations: $691,011 — Grants: $1,458,247 — Total Project: $2,149,258

Volunteer hours at VLP after January 31, 2018 closing (not promotional events, just work)
2018: 330 hours — 2019: 388 hours

Workdays
Trail Blazers at Valdese Lakeside Park – Mar 21, Mar 7, Feb 15, Feb 1, Jan 18, Jan 4, Dec 28, Dec 24 (7)
Grass Cutting/Cove at VLP – October 26, Sept 24, Aug 31, Aug 3, July 6, June 1, May 4, April 6 (8)
Lovelady Roadside Cleanup – March 4
Clean up the River – By Boat – Sept 28
Workday at McGalliard Falls Park – Hauling branches – Aug 16
Trail Building/Maintenance Class for FVR Board May 22
Plantings and Pine Straw at Kellex Seating Picnic Area
Preparing for Kellex Picnic tables (2 days – purchased cinder blocks))
Water Butterfly Garden and Picnic Area

Events/Programs
Group Walk on the Greenway at VLP – Mar 1, Feb 2, Sept 1, Aug 4, July 7, Jun 2, May 5, April 7
McGalliard Falls Improvements Discussion – Jan 8
5K & 10K Runs/Walks at Valdese Lakeside Park – Dec 12, 19, 26,
Celebration Among Friends – Celebrate the Success of Valdese Lakeside Park – Nov 1
Young at Heart – Covered Dish Lunch at Valdese Lakeside Park – Oct 7
Fun at the Falls, McGalliard Falls Park- Hot Dog lunch, crafts, nature activities – Sept 14
Watermelon Social– July 7
Christmas Decorations outside Rec Bldg
Fresh Fruit for New Year at Exercise Room
Sponsored and Donated to Eagle Scout Fish Attractors Project

Fundraisers
New Year’s Resolution Run (5K & 10K) Jan 1
Beer: FFN Snack Shack Aug 30, Festival August 9-10, Independence Day June 28, FFN Snack Shack May 24
We are now a Benevity registered charity
Valdese Stitchery Hat Sale

Incoming Donations (other than VLP)
Gnomes – Kristina Mercer
Tools – Leslie Rostan, Sam Fitzwater, Tonya Stephens
25 Conservation Books to Valdese Public Library – Kristina Mercer
Race Help – Feetures, Zimmerman Realty, Farris Insurance, Los Compadres, Brinkley Insurance, Town of Valdese Tourism, Out of Our Minds Animation Studios, The Valdese Stitchery, David Harmon Studios
Plants at Kellex Picnic Area – Mark Rostan
Bimbo Bakeries – Buns and cooking hotdogs at Fun at the Falls
GoU (NCWF) – creek program at Fun at the Falls
Picnic Tables – Kellex Seating

FVR was not involved,
but we would like to recognize others who give to parks and rec:

Valdese Rotary donated funds for fence at Rotary Park and had a workday,
Bimbo Bakeries spruced up Village Park (at mural)
Ashton Mears Eagle – 3 Kiosks at Parks
Tommy Blackwell Eagle – Plantings at pool

FVR Involvement
Nominated Kellex for Conservation Award that they received
Wilderness Gateway State Trail – Public Input Meeting 29 FVR Members attended
Jacobs Fork and Henry Fork Study – Beth represented
Burke Tourism Sign hung at McGalliard Falls (Photo Spot)
FVR Members on Town Rec Commission
Burke County Chamber Member