In 2022, Beth Heile started working with landowner Dennis Jaschob on how to protect his six acres on Micol Creek on the north side of Children’s Park. The town was not in a position to purchase the property. However, with new NC State funds for trails, the purchase was indeed possible.
The parcel is on the planned corridor for the Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST) and Heile talked with FCNC about purchasing the property with Complete the Trails funds and then transferring the property to Valdese. As part of the effort, there was a neighborhood restriction attached to the parcel that required Heile and Tom Kenney to go door to door to get signatures from neighbors stating they were OK with the parcel being protected versus becoming three home sites. The property closed in January 2024.
“Foothills Conservancy is glad to partner with Friends of the Valdese Rec and the Town of Valdese to secure this six acres of open space for future public park and trail use,” said Land Protection Director Tom Kenney. “Projects like this support healthy lifestyles and economic development through tourism in Valdese associated with the Wilderness Gateway State Trail.”
The goal is for the property to have trail, picnicking and overflow parking for Children’s Park.