Children’s Park in Valdese has a new interactive mural thanks to a local donor. Friends of the Valdese Rec (FVR) had been looking for a way to liven up Children’s Park in Valdese and thought a painted mural was the answer. After seeing Sam’s Recycled Art pieces around the area, FVR decided metal silhouettes of children with a painted background provided the ultimate solution. For funding, FVR spoke to members of the community until they found the perfect match. Continue reading Mural Dedication →

Our furniture is here!

Thanks to a $7,051.89 grant from the Community Foundation of Burke County, we have nine benches along the greenway at Valdese Lakeside Park.  People of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds visit the park to walk and enjoy the views. FVR felt if they had a place to rest, many would come more often and stay longer. Continue reading Furniture from Community Foundation of Burke County →

Friends of the Valdese Rec has been thinking about a mural at Children’s Park for some time – something that would be a “selfie photo op.” After meeting with artists and trying to find the “right” painted scene, FVR President Beth Heile was inspired by a recent metal installation at Waldensian Presbyterian Church.

Thanks to Sam’s Recycled Art and a private donor, this project can take place as soon as we have Valdese Recreation Department approval. Continue reading Art at Children’s Park →

The Rec Building was built in 1938 and the gym floor is showing wear from usage. The wood has been sanded as much as is possible and can only have new coats of urethane added to protect the surface. Through March 31, FVR will match community donations up to $2500 for a new floor.

Ways to Donate to the Match

This is a part of a larger gym renovation effort by the Valdese Parks and Recreation Department. Read more.

Any given game day, and sometimes any regular Saturday, visitors cannot find a parking space at Children’s Park. It leads to a dangerous situation with cars, trucks and vans tucked into random spots and at all angles in the lot and on the public street. The Town has been looking for a solution for some time. Continue reading Children’s Park Overflow →

All obstacles in the path of the McGalliard Creek bridge project have been cleared and construction is the next step. From the 2013 Valdese Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Development Plan, the top recreational item requested by survey respondents and public input meeting attendees was a trail from McGalliard Falls Park to the Valdese Wastewater Treatment Plant. Friends of the Valdese Rec has been raising money for the bridge since early 2019 to create a 2-mile Valdese Greenway from McGalliard Falls Park to Valdese Lakeside Park (which is beside the treatment plant). Continue reading McGalliard Creek Bridge Moving Forward →

For 2021, the volunteer FVR Trail Blazers added 1.5 miles of new trail at Valdese Lakeside Park. With 4 weeks of excavator rental and 746 hours of volunteer labor.

Farris Group of Gaston County and FVR VLP Fund each paid for two $850 rentals sessions.

Thanks to our regular volunteers: Johnny Poteat, Sam Fitzwater, Debbie Montanez, Debbie Thompson, Bogdan Ewendt, Jackie Ewendt, Paul Mears, Tom Troy, Helen Tueffel, Reed Farrar, Spence Borden, Chris Blake, Mark Rostan, Eric, Beth and Zakk Heile Continue reading 1.5-Miles by Volunteers →

For the first time, the New Year’s Day Resolution Runs were held completely at Valdese Lakeside Park. In past years the race started at Draughn High School to have parking and restrooms.

Read more about the 5K and 10K Trail Runs. Here are the courses:

Valdese Lakeside Park was the beneficiary of Bimbo Bakeries’ Good Neighbor Program for 2021. Not only did Bimbo Bakeries fund new landscaping at the park, twenty-eight employees spent the day installing the plants around the new parking lot and soon to be dog park. Continue reading Bimbo Good Neighbor Program →

Lane Lines for the Valdese Pool have been ordered!!

FVR President Beth Heile presented a check to incoming Parks and Recreation Director David Andersen for the project.

FVR awarded the Town of Valdese $1800 for the project if the community would match the amount.