Town of Valdese Council voted on October 5  to award the Valdese Lakeside Park Phase 1 construction contract to Patton Construction Group, Inc. Once with contract is signed, the park will be complete within 8 months. Can you say July 4th Celebration!?!?!? (Pictured: Destination by Design Planning presenting construction details to council)

Construction costs are covered by private donations and grants. No town money is being used.

After 3 zoom meetings and 10 site visits, the proposed Catawba River Trail Corridor was revealed at a drop in public input meeting at the outdoor Pavilion behind Connelly Springs Town Hall. Attendees reviewed the maps, discussed the routes and provide additional feedback.

Western Piedmont Council of Governments led the feasibility study and staff members Averi Ritchie and Todd Stroupe were on hand to discuss the process and grant funding. Rep. Blackwell and FVR President Beth Heile, who were involved with the site visits, were also present to explain the route results and the benefits.

Several FVR Board Members, Val Scott, Rick Pons and Mike Bachelder with Tyler, came to see how Valdese Lakeside Park and McGalliard Falls Park fit into the regional trail.  Some general members were also there to learn more – Nancy Thompson, Susan Stevenson, Chip Black, Doug Knight.

Keeping in the know were Scott Carpenter, Katherine Christie, Tim Johnson, Bryant and Linda Lindsey, Rick Justice, Tamara Brooks, Eli Self, Shane Gardner, Brandon Wykle.

Volunteers with Catawba River Wildlife Coalition and Friends of the Valdese Rec participated in the Catawba Riversweep on Saturday by cleaning the river from Rocky Ford Access to Huffman Bridge. The 10 volunteers collected 10 bags of trash along the 4.5 mile route. Yes, that is a hippity hop!

Part of the cleanup was checking the shoreline on the south side of the river for the future Catawba River Trail.

Pictured left to right – Eric Heile, Adele Ritchie, Dannie Ritchie, Averi Ritchie, Beth Heile, Jason Toney, Tom Troy, Ted Carothers, Rachael Dial, Leslie Thacker

Town of Valdese has submitted an RTP grant application for the construction of 5 miles of mountain bike trails at Valdese Lakeside Park. This will be an awesome addition to Phase 1 amenities coming this year (parking, restroom, greenway, kayak launch, overlook, dog park). We will know in November if Valdese has been awarded the grant.

The planning team for the Catawba River Trail (former working title – Burke River Trail) met with a surprising partner on Wednesday. Vulcan Materials Company owns property on the river in Morganton which would provide about one-half mile of trail along the waterfront and is interested in sharing their natural resources with their neighbors. Continue reading →

Morganton City Manager Sally Sandy was more than ready for the visit from the Burke River Trail planning team which included Representative Blackwell, Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) GIS Analyst Todd Stroupe and Friends of the Valdese Rec President Beth Heile. The City of Morganton had explored the idea of expanding the Catawba River Greenway to the east in the past and Sandy’s staff was full of ideas and route suggestions. Continue reading →

McGill Associates PA checked out the McGalliard Creek Bridge site this week. Also present was Representative Hugh Blackwell who is researching funding options to help us Bridge the Gap!

The Burke River Trail town tour continues with stops in Rhodhiss and Hildebran. On Monday, Representative Blackwell, FVR President Beth Heile and representatives from Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) got a tour of Town of Rhodhiss from new Town Manager Rick Justice. Justice took the group to the Rhodhiss Boat Access on Weaver Lane which would be an incredible stop on the trail with restrooms and parking. The town-owned Horseshoe Trail Park was also a must see. Continue reading →

Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail (FFFST) Board. led by Judge Bob Hunter, is getting off the ground. FVR has a seat at the table representing trails for Burke County and FVR President Beth Zimmerman Heile will serve as FFFST Treasurer. Continue reading →