Parks and Recreation Director Doug Knight spoke to the public on March 13 about Valdese Lakeside Park and what the PARTF grant would include. The grant application, due on May 1 and being completed by WPCOG, will request funds for restrooms, picnic area, dog park, wildlife viewing platform, kayak launch, walking trail to viewing platform, parking, entry road for around $300K. These are items in the Master Park Plan.

Summary of all grants–

NC DEQ Grant – Requesting $200K to match $200K in donations from community
This grant is for a 10-foot-wide crushed cinder greenway along the lake and creek, permeable parking area and responsible storm water drainage. The application was filed on December 31, 2018. Award will be late April/early May.

Recreational Trails Program Grant – Requesting $100K to match $25K from community
This grant is to help pay for a 200-foot bridge across McGalliard Creek to complete the trail from McGalliard Falls Park to Valdese Lakeside Park – creating a 2-mile greenway connecting the parks. Total cost of the bridge is $250K. Application filed March 1, 2019. Award will be Oct/Nov.

NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant – Requesting $300K to match DEQ/Community
This grant will fund Phase 1 Amenities at Valdese Lakeside Park such as restrooms, picnic area, educational overlook. Application will be filed by May 1, 2019. Award will be Aug/Sept.

Donations are still being accepted. The more we have, the more we can build.

Sunday, March 3 was a cool and misty day, but 13 people came out for the 2.6 mile walk along the greenway at Valdese Lakeside Park. Join us next time – April 7 at 2pm.

From Feb 3……..  Continue reading →

FVR, Valdese Rotary Club, HMS and DHS Interact Clubs and Community Members cleaned Lovelady and Meytre on Saturday, March 2. 16 volunteers, 30 bags of trash, 4 tires, 1 road sign.

The new I-40 Exit 111 Bridge will be pedestrian and bicycle friendly!

After the December 18, 2018 meeting organized by Representative Blackwell regarding regional trails and interstate bridges, partners in Burke County worked together to form a request to NC DOT that the Exit 111 Bridge (which is already being redesigned) include updates to make it safe for pedestrian and bike traffic. This was the first step in creating a connection from Valdese Lakeside Park to South Mountains State Park. Partners included: Town of Valdese, Town of Rutherford College, Foothills Conservancy of NC, Burke County, WPCOG, Friends of the Valdese Rec.

Continue reading →

Our first Group Walk on the Greenway at Valdese Lakeside Park, brought out 63 people on a warm, Super Bowl Sunday. After many weeks of cold, rainy, snowy weather – it was perfect timing. These walks will continue on the First Sunday of the Month at 2pm.

Thanks to community donors and our anonymous matching donor, the $200K needed in contributions has been reached! Together, we did it!

In preparing the strategy for building Valdese Lakeside Park with grant money and private donations, the first goal was to raise $200K to match the DEQ Greenway Grant – due on December 31, 2018.

Erin Schotte with the Community Development Division of WPCOG completed the application and submitted it on behalf of the town. Erin worked on the PARTF grant the town was awarded to help purchase the park property. She knows the project well and we are lucky to have her writing the park grants.

Don’t stop donating! We are still accepting donations – there are more grants to match! The more money we have, the more amenities we can build. See the plans.

There are 2 concrete corn hole stations at the Valdese Family Splash Park. However, to play corn hole, you had to bring your own bean bags – until now.

Friends of the Valdese Rec members Spence and Jayne Borden have made 16 regulation size and weight bean bags for all to use. In addition to covering the cost of materials for the bags, they purchased a storage tote to hold the bags and it will be stored in the bathroom lobby.

Enjoy playing while you are there and please return bags to the tote when you are finished.

Our inaugural 5 and 10K trail runs at Valdese Lakeside Park were a success. $1000 was raised for amenities at the park – and even though the Dollar for Dollar match challenge from a donor had expired – it was extended for the race – giving an extra $1000 to park amenities.

Continue reading →

On Saturday, December 22 volunteers gathered at Valdese Lakeside Park to clear the trails after the snow storm left down trees in the way and to clean the cove. The 12 volunteers worked for 2 hours to clear about 20 trees and gather 6 bags of trash. The trails are now clear for every day use and the New Years Resolution Trail Races.

The Town of Valdese asked Friends of the Valdese Rec to serve beer at two “Concerts at the Rock” events (November 3 and November 30). To support their efforts to raise money for Valdese Lakeside Park, Wicked Weed Brewing stepped in to help. Thanks to the partnership, FVR made $464 from beers sales and tips – which will be doubled in our current Dollar for Dollar Match. In addition, FVR members sold concessions at the concerts (soda, water, snacks) and made an additional $185.01 for the FVR general fund.