Children’s Park Playground

Children’s Park: Honoring the Past, Building for the Future

For more than 50 years, Children’s Park has held a special place in the heart of Valdese.

Dedicated in memory of five children lost in the tragic 1972 bomb shelter explosion, the park has become a place where families gather, children play, and community memories are made.

Today, a new chapter is being written.

Thanks to an incredible partnership between the Rotary Club of Valdese, Rotary District 7670, Rotary Zone 33, the Rostan Family Foundation, Friends of the Valdese Rec, the Town of Valdese, and countless volunteers, plans are moving forward for a major playground renovation.

Funding Progress

✔ $100,000 – Rostan Family Foundation
✔ $55,000 – Rotary Grants and Rotary Club of Valdese
✔ $20,000 – Friends of the Valdese Rec

Total Raised: $175,000

Every donation brings us closer to creating a destination playground that will serve local families, attract visitors, and honor the park’s important history.

A Decade of Community Investment

Since 2015, Friends of the Valdese Rec and community volunteers have invested thousands of dollars and hundreds of volunteer hours into Children’s Park through:

The new playground represents the next step in a long-term vision for the park.

Looking Ahead

Future plans include improved connections to Valdese Lakeside Park, the Exit 111 area, and the Burke River Trail network, helping Children’s Park serve as both a neighborhood park and a gateway to Valdese’s growing recreation system.

Help Build the Next Chapter

The project is still accepting donations from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations.

Together, we can honor the past while building a brighter future for the next generation of Valdese children.

To donate

Additional Donors

Jim and Linda Rostan – $1000
Patricia Jacumin Zimmerman – $1000
Ann Garrou Dickey – $100
In Memory of Tina Brooks – $50