The 2-mile Valdese Greenway has been designated as official Wilderness Gateway State Trail. Friends of the Valdese Rec completed the paperwork in September 2023 that was submitted to NC State Trails. From there the public had to be notified of the request, a State Parks planner came to walk the trail to verify it met standards, and finally it was approved by the NC Trails Committee and the Department of Natural and Cultural Recourses. This section is the very first section of WGST to be designated!

Continue reading “Greenway Designated WGST”

In October, the Community Foundation of Burke County awarded FVR a $9327 grant to purchase 12 picnic tables (2 ADA) for the Open Green. FVR funds of $984.03 were used to cover the small overage for a price increase and shipping. The tables arrived on Wednesday, October 18. FVR volunteers (Johnny and Eric) spent two days assembling the tables to get them ready for Great Trails State Day on Saturday, October 21 for a Pizza Party. First the first time at the park, we had room for 74 people to sit together.

Continue reading “Gather at the Table”

Saturday, October 21 was Great Trails State Day across NC as part of NC Year of the Trail 2023. We set a goal to collectively bike, hike, paddle 1000 miles at Valdese Lakeside Park during the day. We blew that goal away and finished at 1526 miles! 509 people and 70 dogs, 8am – 7:30pm. Didn’t even get the folks that entered/left Lovelady Rd and McGalliard Falls side as part of the count.

Continue reading “1000 Mile Challenge”

Treasure hunting in Valdese?? You bet. Geocaches are hidden all around our parks (and town). Not sure what this Hike and Seek adventure is all about. You just need an app on your phone and a willingness to explore.

Geocaching is for everyone. When you find a geocache, open it up to see what is inside. If you take a trinket, you should replace it with something else!

The picture on the left is a grandfather out exploring with his grandkids at Valdese Lakeside Park and a located geocache container with goodies.

Continue reading “Geocache at Parks”

This long-awaited amenity on Lake Rhodhiss is now open for everyone to enjoy. Designed and built by North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC), the $200,000 pier was funded by an NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Grant, NCWRC and community donations.

Continue reading “Kayak Launch – Fishing Pier Ribbon Cutting”

Friends of the Valdese Rec and Town of Valdese worked together to submit a technical assistance planning grant from Appalachian Regional Commission and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The program is called “Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies (CORE)” and the goal is to help rural communities leverage natural assets to increase economic opportunity through the outdoor recreation economic sector. ARC/NC Commerce facilitator Kyle Case led a local working group in developing a plan for Town of Valdese. The process included 4 in person meetings with the working group, a community survey about recreation use and spending (114 results) and 6 phone interviews with members in the community very involved in outdoor recreation.

Town of Valdese Council adopted the plan at the July 10 Council Meeting. Read the plan – Creating Outdoor Recreation Economies Strategic Plan

Continue reading “Outdoor Recreation Economy Plan for Valdese”

Thanks to a grant from Burke Youth Organized Philanthropists, 36 children (K-5) will learn the art of Plein Air Painting from a professional instructor at the kick off of the Valdese Plein Air Fest during Friends of the Valdese Rec’s Free Family Fun at the Falls. En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air”, and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view.  Kids will take home a completed 8×10 canvas board painting and their extra paints. Photographs will be taken of their work, printed and placed along the Story Book Trail at Valdese Lakeside Park for a “gallery showing” in time for the adult artists’ show on September 17 at the Old Rock School.

Taking place on September 9 at 10:30 am this year, the annual FVR Free Family Fun at the Falls has attendance of approximately 200 people for crafts, outdoor educational programs and hot dogs. Kids will move from activity to activity 10:30 until 11:30 am. The painting lessons start at 11:00am for those present and interested. Located at 1400 Falls Road in Valdese the park includes a picnic shelter, restrooms, volleyball court, creek and the beautiful McGalliard Falls. It is also a terminus for the 2-mile Valdese Greenway.

In 2022 Friends of the Valdese Rec, Rock School Arts Foundation, and Town of Valdese started the Plein Air Fest to highlight Valdese parks and introduce park goers to art. In planning for the 2023 event, organizers wanted to include children. The art lesson, starting at 11:00 am on September 9 is one way kids are being included, the other is a free Chalk it Up sidewalk chalk art event from 2 -4 pm at the Valdese Family Splash Park, 312 Massel Ave SE. Continue reading “Painting for Kids Grant”