A couple of months ago, we asked on facebook, “Would you like to have benches along the greenway at Valdese Lakeside Park? Share a story of how it would make the park better……”

We did not say why, but we were gathering information to use in our grant application to the Community Foundation of Burke County. We requested funds for eight benches to put along the greenway at the park. Your stories worked!! FVR was awarded the grant!! Continue reading Benches! Thanks to CFBC →

Thanks to First Citizens Bank for funding the FVR – Valdese Recreation Dept Scholarship Program. Because of their gift, kids who qualify will be able to participate in Valdese Recreation Sports and have their registration and uniform fee covered. We are so lucky to have a branch office open on Main Street!

The Valdese Lakeside Park app (by Friends of the Valdese Rec) has been updated – it still has the trails and “you are here” to use while exploring. But now it includes more details about trails, Main Street food/gas shown on the map and more. View on your computer and/or download to your phone!!

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. Continue reading Input Meeting – Catawba River Trail →

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.

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 Burke River Trail – Vulcan & More →

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 Burke River Trail – Morganton & Drexel →