Are you excited about the new splash park that will open on Tuesday, July 18? If so, thank your neighbor!

Input from the community made this park happen. Here are a few examples:

1) The Parks and Rec Comprehensive Plan, based on a written survey and 3 focus group meetings in December, 2012, found that people wanted a park downtown with splash pad, playground and picnic area – and they wanted the exercise options at the Rec expanded (which the multi-purpose building will allow).

2) After trouble with bids the project was almost canceled. At the August 2016 Town Council Meeting, a vote was to be held as to whether the town should get a loan to go forward or cancel the project.  20 people attended the meeting in support and 5 community members spoke during the open forum. Due to the community input, the council voted unanimously to approve the loan to complete the splash park and multipurpose building.

3) In December, 2016, the community was invited to meet with Doug Knight, Director of Valdese Parks and Rec, to provide feedback on the playground choices for the park. There were options from 3 companies. Those at the meeting helped make the decision!

The Town of Valdese listens!

Get involved, answer surveys, attend meetings, make things happen.

More about the opening

Where are we now?

• Applications have been submitted to the state for 2 grants to help purchase the 300 acres ($1M).
• Pledges have been made by the Rostan Family Foundation ($300K) and Kellex Seating ($100K) to complete the purchase of the land once the grants are awarded.
• Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge has pledged $50K toward park amenities once the land is acquired.
• On top of that, almost $47K has been pledged by generous people, small businesses and civic groups to help with amenities.

What is next?

• Grant recipients will be announced in August and in September.
• Once we know we have the money to purchase the land, public input will be taken for what features should be at the park.
• We are continuing to collect pledges for park amenities. The more money we have promised, the sooner park features can be built. Pledge Today

I need to start at the beginning – before the update

 

On Monday, June 12, Bimbo Bakeries, as a part of their Good Neighbor Volunteer Program, purchased and installed plants at the new Downtown Splash Park. They had 17 employees volunteering that day from 8am-3pm.

Settlemyre Nursery was also a huge help with plant selection, delivery and providing 3 more volunteers for the day.

On Monday, Friends of the Valdese Rec only had 2 volunteers available. But on Friday, 11 members were present 8-11 am to finish spreading the mulch.

 

Almost $100K in pledges for Amenities (park plan, walking trails, bike trails, kayak launch, dock, parking lot, signage, etc) !! Thanks to a generous pledge of $7500 from Valdese Rotary Club we are at $96,481. Help us reach $100k in June – Pledge today

This summer we will be having a raffle for items you would use at the Valdese Lakeside Park. Tickets are $10.

We have a Mountain Bike (Value $350) donated by Appalachian Mountain Sports, a 10 foot kayak (Value $250) and a gift card combo ($75 donated by Wal-Mart and $25 donated by Rural King).

We will be selling tickets at the Valdese FFN on May 19 and June 16 and at the Festival on August 12. The drawing will be held on August 12. The first name drawn will choose the item they want. The second name will choose from the remaining two items. The third name will take what is left.

The Downtown Park – with a splash park, multi-purpose building, playground and parking has been in the works for a while. It was almost lost when bids originally submitted were increased when it came time to build.

At the August 2016 Town Council Meeting a vote was to be held as to whether the town should get a loan to go forward or cancel the project.  Thanks to the community for making a SPLASH! Because 20 some people attended the meeting in support and the 5 community members who spoke in support during the open forum – the council members voted unanimously to approve the loan to complete the splash park and multipurpose building.

In December 2016, members of Friends of the Valdese Rec were invited to a special meeting regarding the new Valdese Downtown Park. (Membership has its benefits.)

This park is financed by USDA Rural Development with help from the Kate B Reynolds, Rostan Family Foundation, and PART F.

 

At 3 events this spring, working with Burke Hospice, we held free workshops for Seniors at the Rec to answer questions like – What are your choices if you get sick? How do you make your decisions known? What if you do not make plans?

Attendees received a copy of “The Gift: A Guide to Advance Care Planning” to help answer these questions.  Then they created a living will & healthcare power of attorney. A notary and social worker were present to assist with formalizing the documents.

We hosted 18 painters who created about 50 rock masterpieces. We supplied the rocks, paint and brushes. Some rocks went home, but most are around Valdese – in the parks. This is a part of the movement to color Burke County with positive messages.