Shovels broke the ground making it official! Construction is ready to begin at Valdese Lakeside Park on Phase 1 Amenities. To follow covid gathering restrictions, the groundbreaking ceremony was small and brief with the only comments being from Town of Valdese Mayor John Black. Continue reading “Groundbreaking – Valdese Lakeside Park”
all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit supporting Valdese Parks & Recreation
Benches! Thanks to CFBC
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”
Rec Scholarships – First Citizens
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!
App – Valdese Lakeside Park
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!!
Input Meeting – Catawba River Trail
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”
Paddle Trail
An RTP grant provided funding for signage along the Upper Catawba River Paddle Trail.
The Valdese Lakeside Park access sign will be placed at the park when the official kayak launch is ready. For now, you can launch from the shore.
Accesses east and west are Castle Bridge and Huffman Bridge.
Phase 1 Construction at VLP
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.
River Cleanup – River Trail
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