Comment
Print
On March 7 Rutherfordton's new 50-acre disc golf course and outdoor recreation park, Norris Park, celebrated a grand opening attended by more than 100 people. The park, located on Leroy Mull Drive near Rutherford Regional Hospital, is on the property of the former Rutherfordton Golf Course.
Town Manager Doug Barrick welcomed the crowds gathered under a picnic shelter and scattered across the park area to witness the opening of the disc golf course. The new park, open seven days a week from 7am to 9pm, also offers places to walk, jog, bike, and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Rutherfordton Mayor Jimmy Dancy welcomed neighboring mayors Nancy Walker of Spindale, Steve Holland of Forest City and Peter O'Leary from Chimney Rock Village. Rutherfordton Town Council members, both present and past, also attended as well as Interim County Manager Bryan King.
Jill Miracle, executive director of RHI Legacy Foundation and Don Cason, executive director of Tourism Development Authority/Rutherford Bound, each spoke about their partnerships with Norris Park and the Town of Rutherfordton as well as other communities across Rutherford County.
Mayor Dancy told the overflow crowd, "everyone is always welcome at Norris Park...we play an important role in working with the community...We can't preach community involvement unless we work together, this is your park."
Dancy said the park opening is a great morale builder for the town and community, as he invited everyone to come to the park.
Jill Miracle told the crowd RHI Legacy Foundation "is pleased to partner" with the Town of Rutherfordton and on other projects, Kiwanis Park, Crestview Park, 2nd Street Park and the Purple Martin Trail.
Park designer, Eric Woolridge Destinations by Design, thanked the town for allowing the design group to "create a park for everyone," and stated at times the project brought its design challenges and many opportunities.
"We created a park for everyone," Woolridge said.
It includes multiple shelters, paved paths, is ADA compliant and a path along the Overmountain Victory Trail.
The state's Executive Director for the Overmountain Victory NC State Trail, Brian Oliver, shared the history of the Overmountain Victory Trail marchers as they came through the property during the Revolutionary War. He said Norris Park is among the first projects funded by the state organization.
Norris Park is the second property in Rutherfordton (the first is Kiwanis Park) to be included as an Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
Lindy Abrams, Director of Rutherfordton Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture (PARC) encouraged all visitors to Norris Park to "be good stewards" of the property and to "leave it better than we found it." Abrams encouraged the group and future visitors to make plans to "walk the park" and to "care for this land." "We want to get them to love this land as much as we do," she added.
TDA's Executive Director Cason thanked the group for the support of Norris Park and the other Rutherford Bound projects.
Occupancy taxes are collected from visitors who stay overnight in any of the county's properties and from the taxes, TDA not only markets Rutherford County, but began Rutherford Bound several years ago to put together a plan that would continue to enhance the quality of life for everyone visiting and living in Rutherford County.
"From Chimney Rock to Ellenboro and all in between, it is about the quality of life for our community. The collaboration and working together is building tomorrow," Cason said.
Bryan King, interim Rutherford County Manager, referred to the new park as "wonderful" and thanked everyone who collaborated with the project.
Town Manager Barrick said the project, "calls all of us to a higher level" and without the leadership from the town, county leaders and TDA, "this can't happen." Barrick shared the history of the property discovered by Ethel and Dr. Henry Norris as they came to the area more than a century ago looking for a place to build a hospital and a community. (The remarks are in Jean Gordon's column this week.)
To conclude the ceremony the Overmountain Victory Trail Association officially kicked off the Park's entrance with a volley.
The group was reminded of the next ribbon cutting ceremony by the Town of Forest City, RHI Legacy Foundation, Rutherford Bound and others to be held March 20 at 4pm at the Legacy Soccer Park on Piney Ridge Road in Forest City.
