Town receives additional funding for Norris Recreation Complex

Norris Recreation Complex has allowed the Town of Rutherfordton to reimage the way 45 acres in the heart of town can be transformed from one recreation option to several new ones. Thanks to a vision from Dr. Henry Norris, when he donated the land to the Town as a golf course, now the open space off Hospital Drive is going to serve the town and county in other ways.

According to an article in the town's "Rutherfordton Sun" the town has actively been working to fund phase one of the Norris Complex Master Plan which was completed and adopted in October 2022 that identified around $1.5 million in investment to actively reopen the property for use and to begin a series of investments on the complex for additional recreation opportunities.

The Town of Rutherfordton received a grant of $250,000 for Norris Recreation Complex Phase 1 from the Carolina Foothills Foundation (CFF) to assist with the project.

Now that fundraising is complete, the town is seeking a firm to assist with the final designs and begin construction later this year or early 2024. This firm will take the bones of the master plan and turn those visions into the final construction-ready plans.

Phase I development includes an 18-hole par 66 championship-level disc golf course with advanced and intermediate tee pads, a 21-hole par 3 beginner disc golf course with 9 holes accessible via 0.25 miles of asphalt trail, one mile of natural surface hiking/biking trails, picnic shelter, restroom, parking, and lighting. The plans will be shared with the community and allow for time for public input as they come together this fall. The highlight of Phase 1 will be the disc golf courses and large open picnic shelter which is envisioned to be able to host a minimum of 100 people providing more flexibility for outdoor activities.