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The Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce heard from Sarah Burroughs of Sage Design regarding a proposed Greene’s Lake and Conservation Park planned for the industrial park in Elizabethtown. Burroughs said the town owns the land around the lake and a “passive recreation park” is planned to be constructed around the lake.
“Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery has also seen this concept is very excited,” said Burroughs.
She said that having a park beside the Winery is beneficial to their business. There have been some public meetings held to gather public input regarding the proposed park. Burroughs said that she will present the concept during a work session on Monday and the plan is to seek a grant for constructing the park in phases.
Burroughs said that town staff plan to submit a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant application in May seeking funding to construct a paved walking trail that will measrue a little over one mile in length around the perimeter of the lake and a fishing pier or overlook. On the airport side of the park the plans call for small hiking trails and connecting them to the Vineyard as well as the park.
Burroughs said that the town can use the appraisal value of the land as the local match for the PartF grant.
Chamber member Robin Summerlin asked Elizabethtown Town Manager Eddie Madden to discuss the other parks in the town and improvements planned for those locations.
Madden said the Brown’s Creek Trail and Bike Park is leased to Cape Fear SORBA, a cycling organization in Wilmington, and they maintain the park. Madden told those in attendance the Town has some involvement with things like cutting grass but the trails are maintained by Cape Fear SORBA. He said earlier this year, the group held a very successful competition at the bike park and another event is scheduled for November 4, 2017. The Elizabethtown Rotary Club also has an 8K Walk/Run to Benefit the USO of NC is planned for the Bike Park on November 11.
Madden said the walking path and dog park at the new Lloyd Park located on Swanzy Street has been completed. There is also a preschool/toddler playground located at Lloyd Park and the town staff are relocating all of playground equipment from Leinwand Park to the Lloyd Park. A crosswalk to connect Leinwand Park with Lloyd Park and appropriate signage are also planned for the area.
Madden said that a project at the Tory Hole Park has been funded. He said the town received a PartF grant for $250,000 from the NC Fish and Wildlife, a $200,0000 grant from Duke Energy. Town staff have torn down the changing room at the amphitheater and dismantled the old playground area and the park is beginning to transition to its new look.
Madden said the town has also leased the Lock and Dam No. 2, from he Corps of Engineers. he said the town is partnering with Wildlife Resources officials to construct a floating dock and there is already a fishing pier located at the site. Madden said there are plans to improve the boat launch area and to add additional walkways and greenways.
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