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Grading Begins on Yancey County Parks and Recreation comprehensive recreation grounds
Now that site preparation is being completed, the county is working with various non-profit agencies to obtain grant funding for various recreational components. Grahams' Children Services has already secured a $30,000 grant from the Janirve Foundation for completion of soccer fields and other recreational opportunities for children. Toe Valley Watch has obtained $10,000 for installation of river trails at the park and the Lowe's company is providing the installation of batting cages at the park through cooperation with the Yancey County Youth League Association. According to County Planner Jamie McMahan, "With the County commitment of funding for site preparation, the granting agencies have seen that the county is dedicated to the project and we hope to see more interest from funding partners in the park project." Part of the funding that was used to purchase the property came from a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grant (PARTF). The county hopes that by doing this initial and necessary preparation work that the PARTF will once again provide grant funding to develop the recreation components. During the last cycle of funding by the PARTF, Yancey County's application made it to the final round before state officials decided not to fund the project at that time. With the current budget situation in Raleigh all grant funding will be tight again this year. Construction of the recreation grounds follows on the heels of the new Yancey County Public Library and the soon to be completed renovation of the former Yancey Medical Center into a modern social service facility. "Yancey County is working hard to provide facilities and services that will be of benefit to the citizens for years to come," stated Yancey County Manager Nathan Bennett. The first phase of the grading at the comprehensive recreation grounds is slated to be completed by the end of November. |
A new era in Yancey County Parks and Recreation began in mid-October with grading at the comprehensive recreation grounds on Whittington Road in the Cane River community. The park has been in the planning stages since 2004 and the property was acquired in 2008 to house recreational opportunities of all kinds for the people of Yancey County. When completed, the park will provide walking trails, river access, baseball/softball fields, soccer fields and basketball and tennis courts. The current site preparation is work that must be completed before colder weather. The site preparation is being done by low-bidder Blue Ridge Grading and Trucking, a Yancey County contractor.