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Rockwell unveils a 24-year dream

BY FRANK DELOACHE
SALISBURY POST

Children already are romping on the new playground equipment, and members of St. James’ Lutheran Church enjoyed a cookout at the 13-acre park located on Park Drive off Ashley Drive, a short distance from U.S. 52.

Town officials are hoping a lot of people will attend a special dedication ceremony on June 27 at 3 p.m. Mayor Harold Earnhardt and members of the town board and the park committee will make remarks and cut a ribbon, and the Cheerwine company and Select Bakery of Rockwell have donated refreshments.

“It’s something we’ve talked about and dreamed about for a long time,” Earnhardt said this morning. “Two mayors before me talked about it ... so it’s been a long time.

“I think it will be well used. The more people know about it and the more that people use it, the more they’ll come back.”

The town bought the land, a cow pasture at the time, from the Earl Sides family in March 1993, and officials began drawing up preliminary plans in early 1995, according to Nell Tolley, chairwoman of the park committee.

In June 1997, the town completed a street leading to the park and a parking lot, and that same month, the town got a $50,000 grant from the N.C. Park and Recreation Trust Fund, which required the town to kick in an equal amount. Tolley said the town has spent the money on the first phase of the park, which included extensive grading and landscaping, two shelters with picnic tables and grills, playground equipment, bathrooms and storage buildings, horseshoe pits and a one-third mile walking-jogging trail.

Phase two calls for the addition of a softball field, volleyball and basketball courts, more park benches and fitness activity centers along the trail, Tolley said.

Earnhardt said the town board “wants to get started” on the second phase but has no money budgeted right now.

The mayor thanked all the individuals and companies that donated to Rockwell Park, which is now open every day from 8 a.m. to dark.

Donors include the state’s Adopt-A-Trail Program, the Cannon, Hurley, Duke Power and First Union Bank foundations, Oakwood Homes, Rockwell Woman’s Club, Fortress Builders and Ray Medley, Tom Abramowski, Marine Corps League Detachment 789, Donald Bost, Hoyt Deal, Beaford Taylor, Brown Sides, Benny Drew, Joe Sides, Randy Bingham, Ruth Oliver, Amvets Post 845, ACE Tire Co., Bob and Becky Bost, Bill Ridenhour, George and Patsy Beliveau, J. Spencer Bost, Banks and Marie Barringer, the Bill Hall family, Rockwell Senior Citizens, Clyde and June Barringer, employees of the town (Sue Morton, Marlene Dunn, Tim Linker, Ryan Walker and Brad White), RAGS Inc. and Fran Richard, Max and Vicke Miller, A.L. and Alice Linder, Harold and Helen Earnhardt, Rockwell Lions Club, Julian and Terry Sides, Bill and Reba Overman, John and Nell Tolley, Judy Weathers, Faye Corl, Variety Produce, Brown’s Nursery and Benn and Carrie Brown, Rockwell Feed Service, The Flower Basket, Yard Stuff Bark and Stone and Goff’s Greenhouses.

Besides Nell Tolley and Earnhardt, others serving on the park committee are Bill Ridenhour, Bob Post, Brown Sides, Larry Fesperman, George and Patsy Beliveau, James F. Poole, Tim Linker, Beauford Taylor and Ray Medley.