County parks getting spruced up for spring visitors

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 1, 2009

By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
County parks are getting spruced up and ready for the rush of spring visitors.
Parks staff are replacing roofs, building new restrooms and preparing for special events and activities.
The Rowan Parks and Recreation Commission recently reviewed and discussed upcoming activities and projects.
In a week that began with snow and ended with temperatures reaching 70 degrees, Dan Nicholas Park filled with visitors.
Parks Director Don Bringle said the weekend crowd was phenomenal. More staff and security had to be called in.
“It was like July with all the visitors,” Bringle told commission members.
And area residents are getting a jump on reserving shelters for the upcoming season. Some days are already completely booked.
Good weather is drawing more visitors to all of the parks.
Bringle praised the work of staff, including completing new restrooms on the Historic Tree Trail at Sloan Park. New roofs will be added to three picnic shelters by next week.
Jack Kepley updated the board on the blacksmith shop on Dunn’s Mountain. Tommy Cohen has constructed a hood for the forage and will install it in the shop to allow blacksmith demonstrations.
Scouts constructed the shop to honor the memory of longtime Scoutmaster Chuck Barringer.
Kepley and Bringle said the public has continued to offer donations of blacksmith equipment to supplement that donated by Barringer’s widow.
The major item needed to complete the shop is a large anvil.
Upcoming events include:
– A flag-burning ceremony April 25 at noon atop Dunn’s Mountain.
Kepley, a longtime Boy Scout official, said Scouts will collect boxes of worn U.S. flags for the ceremony. He invited the public to bring flags that are worn, soiled or otherwise defaced to be disposed of properly.
“It’s a very impressive ceremony. It’s worth the time to attend,” said commission Chairman Dennis Rogers.
– Dan Nicholas Park will host the second annual Simple Living Festival on April 25. The festival highlights music and crafts from the country’s past and will include a special feature on the blacksmith trade ó a Hammer-in. Blacksmiths from throughout the region are invited to participate.
– A Peace Pole will be installed near the train station at Dan Nicholas Park on May 16 as part of “Let’s Get Connected Day.”
The board approved the Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council’s request in February to place a pole in the park as art of the multiculturalism celebration.
A Peace Pole is typically 8 feet tall with the bottom planted in the ground. According to the Peace Pole Web site, more than 200,000 have been planted worldwide.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.