Trailhead park in Glen Alpine is taking shape with construction underway

The Glen Alpine Downtown Park is becoming a reality as construction continues on the plot of land at the corners of Linville and Bridge streets.

So far, the picnic shelter is in place, the concrete floor has been poured for the bathroom facility, said Beth Heile, executive director for the Burke River Trail Association (BRTA). Heile has been leading the project with lead construction by contractor Jonathan Holden.

The Glen Alpine Downtown Park is just a fraction of the Burke River Trail Association’s work to connect all nine towns in Burke County with a trail. The project aims to support downtown revitalization, which in turn is expected to increase foot traffic.

The project has been somewhat controversial in the town due to its location at a busy intersection, but after public input, Heile removed some elements of the original plan. Members of the Board of Aldermen voted on Oct. 14, 2024, to approve the project with the updated plans.

The park will be on 1.3 acres and will include a picnic shelter, event lawn, restroom, parking, entrance sign, and kiosk as well as landscaping. The original plan included a playground, another restroom, and more parking, but those amenities were removed based on public input. Members of the public and some aldermen expressed concerns about the safety of children playing near the intersection.

Heile said the goal is to showcase Glen Alpine as a place for outdoor recreation, with two Wildlife Resource Commission boat launches a mile in each direction from the park.

“I think just that this is an exciting time for Glen Alpine to bring community and bring people together and not be divided. I mean, it’s common ground. Being outside and being a part of nature is all a part of being together,” Heile said.

The next steps for the project will be to pour the concrete pad at the shelter and the concrete path to the restrooms. The floor of the restroom has been poured, but the cinderblock structure for the two-unit restroom still has to be constructed. The last step will be to grade the parking lot area.

When Glen Alpine has an event downtown now, Linville Street is shut down and portable restrooms must be ordered. The park, she said, will serve as a community gathering place that makes events easier and more accessible for everyone. The open green space and path could be used for trick or treating in the fall, as a place to watch the Fourth of July parade in the summer, and as a future spot for farmers markets.

“Really this is about downtown revitalization and bringing the community together,” Heile said, adding that the Glen Alpine in the Streets volunteer group started up after the Burke River Trail Association hosted a public input session last year.

“Civic engagement and civic pride is some of what all this is about and helping boost the downtown,” Heile said.

Funding for the project includes $125,000 in state funds, $55,000 from the town, $22,000 from BRTA, and $5,120 in community donations. The total in-hand, $207,120, covers grading, engineering, utilities, parking, restrooms, and open green space.

Board member Reid Scott and his wife, Patsy, were the top donors, contributing $2,000 to the project. Case Farms and Glen Alpine United Methodist Church also donated $1,000 each. Heile said donors giving $100 or more will have their names listed at the park to be part of the legacy.

Heile said that she is hoping construction will be completed by the end of the year, estimating a December opening to be on the safe side.