Bethel Park reopens after $2.4 million upgrade

After two years of waiting, Morganton residents were able to return to Bethel Park on Thursday for its reopening.

The City of Morganton Parks and Recreation Department opened the park’s gates for a soft opening, according to Public Information Officer Jonelle Sigmon. A grand opening is planned for a later date, with details to be announced.

The park initially closed in March 2024 for renovations, six months before Hurricane brought additional work to be done. That work included debris removal, and fixing the washed-out seeded floodplain and significant buildup of sediment.

“We want our community to enjoy the new park, but we ask that visitors understand that during the duration of the soft opening there will be continued work inside the park,” Sigmon stated.

The redesigned Bethel Park includes a paved walking path, new pickleball and futsal courts, modernized playground equipment, picnic shelter, dog park, and improved landscaping and lighting. Due to the new layout of the park, the disc golf course could not be added back, according to the parks and recreation staff.

One of the most significant upgrades is the reconstruction of the stream that flows through the park, completed by Wildlands Engineering. Built to withstand a 25-year flood event, with a 4% chance of occurring in any given year, the new stream’s dynamics will reduce the likelihood of closures from a routine rainfall.

The $2.4 million project was covered largely by grants. The City of Morganton received $500,000 from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, $913,000 from N.C. Clean Water, $150,000 from North Carolina’s Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, $250,000 from Golden LEAF Foundation, and $200,000 from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources.

Both parking lots will be open during the soft opening. However, when construction begins on new restrooms, portions of the larger lot will be temporarily closed, Sigmon said.