The new year will come with a revitalized Bethel Park

After being closed for well over a year, contractors are making finishing touches at Bethel Park in order to bring Morganton residents and visitors back to east Morganton for a morning stroll or a pickleball match in early 2026.

The final task, according to Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Fish, is to pave the walking track. The goal was to have it paved by the end of the year, but with temperatures dropping, Fish said contractors will have to find the right window of mild temperatures so that asphalt doesn’t cool too quickly.

The revamp of Bethel Park was in the works long before Hurricane Helene sent floodwaters to Morganton and the rest of western North Carolina. The park had already been closed for six months for restoration when damage from hurricane debris, a washed-out seeded floodplain, and a significant buildup of sediment forced the park’s summer opening to be pushed back.

Baker Grading & Landscaping out of Old Fort, the construction contractor for the entirety of the project, had to remove 5,030 cubic yards of silt at the park before construction could resume.

Now, the restoration has come with a solution to a long-standing problem at Bethel Park: flooding. An area that would struggle with 3-4 inches of rain will now be able to withstand a 25-year flood event, which is a flood with a 4% chance of occurring in any given year.

The once-straight stream that allowed water to flow alongside the park now winds with pockets in the channel bed that control the stream speed and the volume of the water that flows through. During periods of high water, flow into the floodplain will be slower, reducing erosion and limiting how long the park is impacted.

While visitors may not notice the stream’s new shape, Fish said they will notice that the park stays drier and that gates won’t need to remain closed for two to three days after a rain to allow the area to dry out.

The park’s brand-new amenities will also be the major draw, Fish said. An updated, paved walking path, pedestrian accessible bridges, brand new pickleball and futsal courts, modernized playground equipment, relocated dog park, and improved landscaping are all included in Bethel Park’s makeover.

The new restroom facility won’t be finished by the time the park opens, but the current restrooms will still be available. Fish said the city is required to complete the restroom project by October 2026, as it is using leftover Parks and Recreation Trust Fund money from earlier amenity projects, including the playground and courts.

The city has received multiple grants from PARTF, NC Clean Water, Environmental Enhancement Grant, Golden LEAF Foundation, and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources. The funding covered the vast majority of the $2.4 million project.