The City of Gastonia held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, November 2 at the Linwood Springs Park, located at 2900 Linwood Road in northwest Gastonia. The area consists of more than 140 acres of land located along Linwood Road near Crowders Mountain State Park. The event was open to the public with tours of the property available.
“This important project is moving forward and we are excited to offer more outdoor amenities for our residents to enjoy,” said Mayor Walker E. Reid. “When completed, Linwood Springs Park will be a regional Parks and Recreation destination that will complement all of the great things at Crowders Mountain State Park and highlight the diversity of our city.”
Linwood Springs Park Renovation Details
The City announced redevelopment of the former golf course last September, which includes robust plans for transforming the site into a new recreation area for the City. The project will proceed in phases.
Last year, the City received a $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to begin the first phase of renovations. The City plans to match the grant with up to a $1 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and also proceeds from the General Obligation Transportation Bond.
More than 50 years ago the property was a golf course and closed in 2011. The City entered into a 30-year lease agreement with the State of North Carolina in 2019 and has been master planning the area for park use for several years. See video images of the site from January 2023 here.
The first phase of the park renovations will include repairing several miles of asphalt-paved trails, repair of existing bridges, recreation vehicle (RV) sites with water, sewer, and power connections, a dog park, an 18-hole disc golf and soccer course, fishing ponds, playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, restroom facilities, and parking areas. Future phases could include event venue facilities, primitive camp sites, a ropes course, zip lines, and other complementary amenities to Crowders Mountain State Park.
For more facts about this new development and photos of the area, visit the fact sheet at this link.