The City of Gastonia has received a $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to begin the first phase of renovations at the former Linwood Springs Golf Course. The City plans to match the grant with up to a $1 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
“We are excited to begin the process of transforming this property into a place where everyone can enjoy the outdoors and gather for many activities,” said Mayor Walker E. Reid. “Our city continues to grow and we want to provide amenities that attract visitors and keep our residents engaged with healthy living.”
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 more than two years. The area consists of more than 140 acres of land located along Linwood Road near Crowders Mountain State Park.
In April of this year, the City held public meetings to gain community input about the use for the property. The project is expected to begin in spring of 2023 and will take between three to ten years to complete.
The first phase of the park renovations will include repairing several miles of asphalt-paved trails, recreation vehicle (RV) sites with water and power connections, a dog park, an 18-hole disc golf and soccer course, fishing ponds with piers, 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.
