Tag Archive for: #granvilleathleticpark

County Officials Unveil GAP Sponsor Mural

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Granville County Commissioners and staff gathered recently with local community partners to dedicate the new sponsor mural at the Granville Athletic Park. The  mural is located on the restroom shelter facility in Phase III of the park, adjacent to the accessible playground,  tennis and sand volleyball courts.

“Today we are unveiling a mural that will serve not just as recognition for our sponsors, but a testament to the strength of Granville County and the desire by all of those named to make our community a better place to live,” said Russ May, chair of the Granville County Board of Commissioners. “This mural will add to the beauty of our park while also encouraging others in the future to show the same dedication to their community that these sponsors have.”

The covered mural was unveiled to reveal the initial sponsors: Carolina Sunrock, Duke Energy, Granville Health System,  Hicks & Koinis, PLLC, Bailey Farms, Inc. and Paul and Jane Reeder.

Several spaces on the mural are still available. There are four sponsorship levels available at multiple price points ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. Each tier offers a different level of prominence and visibility on the mural to allow a business or family donation to be permanently recognized and featured for the thousands of visitors that visit the GAP each year.

For more information about having the GAP sponsor mural wall, visit  https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/recreation/granville-athletic-park-gap-2/granville-athletic-park-sponsors-mural/.

 

Since opening in 2004, the GAP has truly become the crown jewel recreational complex for Granville County residents. The park consists of miles of paved walking trails, an 18-hole disc golf course that weaves through tall pines and hardwoods, ball fields framed by foliage, an outdoor amphitheater perfect for showcasing open-air performances, and an outdoor classroom surrounded by plant life and sunshine. Other features at the GAP include numerous amenities like the large sports pavilion, picnic shelters, children’s musical sound garden, outdoor fitness equipment, spray park, and a Storywalk® display. Granville County’s recreation master plan, currently being developed, will guide future planning and development of recreational spaces for the public beyond the GAP.

To rent a facility at the GAP for private use, visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/facility-rental/.

The GAP is located at 4615 Belltown Road, Oxford.

Planned GAP Mural Will Feature Names Of Business, Family Donors

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Local businesses and residents have the opportunity to have their names emblazoned on a new mural that will be created at Granville Athletic Park. Sponsorship levels range from $1,000 to $7,500 – each tier offers a different level of prominence and visibility, giving the donors a chance to have their contributions visible to the thousands of visitors that visit the GAP each year.

“The GAP has such an amazing history, and we are always looking for ways to honor the citizens and  organizations that have made this park what it is today,” said Assistant County Manager Korena Weichel.

The mural will be installed later this year on the outside wall of the shelter facility in Phase III of the GAP, near the accessible playground, tennis courts and sand volleyball area that opened in 2021, according to a press release from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The GAP opened in 2004 and since that time, it has become a popular destination for recreation for Granville County residents and many others. The park consists of miles of paved walking trails, an 18-hole disc golf course that weaves through tall  pines and hardwoods, ball fields framed by foliage, an outdoor amphitheater perfect for showcasing special open-air performances and an outdoor classroom. Other features at the GAP include numerous amenities like the large sports pavilion, picnic shelters, children’s musical sound  garden, outdoor fitness equipment, spray park, and a Storywalk® display.

For more information about securing your place on the GAP sponsor mural wall, visit  www.granvillecounty.org/gapsponsors.

TownTalk: Disc Golf At Granville Athletic Park

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We see them everywhere: those flexible plastic discs that get flung through the air on beaches, college campuses and playgrounds.

Toy manufacturer Wham-O was the first to call them Frisbees in the late 1950’s and since then, the flying discs have been tossed about for fun – and competitively.

Local disc golf enthusiasts have a high-quality 18-hold course to practice their sport at Granville Athletic Park, and the board of commissioners recently recognized their efforts to bring such a course for the public to enjoy.

The course is called “The Incinerator,” the result of Granville County native David Nicholson and a group of dedicated volunteers who partnered with GAP parks and grounds crew to create. It began in 2018 with nine holes and the final nine was completed in 2022.

It was built with minimal labor and expenses by county staff and has already put Granville County on the map in the disc golf world, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

“These volunteers have succeeded in creating a destination for disc golf enthusiasts from across the state in a uniquely themed course that pays tribute to the rich history behind the park’s development,” the statement continued.

For more information about the Incinerator Disc Golf Course, please visit the Granville County website:  https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/recreation/granville-athletic-park-gap-2/34051-2/

In addition to Nicholson, commissioners also recognized the following disc golf course volunteers: Kyrston Nicholson, Jeff Schons, Michael Fortlage, Ben Lewis Benjamin, Fermin Calderon, Russell Davis, Heyward Gignilliat, Andy Mathews, Joe Tartamella, Justin Crow, Dilon Lawson, Dionicio Salazar, Paul  Shelton Jr., Parker Schons, Samuel Sirianna, Adam Weisbrodt, Larry Smith, Davis Lever and Sam Taylor.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Tree Dedication Ceremony Apr. 29 At GAP In Memory Of Commissioners

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The Granville County Board of Commissioners and county staff will gather at the Granville Athletic Park on Friday, April 29 to make a special dedication to remember three former commissioners in conjunction with National Arbor Day.

A grove of four maple trees will be dedicated in memory of former commissioners Dave Currin, Owen Roberts and Edward Smoak, according to a press statement from Terry Hobgood, Granville County public information officer.

The ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. “All members of the community are invited to attend and are especially encouraged to submit names of those they would like to see honored at this event. Granville County intends to make this a recurring recognition to honor the service and memory of former commissioners while also adding to our beautiful tree canopy at the GAP in conjunction with National  Arbor Day,” the press statement read.

The commissioners approved the idea at their February 2022 meeting and the plan is to install a plaque to dedicate this area of the GAP as a special place dedicated to deceased commissioners honored for their service to the county.

To submit a name of a former official to be considered for recognition at the April 29 event, contact Hobgood at 919.693.5240 or terry.hobgood@granvillecounty.org. The memorial grove and dedication ceremony will be located near the main entrance of the GAP (4615 Belltown Road, Oxford) near the walking path and butterfly garden at the large soccer fields adjacent to the main parking lot.

GAP Phase III Complete; 11 More Acres For Tennis, Volleyball, Other Activities

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Granville Athletic Park’s Phase III is finished and now open to the public, adding tennis courts, open green space, sand volleyball pits and more to the GAP’s existing ball fields, walking trails and splash park.

“We are extremely excited about this expansion,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman. “As we are able to get outside more and enjoy the many recreational opportunities across the county, we invite our residents and visitors to come out enjoy the new tennis courts, playground equipment and other features, as well as all the other amenities already available at the GAP,” she said.

The newest section of the park uses 11 additional acres of land the county bought in 2013, bringing to 80 the total number of acres that comprise the park.

In addition to the tennis courts, green space and volleyball pits, there is an easily accessible and inclusive playground, a fitness station, a picnic shelter and designated areas for cornhole boards. There are plans to add nine holes of disc golf as well, according to a statement from county public information officer Lynn Allred.

The goal of this project is to encourage healthy activity and to provide a safe, appealing and functional outdoor environment for residents and visitors to the area, according to Allred.

Expected use of the tennis courts includes scheduled tournament play for athletic associations and tennis clubs, as well as access for practice and casual community enjoyment. Groups, teams and individuals can now reserve one of the six tennis courts and be put on the GAP’s calendar for specific dates and times. Call 919.693.5240 to learn more or to reserve a court.

Planners used results from a 2015 countywide recreation survey to choose how to outfit the addition. The creation and construction comes from grant funding from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF, $300,000), the National Parks Service Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF, $250,000), the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA, $50,000) and the U.S. Tennis Association’s USTA Southern ($20,000).

County leaders will have a ribbon cutting to officially dedicate the Phase III addition to the GAP is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony, which will be held in conjunction with Granville County’s 275th anniversary celebration at the park’s sheltered sports pavilion area and amphitheater.

Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford. Visit www.granvillecounty.org to learn more.

 

GAP Quilt Square

Granville Athletic Park Site of Newest Addition to Regional Quilt Trail

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

With the installation of a quilt block on a historic tobacco barn, the Granville Athletic Park (GAP) is now included on the Quilt Trails of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers.

The block was installed this past Saturday by the Franklin County Arts Council, connecting the GAP and Granville County to a heritage trail that meanders through eastern North Carolina. A description of the block and a brief history of the park will now be included on a travel guide that takes visitors on a cultural journey from one block to the next, county by county.

“Quilt blocks blend history, culture and community, and help tell the stories of the sites where they hang,” says Franklin Arts Council Director Ellen Queen. “Each block has been carefully designed or chosen to trigger the story of the family home, business or historical site where it resides.”

Pictured with the new quilt block at Granville Athletic Park are Michael Felts, County Manager; Angela Allen, Granville Tourism Development Authority Director; Sue Hinman, County Commissioner; Ellen Queen, Director, Franklin Arts Council; and Zelodis Jay, Granville County Commissioner. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)

The trail includes Franklin, Vance, Warren, Wake, Nash, Martin, Pitt and Granville Counties. This is Granville’s second block to be included on the trail. One has also been installed at a private residence in Oxford but is not available for public viewing.

The barn quilt featured at the Granville Athletic Park is easily visible from the main parking lot and walking trail, with a design that reflects the community’s efforts to preserve the property where the block now hangs.

In 1989, the state of North Carolina had joined a multi-state compact with a goal of building five hazardous waste incinerators for private company ThermalKEM. The following year, a list of 18 potential locations had been narrowed to two, with one being in Granville County.

When concerned citizens learned of the state’s intentions, they took action. Oxford attorney John Pike secured a loan from Adams Tobacco Company to purchase the 48-acre Ellok Jones farm, a tract of land in the middle of the proposed 580-acre incinerator site off Belltown Road.

“Barrister’s Block” has been added to the Quilt Trail of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers and can be seen on the barn along the GAP’s walking path. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)

Pike then sold $5 ownership shares to thousands of local residents as well as to shareholders around the world. Future negotiations with approximately 8,000 property owners, some living as far away as the Soviet Union and South America – in addition to public protests and the possibility of multiple lawsuits – resulted in the eventual elimination of Granville County as a possible site.

On May 21, 2004, the acreage once proposed as the location for a hazardous waste incinerator was dedicated as the Granville Athletic Park and Jonesland Environmental Preserve. Encompassing 69 acres, today’s GAP is the largest recreational park in the county and provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities for residents and for visitors.

The fitting “Barrister’s Block” quilt design is a tribute to the successful community campaign to preserve the land on Belltown Road. As the role of a “barrister” is to serve as a courtroom advocate, Attorney John Pike – with the support of Granville County citizens – was an advocate for preserving the land. The red and white colors of the quilt block are a nod to the Granville County flag.

This project was partially funded through a mini-grant provided through the Granville Tourism Development Authority.

“The Quilt Trails are a great way for visitors to find Granville County,” said Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen, “and, once they are here, they can explore local restaurants, shops, galleries and more. We’re proud to be a part of this heritage trail and to be able to tell the background story of this part of our county.”

To learn more about the Quilt Trail of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers, which is the only trail of its kind in the eastern part of the state, please visit granvillecounty.org for a link to the Franklin Arts Council’s online trail guide and to their website.

Granville Athletic Park Begins Phase III Expansion

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

The Phase III expansion of Granville Athletic Park (the GAP) is underway! Plans include the addition of tennis courts, an inclusive playground, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, nine additional holes for disc golf, a picnic area, fitness stations, open spaces and additional walking trails.

Phase III will join the existing Phase I and Phase II areas, making the GAP an 80-acre recreational park.

Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford, NC and is the county’s largest recreational area.

USTA Grants will Aid in Construction of Tennis Courts at Granville Athletic Park

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Funding through the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and USTA Southern has been made available to assist in the construction of new tennis courts at Granville Athletic Park (GAP). Six 78-foot tennis courts – with options for play on three 60-foot and four 36-foot courts – are included in the expansion plans for Phase III of the park, which is already the largest recreational area in the county.

Applications for funding were submitted in September of 2019 in partnership with the County’s former Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (now the Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee) and the Oxford Community Tennis Association. Award notifications were recently made for a $50,000 grant through the USTA and $20,000 from USTA Southern, making $70,000 available towards the construction of full-sized tennis courts and the installation of striping for playing surfaces of varying sizes.

“The mission of USTA Southern is to promote and develop the growth of tennis in our nine southern states,” said Bonnie Vandergrift, USTA Southern’s CEO and President. “We are also pleased to be able to provide funding through our Build It Forward facility assistance grant to help Granville County build six new tennis courts. These courts will help Granville County expand its programming to youth and adults.”

Expected use includes tournament play for athletic associations and tennis clubs, as well as providing access for local high schools’ practice and play. Three of the courts will be lighted for evening use, extending opportunities for tennis enjoyment. The Oxford Community Tennis Association, which hosts tournaments, clinics and summer leagues, also has plans to make use of these new courts.

“These tennis courts will greatly enhance what the county already has in place,” said Betty Lou Davis of Granville County’s  Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Oxford Community Tennis Association. “USTA funding means that our courts will be USTA-sanctioned, attracting a broader spectrum of tennis players from outside the county, increasing the number of visitors to our area. Plus, we are excited that our schools will have a new, safe place to play.”

Granville Athletic Park’s Phase III expansion will sit on 11 acres of land that Granville County acquired in 2013 and will join the existing park – Phases I and II – which now totals 68.5 acres. Upon completion, Phase III will make the GAP an 80-acre park. In addition to tennis courts, the new section of the GAP will include inclusive and accessible playground equipment, a picnic shelter, an additional ¼ mile paved walking trail, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and open activity space.

The goal of this project is to encourage healthy activity and to provide safe, appealing and functional tennis environments to a wide variety of groups. Granville County’s Board of Commissioners voted to officially accept this grant funding at their Feb. 17 meeting.

GAP Celebrates Parks & Recreation Month With Colorful Sound Garden

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Granville County is celebrating Parks and Recreation Month!

A sound garden is a new and welcome addition to Granville Athletic Park. Colorful, stationary chimes, chimes that swing and a fun set of drums have all been added to emphasize sensory play.

Have you visited Granville County’s largest recreational area lately? Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford, and is celebrating its 15th anniversary!

Pictured is two-year-old Cooper Frazier having fun and making music at Granville Athletic Park. (Photo/graphic courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)

 

Beat the Summer Heat at the GAP’s Spray Park

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Spray Park at Granville Athletic Park is open throughout the summer, Tuesday through Sunday of each week, from noon until 5 p.m.

It is also available to groups (by appointment) Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon.

If you would like to use the Spray Park, contact Raymond Allen at 919-482-2560 for information about fees and for more details.

Granville Athletic Park is located at 4615 Belltown Road in Oxford, NC.

 

Pictured are Paisley and Harper Pugh, ages 6 and 4, enjoying playtime at the GAP Spray Park. (Granville Co. Government photo)