Old Waynesborough Commission may seek funding
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on July 21, 2004 1:58 PM
The Old Waynesborough Commission is developing ideas of what needs to be done with the recently acquired state park land and how much it will cost to make the ideas a reality.
After the decisions are made, commission board members plan to present their findings to the Goldsboro City Council and the county commissioners and ask them for additional funding.
The board has discussed using the land for a variety of attractions including a picnic and camping area, a fishing and boat dock, a canoe launch and an RV park. It would also contain a portion of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail, which would be developed within the next few years. The commission hopes to receive money from the state to help with the trail development.
The commission received the deed this month for 130 acres of state park land on the Neuse River off U.S. 117. The commission owns about 12 acres at the front of the park, including the historical village and the visitors' center.
It received $10,000 from the Goldsboro City Council this year, and the county commissioners gave $22,500. In 2003, the city and county provided $38,000, which was combined with the $18,000 raised by the commission.
Bill Kemp, vice president of long-range planning, said Waynesborough Park needs to be one of the best parks in the country. He presented a timeline to the board at its April meeting, showing how it could reach a fund-raising goal of $1 million by 2012. He said the commission should furnish 20 percent of the funding or as much as $200,000 eight years from now.
The commission plans to have several new additions completed as soon as possible, including a shelter in the event area, an addition to the blacksmith shop and more equipment for buildings and grounds. Future additions include a restaurant, reconstruction of the Indian Village, an addition to the general store and a picture gallery.
The commission has several ideas to get others to join, including writing a letter to members asking them to bring people out to the park and a letter to those who have used the park in the past. It also plans to make presentations to schools, churches and civic clubs.
The village is at 801 U.S. 117 S. Bypass in Goldsboro, across from the National Guard Armory. Upcoming events at the village include the open house and barbecue fund-raiser on Oct. 16; "Shadows of Waynesborough" on Oct. 15-16 and 22-23; and Christmas in the Village on Dec. 11. The village is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on becoming involved in the events or becoming a commission member, call 731-1653.