BY KARISSA MILLER
The new and improved Jennings Park opened to rave reviews on Thursday afternoon.
Two years after closing, the new 74-acre park shares only a name with the previous park following an investment of about $30 million in site work, infrastructure, playing fields and other amenities by the Iredell County Board of Commissioners.
“There are people even more excited than we are that it’s open,” said Parks and Recreation Director Daniel Leatherman.
Jennings Park is located at 141 Deitz Road in Statesville.
Residents who attended the grand re-opening were abuzz with excitement as they toured the park, explored new amenities, and participated in a Zumba class, group hike and other program demonstrations.
Parks and Recreation Board member Barb Thorson had the honor of throwing out the first pitch on one of the baseball diamonds.
“It’s beyond our imagination,” she said of the nearly finished product. “We had an excellent design company.”
Caroline Scheidegger, a fourth-grader at Shepherd Elementary, was among a handful of children who scored the first soccer goal on one of the multi-sport fields.
“I am glad that I was able to be the first. I will probably tell all of my friends and they will be jealous,” she said.
She said that she like playing sports because “they teach you to have fun and do your best.”
“It’s more than playing a sport. It’s about being a team member, collaborating with others and building kind of a little family community around here. There’s not a lot of places that have this available that are close by,” her mom Ashley Scheidegger said.
Ashley said she’s looking forward to the opening of the pickleball courts.
Jason and Tina Fleming and their Border collie Sage walked a mile on the Nature Trail Thursday evening.
“It gives us a place to walk the dog and gives kids a nice place to play sports. It’s a great place to enjoy nature,” Jason said.
Those who had opportunity to participate in the group hike on the Nature Trail might have noticed that the trail follows the disc golf course.
Friends Troy Coleman, Jacob Sands and Lane Adams of Statesville were among the first to play a round on the new course.
“For us, normally we have to drive to Mooresville or Davie County or Charlotte. This is awesome,” Coleman said.
Austin Setzer, sports events and facility manager, said, “It’s great when it comes to youth sports and all ages. There are a lot of kids and adults as well who will benefit from this facility. This is going to be multi-generational, especially with the turf.”
The renovated park features:
♦ Four baseball fields with synthetic turf infields and natural grass outfields, as well as six batting cages;
♦ Four turf multi-purpose fields, a field house with a press box, two concession stands with restroom facilities;
♦ The 18-hole disc golf course, an event lawn;
♦ An inclusive playground; and
♦ 2.3 miles of walking trails
Construction is still in progress for the four pickleball courts, the playground, and adventure course amenities. Future events will commemorate their opening sometime in April, officials said.
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