On Thursday, July 28th, Mayor Carol Pritchett from the Town of Lake Lure cut the ribbon to officially celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated overlook and walkway at Morse Park. Rutherford County residents, along with Town and County officials gathered in the Park gazebo to hear more about the improvements made in the park and walk along the newly-upgraded pathway along the shoreline of Lake Lure.
Visitors to Morse Park are offered a sweeping views of Lake Lure and the dramatic landscapes of Hickory Nut Gorge. The new Overlook Walkway provides the perfect spot to stop and take in the scenery or snap a few photos to commemorate their visit. The open grassy fields and recreation facilities of Morse Park are a popular community gathering spot, drawing visitors and town residents alike. With a large paved parking lot, restrooms, airy gazebo, and plenty of level ground, Morse Park is an ideal location for athletic events, festivals, and other outdoor recreation activities.
The Town has installed a new seawall along the shoreline of the lake, with an improved viewing area and new hand railings to ensure visitor safety. In place of the original walkway, new pavers have been installed around the gazebo to provide a safe and level walking surface for all visitors. This project was completed as part of the Rutherford Bound initiative, with the Rutherford County TDA granting 143,750 towards the project, which was matched by the Town of Lake Lure.
"One of the most beautiful things about the TDA and Rutherford Bound is that it has made Rutherford County collectively one entity. Everyone is of the mindset now that what we do in one of our cities enhances the lives of everybody in all of the other cities." -Mayor Carol Pritchett, Town of Lake Lure
The Town of Lake Lure and neighboring Chimney Rock Village have worked collaboratively on many projects to their mutual benefit. Chimney Rock Village Mayor Peter O'Leary offered his sincere appreciation for the park improvements and congratulations on a job well done.
"Chimney Rock Village congratulates Lake Lure on all the great improvements they have made and continue to make through the Rutherford Bound program. We support Lake Lure, the TDA, and everyone involved in Rutherford Bound as the program continues to make Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and all of Rutherford County the best we can be for our residents and the thousands of visitors we get daily." -Mayor Peter O'Leary, Chimney Rock Village
"When you build a better place to live, work, and play; you build a place people want to visit." -Don Cason, Rutherford County TDA
Rutherford Bound is a county-wide tourism development plan to revitalize and enhance quality- of- life infrastructure across all of Rutherford County through streetscape enhancements, improved parks, and a system of greenways, trails, and river access points.
