ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (rbs news now) — The Town of Rocky Mount is set to celebrate the grand opening of its newest addition, Rocky Mount Community Park, along with Franklin County’s first dog park.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for September 5 at 10 a.m. at 335 Technology Drive.

The newly developed community park will become the largest park in the town, spanning 19 acres, according to a news release.

It features a three-quarter-mile paved trail loop through a wooded area, complete with benches and fitness stations for walkers and runners of all ages.

A new parking lot has been installed to provide easy access to the trail and the dog park, which serves as the entrance to the larger park.

The dog park includes amenities such as a “fido water fountain,” benches for pet owners, and separate fenced areas for large dogs (40 lbs. and over) and small dogs (under 40 lbs.), all with natural grass surfacing. The dog park was made possible through funding from the Town of Rocky Mount and a grant from the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount.

“The town continues to focus on
quality-of-life projects like our park system and we are thrilled to be able to add this beautiful, wooded
park to our collection along with Franklin County’s first dog park,” Mayor C. Holland Perdue III stated. “Projects like this not only add to our
quality of life here, but they also contribute to population retention and economic development. I have
heard from many residents that are excited about the park with many people already using it.”

With the opening of park, the town will boast seven parks in total, providing more than 39 acres of parkland.

The release said this abundance of parks is notable for a community of almost 5,000 residents, exceeding the National Recreation and Park Association’s average of one park for every 2,386 residents.

The Rocky Mount Community Park is now open to the public, with hours of operation from dawn to dusk daily.

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