Badin receives 14-acre donation for new waterfront park
Published 12:08 pm Monday, June 14, 2021
- From left: NC Rep. Ben Moss, Morrow Mountain Superintendent Jeff Davidson, NC Rep. Wayne Sasser, Director of Alcoa Transformation Robyn Gross, Eagle Creek Renewable Energy HR Director Nicole Wright, Alcoa Transformation Multi-Location Manager Randy Rush, former Alcoa Plant Manager Tommy Gibson, Badin Town Councilman Gary Lowder, Badin Mayor Anne Harwood, Badin Mayor Pro-Tem Deloris Chambers, Badin Town Manager Jay Almond, Stanly County Commissioner Peter Asciutto, Badin Town Councilman Demar Huntley.
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A new, proposed waterfront park in Badin is one step closer to reality.
The Town of Badin celebrated the formal donation of 14 acres of land for a public park from Badin Business Park at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday. Town officials say the property, located directly adjacent to the Badin Lake recreation area on N.C. Highway 740, will be transformed into a waterfront park that will include features such as boat docks, wooded trails with lake views, picnic shelters, a band shell and watercraft rentals.
“We are incredibly excited about this donation and the opportunity it presents for us to create a
unique waterfront recreation area in Badin. The park will have a regional appeal that complements the draw of Morrow Mountain State Park and Uwharrie National Forest,” Badin Mayor Anne Harwood said. “We look forward to maximizing the recreational offerings in our beautiful waterfront town.”
Badin Town Manager Jay Almond said the town will spend the next year planning for the park and securing funding for amenities.
The land donation is part of a 2007 Relicensing Settlement Agreement involving Alcoa Power Generating Inc.’s hydroelectric project in North Carolina. Alcoa sold the hydroelectric project in 2017 but all obligations in the Relicensing Settlement Agreement are being honored.
“Badin is a beautiful town, and we are excited about what the future holds for this property. It is a beautiful setting for a waterfront park and is sure to draw more people to Badin,” said Robyn Gross, a director of Alcoa Transformation/Asset Planning & Management.
Badin Business Park, which made the land donation, is on the site of the former Badin Works smelter operated by Alcoa.
During the ceremony, Jeff Davidson, superintendent of Morrow Mountain State Park, highlighted another land donation made by Alcoa in May 2020. The company donated 1,085 acres to expand the state park’s footprint by more than 20 percent. It is now one of the 10 largest state parks in North Carolina by acreage.
