By Allyson Sawtelle

Farmington Corresponent

The Farmington community has been busy this summer with lots of VBS events, music events, and gatherings.

The events continue as the Farmington Community & Events Center welcomes the Piedmont Opry with George Hamilton V back to town this Friday at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to get your tickets early or at the door for this fun night of local and not-so-local family entertainment.

On Friday, Aug. 3, the final concert of the FCEC’s “Summer Bluegrass Concert Series” showcases the Kevin Prater Band, which is a nationwide touring bluegrass band. Tickets are available online through Eventbright or at the door for $12 (seniors/students) or $10 (general admission adults).

Coming on Sept. 15 is the annual “Tour of Farmington” cycling event. All proceeds from this annual event support the Farmington Nature Park, which is an exciting new resource on the property owned by FCC. The 60+ acre park has a hiking/biking/fishing trail, and future plans include a disc golf course, civic camping site, a cycling “pump track” and expanded walking and biking trails.

Corporate sponsorships and cyclists’ entry fees in the Tour of Farmington event have provided the funding for the progress made so far at Farmington Nature Park, but we have much more to accomplish before realizing the vision conveyed by the land donors, Louis and Martha Smith, in 2007.

Louis’ wish was “that the land be preserved, not developed, and that it would  be open as a public park where kids could play as he did when it was his grandfather’s farm and that it would be open for everyone of all ages to enjoy”.

The proceeds from the 2017 Tour of Farmington event were used to fund the Farmington Nature Park Master Plan. This plan, which is the roadmap to creating a beautiful park that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities, has been instrumental in obtaining funding for new park amenities.

FCC is seeking corporate sponsors for the Sept. 15 event. Please call us with any questions you may have (Garry Steele 336-244-1080; Allyson Sawtelle 336-655-2700). Sponsorship information needs to be received by Aug. 15 to be included in the advertising opportunities available with Tour of Farmington.

The Farmington Nature Park Disc Golf Course has been designed, thanks to a grant from the Davie Community Foundation, and the course designer, Drew Smith from Greensboro, will be instrumental in following the course through to completion with selective clearing of brush to create greenways and the placement of tee pads and baskets for potential opening in Spring, 2019.

Funding for the disc golf course has also been provided by Davie County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism. Hole sponsorships are available for corporate donations. Please contact Allyson Sawtelle (sawtelle@yadtel.net) to help build this first disc golf course in Davie County that is open to the public.

A grant application was submitted to NC Parks and Recreation for a Recreational Trails Grant on July 18. If awarded, $79,218 would be used to expand the current biking and hiking trails by another two miles, create a pump track (practice area for mountain bikers) and construct a gravel parking lot on the property.

Farmington Community Center’s mission of “Preserving the Past to Promote the Future” is alive and well and we hope to see you in Farmington.