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Lake park will open next week
By JASON M. DUNOVANT, Franklin County Supervisor Russ Johnson hosted a meeting last week at Trinity Ecumenical Parish to discuss the imminent opening of the new Smith Mountain Lake Community Park later this month.
A crowd of close to 50 area residents joined Franklin County staff, members of the Virginia Department of Transportation, officers from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and officers from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) to discuss the opening of the park set for May 25.
Franklin County Director of Commerce and Leisure Services Scott Martin explained details of the park to those in attendance at the start of the meeting. According to Martin, the park is expected to open over several phases and feature such things as a public beach, bath house, playground, hiking trail, picnic shelters, boat ramp, fishing pier, and over 100 parking spaces.
Only the fishing pier, hiking trail, playground, and picnic shelter will be constructed in time for the park's first phase and grand opening later this month, other attractions will be added in later years.
The park's fishing pier will be the only public fishing pier located on the south side of Smith Mountain Lake and, according to Martin, it is located in prime striper water. The possibility for quality striper fishing could make it a popular location for fishermen who don't own a boat.
Martin also expects the park's proposed beach to be completed in time for next spring along with several parking spaces. Martin and other believe the public beach will quickly become a popular attraction and one of the main reasons for visitors at the park.
Many in attendance at last week's meeting were residents of nearby developments, several raised questions about how the county would handle the large amount of visitors expected at the park. They were concerned about noise, traffic, litter, and unruly visitors coming to the area and causing problems.
Sheriff W.Q. Overton, who was in attendance, admitted there would be some problems when the park opened, but assured residents that his department would do everything they could to curb any problems.
"This is going to draw the undesirable people from all around," Overton said. "As time goes on you're going to have problems."
Overton stated he would keep as many officers as possible at the park to maintain a presence and to hinder people from causing problems such as littering, speeding, and public intoxication.
Captain Ron Henry of the DGIF also said that his officers would maintain a presence at the park checking for fishing licenses and watching out for any undesirable activity. Henry believed that the first phase of the park, opening later this month, would likely be quiet with few problems. He expected next year's opening, with the addition of a beach, to be much more problematic.
With the limited about of amenities available for the park's opening this year, many members of the Franklin County staff and area police officers see this year as a trail run to help them prepare for next year. They hope to sort out any complications before large crowds possibly begin attending the park on a daily basis next year.
The large crowd was the main concern of many of the local residents at the meeting. Many asked for a way to slow speeding cars on the way to the park on Parkway Avenue. Some suggested more stop signs at intersections near the park, others suggested placing cameras around the park to catch speeding cars and any other undesirable activity.
Sheriff Overton calmed some fears by agreeing to maintain a large police presence at the park, especially during its upcoming opening. He explained that with an ongoing presence at the lake, many visitors would be hesitant to speed. He would like visitors to eventually expect a police presence at the lake and maintain safe speeds.
"When this opens we're going to be extra busy," Overton said.
The Smith Mountain Lake Community Park is scheduled to open on Friday, May 25.
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