Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 was a day of celebration for the Hope Mills community when town commissioners, leaders and friends all came together to hold a historic groundbreaking on the long awaited Heritage Park Phase 1 project. 

Located at 5445 Lakeview Road, across from Hope Mills Lake, the park includes ample field space, the historic preservation of the old mill flume, and the conversion of the flume to a stormwater control measure that will treat the new impervious surfaces constructed in the park. 

Other park amenities include the construction of a new driveway, restroom, parking lot, event lawn and the preservation and placement of the floodgates as shade canopies over benches. The project also includes an interpretive element that will explain the history of the Town, the mill and how the flume has been repurposed to treat stormwater and protect Little Rock Creek.

“We're here to witness something never done before in the history of this town. We're here today for the opening of a park dedicated to the history of Hope Mills. We're also here today because of the hard work, dedication, vision, and most importantly, the desire of citizens and Hope Mills to come together,” shared Chancer McLaughlin, town manager for the Town of Hope Mills. “Through this interactive space, you will be able to dig deep into the rich history of this site while experiencing a design amendment to address drainage and engineering while at play, this park will become one of our premier spaces that provides a place of peace and tranquility in a natural setting, while preserving and highlighting elements significant to the operation of one of our historic mills.” 

According to an official breakdown of the Heritage Park development timeline released by the Town, the project has been in the world since 2020 when the Board of Commissioners accepted the PARTF grant from NCDENR and authorized the Mayor to execute an agreement for Phase I construction. Since then progress continued steadily, with milestones being marked such as the selection of K & C Contractors, Inc. to complete the project. 

According to Hope Mills Parks & Recreation Director Lamarco Morrison, the project utilized $405,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds along with a match from the Town of just under $400,000 to make the project happen. 

“I don't want to call it a cost. I want to call it an investment, because this project is going to be here well after all of us, it's an investment in town that people for years to come will be able to enjoy,” said Morrison. “A couple of items that you don't see yet, but they're going to be installed really soon. There's a dedication plaque and a commemoration plaque that's going to commemorate all of HPC and the members that started the project, and then it's also going to be a dedication plaque for the grist mill.” 

The ceremony also included words of thanks from Mayor Jessie Bellflowers, a brief history of the area from Sharon Reeves, chair of the Historical Preservation Committee and a certificate presentation from Katie Smith, senior advisor for Senator David Rouzer. 

The event concluded with a dinner held at the Hope Mills Parks and Recreation building.