Nestled next to Colin Creek Golf Club is Davie County’s newest recreational gem – The Park at Lake Louise. Community officials and residents were invited to explore the park on March 20th as owners Dr. Joel and Beth Edwards celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and hotdog lunch. The park is located at 2251 US 64 E., in Mocksville at the former site of Hickory Hill Golf Club.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming today. This has been an exciting time for Beth and me and the people who have been working on this project,” said Dr. Edwards. “Dozens and dozens of kids and families have already been here, which has been wonderful.”
Sad to see the club’s deterioration following the death of its owner, two area physicians, Dr. David Duncan, a Winston-Salem thoracic surgeon, who has lived in the area for 20 years, and Dr. Joel Edwards, a family practitioner in Davie County, purchased the club in 2018 and have made numerous renovations, with more on the drawing board. Duncan purchased the golf course portion of the property which he restored and re-opened as Colin Creek Golf Club in July of 2019. The Edwardses purchased the remainder of the property with an eye toward health and fitness.
“With our interest in health and education, we knew from the beginning that we wanted to provide our community with another opportunity for healthy outdoor activities and education for kids and families,” said Beth Edwards.
After more than a year and a half of planning and construction, Phase I is complete. It includes a deluxe playground with equipment designed for children 2-5 as well as equipment for ages 5-12, fitness stations for adults to use while they watch their children play, and concrete walking and biking trails that connect to the golf course’s cart paths and loops down to the lake and back. There is also “The Great Meadow” where people can play ball or frisbee or relax in the sun. The park was designed by McAdams, the same company that developed Davie County Community Park at the old high school site.
“It was wonderful to see the excitement for the opening of the park and the completion of Phase I. We have enjoyed watching children and adults have fun in this outdoor space, and we are looking forward to beginning Phase II,” said Dr. Edwards.
Phase II, which could begin as early as this summer, includes the renovation of the old swimming pool bathrooms located near the playground, a large picnic shelter next to the parking lot, the completion of the fitness trail loop, and learning stations about forest and meadow ecosystems.
Desiring the park to truly be an asset to the community, the Edwardses have appreciated the design guidance of McAdams. They also sought community input and have altered their plans to accommodate many of the suggestions.
One notable change to the plan is the addition of an Eno hammock lounge gathering area per the request of the Davie Community Foundation S.U.R.F Board, a group of high school students who raise money and award grants to youth-led projects in Davie County.
“We had never even heard of Eno hammocks, but when the group came to present to us that they would like to do this, we were open to the suggestion. The young people presented a good argument advocating for an area where teenagers could hang out and do homework, read or just chat in a safe place,” said Beth Edwards.
Another example involves the placement of the picnic shelter. Initially, the Edwardses planned to build the shelter in the park under a stand of trees. Based on community members’ suggestions, the picnic area will now be located near the parking lot for easy access to the playground and bathrooms.
“The county and community have been on board from the beginning and we have been excited about all of the ideas we have received,” said Dr. Edwards.
The park’s final phase is expected to include a fishing boardwalk along the lake, another large shelter, a small amphitheater for concerts and performances, and enhanced plantings.
The Edwardses are grateful for the help they have received from the Davie County Economic Development Commission, the Davie Community Foundation, the Davie County Hospital Foundation, Davie County Recreation & Parks, and Novant Health Davie Medical Associates.
“We really appreciate the support of multiple organizations and are excited about their continued support in the future,” said Dr. Edwards.
“This has been a very collaborative partnership. We couldn’t have done any of this without McAdams, without Economic Development, without Recreation and Parks, and without foundation support. Everybody that has had a part is essential to the completion of the different phases and opening this opportunity for families. We had the vision, but we couldn’t do it all alone,” added Beth Edwards.
During the ceremony, NC Representative Julia Howard thanked the Edwardses for their investment and commitment to the Davie County community. “
“What a blessing that we have in this venue. We are blessed to have people like Joel and Beth who care about our county, and we are certainly going to try to help them all we can to continue to move forward with their plans for the park.”
The Park at Lake Louise is free for the public to enjoy and is open daily from sunrise to sunset.