City Services
Parks and Recreation Department
Martha Rivers Park
Martha Rivers Park Project Development Costs
A proposal to build a Youth Sports Complex was presented to the Recreation Advisory Commission in early 1989. The plan was quickly added to the City's Capital Projects list during fiscal year 1989-90. The project was brought to the front burner by elected officials in 1993-94 and the search for property began.
In 1995, the Gastonia City Council, Gaston County Commissioners, and the Gaston County School Board collectively worked to deed an existing 20-acre passive park (named Martha Rivers Park), and 34 adjoining acres, originally purchased as a future school site, to the City for the Complex. The City then purchased an additional three adjacent acres for approximately $300,000, bringing the total park size to 57.95 acres.
Park designers and architects were chosen (Woolpert and Associates) to develop a Master Plan in November 1995. A Master Plan was approved on September 3, 1996. The project bid was opened and awarded to Randolph and Son Builders, Inc., general contractors, in September 1997. The contract price for the first phase of the project was $3,248,000.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held October 23, 1997 and the final inspection of the project took place on April 22, 1999. Two years after the first shovels of dirt, the Grand Opening Ceremony took place on October 23, 1999.
Martha Rivers Park Playground
This visually stunning and creative playground covers approximately one acre and was designed by Leathers and Associates from Ithaca, NY. Community volunteers partnered with the City to build it over a period of six months. $350,000 local money was raised by volunteers for the project. Upon completion, the appraised value was over $600,000. The Operation Playground Grand Opening coincided with the Youth Sports Complex Grand Opening on October 23, 1999.
Phase II
The completion of Phase II added four, lighted soccer/athletic fields, restrooms, two large picnic shelters, approximately two miles of asphalt walkway, 110 additional parking spaces, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and other park amenities. The cost for this project was $617,000. The City received a $250,000 grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. Much of the design and engineering for this phase was accomplished in-house by City staff, with Eaglewood Construction as the General Contractor. The project began in November 2000 and was completed in June 2001.
Construction Tidbits
A 50 ft. deep rock quarry had to be dewatered and backfilled with dirt. Engineers estimated it would take two years to fill. It was filled with 100,000 cubic yards of dirt and concrete in less than 9 months. This computes to over 7,000 truckloads, which if lined up bumper to bumper, would extend over 20 miles long. 200,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved from high places and filled in low places to create the 8 athletic fields. Over 13,000 bushels of 419 Tifway Bermuda sprigs were used for the project. Over four miles of PVC pipe and six miles of wiring were used for the irrigation system.
A traffic counter was placed at the park entrance May 1 - 7, 2000 and the results for this week recorded 5,449 cars and vans and 40 busses had entered the park. Using conservative ratios to estimate park attendance (2.5 per vehicle, 40 per bus), this week produced over 15,000 visitors.
Future phases include a corporate picnic shelter and a full-scale community center.
Walking Trails
The park has a paved walking trail that loops around the outer edge of the baseball fields, playground and soccer fields with several adjoining crossovers to vary distance and geography.
Fees & Charges
There is "No Charge" to the public for general park use. Park hours are 7 am - dusk, year round.
Shelter Rentals:
Picnic Shelter Rentals: $15 City Residents
$20 outside City Residents.
Martha Rivers Shelter #1.
Martha Rivers Shelter #2.
Field Rentals:
Field Rental: $125 per field per day for City Residents
$250 per field per day for outside City Residents
Single game fees are prorated. The City receives 25% of the gross if admission fees are charged.
League Fees:
Inside City sponsored teams pay no entry fees for first season programs. Outside City sponsored teams pay entry fees to defray costs of umpires, and supplies. Second season leagues (fall baseball, spring soccer) are charged fees to defray costs. During City run tournaments admission fees are $2 adults and $1 under 16.
Driving Directions
From I-85S or I-85N, EXIT 17, GASTONIA-LINCOLNTON/HWY 321 and turn right; proceed south on Hwy321/N. Chester St. to E. Hudson Blvd; turn left for .1 mi; turn right at light onto Neal Hawkins Road. Martha Rivers Park will be on the right, 1515 Neal Hawkins Road. Total distance approximately 5 miles.
or
From From I-85S or I-85N, EXIT 22, Lowell/Cramerton and turn left; proceed south on S. Main St. which becomes Redbud Dr. (at the Wilkerson Blvd. intersection): which becomes Hoffman Rd. (at the Hudson Blvd. intersection); which becomes Robinwood Rd. (at the Robinwood Rd. intersection); which becomes Neal Hawkins Rd. (at the Union Rd. intersection). Martha Rivers Park will be on the left, 1515 Neal Hawkins Rd. Total distance approximately 5.5 miles.
Also see Map of Facilities.
Youth Baseball Action
Youth Soccer Action
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