LELAND, N.C. (WECT) - The Town of Leland held the grand opening of Founders Park on Friday, capping a renovation project that stretched years beyond its original timeline.
The park is located adjacent to Leland Town Hall. More than 2,000 people attended the ribbon cutting, according to organizers.
Founders Park had been under renovation since construction began at the end of 2023, following a design phase that started in June 2021. The project was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
“Like any project, there’s hurdles along the way,” said project manager Will Lear, who has been involved with the project since its early stages in 2018.
Lear said coordinating the park’s many elements simultaneously proved to be the biggest obstacle.
“The biggest construction challenge we faced is there’s so many elements to the park, and so you have a lot of different areas to coordinate simultaneously,” Lear said. “There’s a lot of underground things you don’t see.”
PREVIOUS STORY: Founders Park to reopen after two-year renovation; amphitheater still closed
The town also cited unforeseen issues with the alignment of the amphitheater, which pushed the timeline back by a year. Despite the delays, Lear said the additional time improved the final product.
“The extra time we spent on it has made it a much better product in the end,” Lear said.
The renovation represents a full redesign.
“This is really a complete redesign of this park space. Before, we did have a small playground and a walking trail,” Lear said.
New additions include an inclusive playground, a splash pad, benches, a veterans memorial, fitness stations, a picnic shelter, an amphitheater and event lawn, walking paths, and green space. Parts of the park had already been open to the public prior to Friday’s ceremony.
At the grand opening, town officials recognized current and former Leland Town Council members, a former mayor, Leland Town staff, the office of U.S. Representative David Rouzer, County Commissioner Frank Williams, State Representative Frank Iler, the Leland Parks and Recreation Board, and the Leland Tourism Development Authority.
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Funding and support came from Truist Bank, the North Carolina State Parks through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the North Carolina Office of State Budget Management, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Division of Public Health’s Bike Amenities Program, SAMET Corporation, Grid 3 Management Inc., Group III Management Inc., Saltwater Signworks, Beach Boys Masonry and Hardscapes, Smith Steel Works, Blooming Crazy Nursery, Goodrich Oaks Architect, and McGill’s Engineering.
The ceremony included a presentation of colors by the North Brunswick High School JROTC, under the direction of Sergeant First Class William C. Bass and retired Army Captain George L. King Jr. The color guard was composed of Commander Eric Martinez and guards Brian Bailey Garcia, Adrian Dexiga, and Darius Best. Members of Leland VFW Post 12196 and American Legion Post 68 also participated. Singer Craig Woolard performed the National Anthem.
The Embers headlined the first live performance at the park’s new amphitheater, marking the venue’s debut as a community event space. Town officials said Founders Park will host concerts, movies, festivals, and other community events going forward.
WECT was on hand for the event as part of its Highway 6 coverage. For more detailed information on the timeline of Founders Park, click here.