A new park has officially opened in West Jefferson, North Carolina. (Photo via Blue Ridge Conservancy)
Paddy Mountain Park is officially open in West Jefferson. Discover North Carolina’s newest outdoor destination born from community collaboration and conservation efforts.
A fresh expanse of natural beauty has just been unveiled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
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Paddy Mountain Park, the newest outdoor gem in West Jefferson, welcomed its first visitors with a grand opening celebration through the governor’s office, marking a significant milestone for outdoor enthusiasts and conservation efforts alike.
The park includes a 3.6-mile loop trail. According to West Jefferson, it’s great for hiking, birding, and running.
(Photo via Blue Ridge Conservancy)
A community’s dream realized
The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together a diverse coalition of supporters who transformed vision into reality. Standing amid the park’s landscapes, state leaders joined conservation advocates and local officials to inaugurate this new addition to West Jefferson’s outdoor spaces.
“North Carolina’s parks are integral to our state’s quality of life and economy,” Gov. Josh Stein said during the ceremony. “We are all grateful that so many organizations and agencies came together to open Paddy Mountain Park for future generations of North Carolinians to enjoy.”
The power of partnership
What makes Paddy Mountain Park special is the remarkable collaboration behind its creation. This park emerged from community organizing to preserve West Jefferson’s natural beauty and support the local tourism industry.
“The opening of Paddy Mountain Park is a perfect representation of what is possible when people work together to preserve their natural wonders,” said Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell. “We all have a role to play in conserving our state and keeping our parks and trails in good order.”
The coalition included the town of West Jefferson, Ashe County, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and the Blue Ridge Conservancy.
A bright spot in recovery
The park’s debut serves as positive news for the region. Despite Hurricane Helene’s destructive impact on many western North Carolina parks, inhibiting tree growth and affecting the tourism industry, coordinated recovery efforts have successfully reopened all but two affected parks seven months later.
Supporting North Carolina’s outdoor legacy
Paddy Mountain Park joins North Carolina’s impressive network of national, state, and local parks that support more than 66,000 jobs and add more than $7 billion to the state’s economy, reinforcing the vital role these natural spaces play in both quality of life and regional prosperity.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: Out of the 45 state parks and recreation areas in North Carolina, here are the top 10
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