Both Hillsborough’s Gold Park and Riverwalk Greenway are back open to the public following damages from July’s historic flooding during Tropical Depression Chantal.

The last closed section of the Riverwalk east of Cameron Street reopened Monday. The restored portion stretches from Eno Mountain Road to the state’s greenway connecting to the Occoneechee Speedway and took the longest to be repaired. In its alert, the town said restoration efforts included resurfacing the trail with gravel, removing debris, and reinstalling geofabric.

“A ton of work went into that,” Hillsborough mayor Mark Bell told 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey. “From and staff and public works to contractors to rebuild some of those facilities. The bathrooms in Gold Park had six feet of water in them, so they had to be gutted and rebuilt from scratch.”

The 24-acre Gold Park reopened a few days before with repaired fencing and a resurfaced playground and dog park. Its restrooms have also been renovated, after the floodwaters reached six feet in the facility. The Town of Hillsborough and Public Space and Sustainability Manager Stephanie Trueblood shared a video on social media detailing the updates and welcoming community members back to the park.

“We’re thrilled that it’s back open,” Bell said of the Riverwalk. “It really means a whole lot to so many people. It’s one of the best things about Hillsborough.”

Although some Hillsborough spots along the river made swift recoveries following Chantal’s flooding, others are still closed to the public. Located in River Park, the Occaneechi Replica Village is still rebuilding after the floodwaters “decimated” much of its huts and structures. That work is expected to be completed in December.

Read more about the Town of Hillsborough’s ongoing recovery from Chantal’s extreme weather by visiting the local government’s website.

 

Featured photo via the Town of Hillsborough.

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