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.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Hillsborough Adopts Parking Study to Help Optimize Existing Town Parking Options
The Town of Hillsborough recently adopted a parking study assessing its parking supply and demand across downtown and West Hillsborough.
Hillsborough Parking Study Underway; Town Asks for Community Input
As Hillsborough continues to plan for the future, the town government is asking for feedback on where people prefer to park their vehicles.
Hillsborough Preparing for Parking Study Following Discussions with Businesses, Staff
After a return to downtown traffic in recent years, the Town of Hillsborough is beginning the earliest stages of a parking study.
Conversations with the Mayors: Hillsborough Town Banners, COVID Update, Downtown Development
Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, July 19th. This is an edited transcript of their discussion of the town’s new banners, COVID protocols, and how to balance development with a historic downtown. The transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Listen to the full interview here. Andrew Stuckey: […]
Discussion on Potential Updates to Hillsborough Noise Ordinance Continues
The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners heard clarifications and shared thoughts on changes it is considering for the town's noise ordinance.
Orange County's Trio of Mayors Prepare For New Terms With Towns' Long-Term Futures in Mind
After Tuesday night, each of Orange County's are poised to serve another two years and shared their visions of leading the towns to address both short- and long-term needs.
2025 Election Results for Local Races in Orange County and Pittsboro
Tuesday marked Election Day for local races across North Carolina. Here are the vote tallies for Orange County and Pittsboro's elections.
Town of Hillsborough Cancels Contract for License Plate Reader Cameras
The Town of Hillsborough has cancelled a contract with the company Flock Safety for 10 license plate reader cameras around the community, it said in a release Tuesday. The announcement comes after the town’s Board of Commissioners held a closed session Monday night to discuss “data privacy concerns” related to the cameras. Earlier in the […]
2025 Candidate Introductions: Hillsborough Municipal Races
This year's local election cycle in Hillsborough is defined by continuity — as no challenger candidates filed to run against the incumbents.
Hillsborough's Riverwalk, Gold Park Fully Reopen After Repairs From July's Flooding
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.
›