Work has just begun, near the corner of Gordon
Street and 8th Street, on two new tournament
quality horseshoe pits. We expect to pour concrete
this fall and have the pits up and running this
spring. Keep an eye on this page for more details
about using this facility.
Also this fall we will be pouring a concrete floor in
the small shelter at the Fitzlee Street playground.
Small groups should enjoy having a hard surface.
Click Photo to Enlarge to see a
rendering of the new horseshoe pit
area.
The focal point of recreational activity is the William S. Knick ballfield and the adjacent
Fitzlee Street playground. This park is comprised of a lighted softball field, one and one-
half basketball courts, a large children’s playground, a small covered pavilion, a larger
covered pavilion and a ¼ mile asphalt walking track. The Town recently enhanced the
safety of the children playing in the playground by installing a fence. Additional
improvements to this facility are being planned.
A second, smaller, playground is located on land owned by the Concerned Citizens of
Glasgow behind the old elementary school on Catawba Street. This facility has a
basketball court, a children’s playground and a covered pavilion all of which are owned
by the Concerned Citizens.
A third park, Centennial Park, is located at the corner of McCulloch Street and Blue
Ridge Road. This park was constructed in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of
the Town and provides benches to sit on as one enjoys the plantings and the historical
Padget Memorial. At the Centennial celebration, a time capsule was buried in the Park
to be opened by future residents.
In addition to these Town facilities, the state maintains a boat launch to allow canoe and
other small craft access to the Maury and James Rivers. The Glasgow Rescue Squad
leases the former carnival grounds south of Route 130. This area features two small
concession buildings, a pavilion and some lighting.
The Town owns several parcels of vacant land acquired through the flood mitigation
project that could be used for future recreational facilities. The Planning Commission
made a series of recommendations to the Town Council regarding the potential uses of
this land, including open “green space”, park space, garden space, and recreation areas.
One of these areas is being used for our new horseshoe pits (see below).
A Parks and Recreation Committee was formed to oversee maintenance of current
facilities and study options for future park and recreation facilities. A joint Parks and
Recreation and Planning Commission effort developed many new and creative ideas for
utilization of existing space and the expansion of facilities and services.
A new group, "United Neighbors" has been formed by interested citizens to raise funds
and promote recreational improvements in Glasgow.
Heavy rains in late January,1854
left the James River and the
treacherous Balcony Falls in full
flood. On 21 January, the canal
boat "Clinton" and it's passengers
became stranded in the raging
waters. Frank Padgett, a skilled
boatman and slave, led four other
men to rescue them. In an heroic
attempt to save the last passenger,
Padgett drowned, unable to fight
the rushing current. Captain
Edward Echols, who witnessed
Padgett's act, was so moved he
commissioned the construction of a
granite obelisk monument beside
lock 16 of the Blue Ridge canal. It
now stands here in Glasgow's
Centennial Park
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Completed last year, this new picnic pavilion is
regularly used for family gatherings, birthday
parties and the like. This project was funded by
the Town, Mohawk Industries, the Glasgow
Ruritan Club and BB&T Bank.
Call Shirley at the Town Hall to reserve the
shelter for your event! 258-2246.
Roger Bradley and Don Dock
(formerly of the Public Works Dept.)
work on installing trusses on the new
shelter.
Hammer and Jeff Rankin work on
installing trusses on the new shelter.
The Glasgow Ruritan Club puts a coat
of stain on the shelter.
This plaque was placed on the shelter
to acknowledge all those who
participated in funding for this project.
Click on photos to enlarge
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