The Westmoreland Neighborhood Organization (WNO) has announced the ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration for the redevelopment of the former Westmoreland School property into Westmoreland Park will be held on Thursday, June 27.
The celebration will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. Following the ceremony, attendees can enjoy an afternoon of food and fun in the park, including free hot dogs and refreshments. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Larry Stamps. The event will conclude at 4 pm.
The WNO invites everyone to attend the grand opening and celebrate the collaborative effort that has turned the green space in a historic African American neighborhood into a wonderful, welcoming park for residents of the Westmoreland area and Danville, as a whole.
In 2016, the WNO began working with the City of Danville and Danville Regional Foundation to improve the playground and shelter facilities on the former Westmoreland School property to better accommodate neighborhood recreation needs and special neighborhood events. In January 2017, a professional landscape architect, Site Collaborative, was engaged to work with neighborhood stakeholders to develop a park program, master plan, and preliminary costs for
improvements on the property. An inclusive planning process to help determine the improvements and share their ideas for upgrades and facilities was executed.
The WNO continued fundraising efforts and thanks to the generosity of Danville Regional Foundation, the City of Danville, J.T. Minnie Maude Charitable Trust, the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, the Womack Foundation, and many other foundation, corporate, and individual donors, construction is nearly complete. Fundraising efforts will continue to support future enhancements to the park, including a walking trail, additional seating, and other amenities. Westmoreland Park will be maintained by the City of Danville Parks and Recreation as a neighborhood park, open to all residents of Danville.
“Westmoreland Park represents the strength, resilience, and unity of our community,” said Clyde McCoy. “Bringing this vision to life is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the Westmoreland Neighborhood Organization, our local residents, and the entire Danville community. We are excited to open this beautiful space for the community to enjoy.”
