Although spring doesn't officially begin for two and a half more weeks, Wadesboro citizens now have a new spot to take advantage of the spring-like weather that has visited the area this week. The first phase of Wadesboro Park is complete, town manager John Witherspoon said, and is open for public enjoyment.

On Monday, March 8, 3-year-old Austin Hatley of Polkton was enjoying the playground equipment under the watchful eye of mom Genia Hatley, while Patsy Brasington and Janice Sikes, both of Wadesboro, took a stroll around the park's paved seven-tenths of a mile walking trail.

"He's loving it!" Genia Hatley said of her son as he took turns climbing on the playground equipment and sliding down the slide with a new friend, Adeline Cavenaugh, also 3, of Wadesboro.

Once Brasington and Sikes finished a few laps around the trail, Brasington said she and her walking buddy would "be out here a lot."

Construction on the park began about a year ago and the two picnic shelters, public restrooms, playground equipment, benches and lighted walking trail have come to about a $300,000 bill for the town, Witherspoon said. To pay for the park, the town received numerous donations, a state grant and a grant from the Yost Foundation.

The 46 acres on which the park is located, at the end of Gatewood Street off Morven Road, were donated by the Little family. The late Henry Little spearheaded the effort to bring a park to Wadesboro, Witherspoon added.

Of the original donated 46 acres, Witherspoon said about 30 have been developed. "We haven't decided how much of that we'll use," he said. "About 18 acres is grass and there's a tree line that cuts diagonally across the property."

Although phase one is complete, Witherspoon admitted that he's not sure how many more phases there will be, or what those phases might include. "There's a lot of ideas about what we could do," he said. "We've thought about more picnic-related activities, like a volleyball net, or a horseshoe game. There may be a dog park at some point, as well."

The town has also "flirted with" the idea of a water feature, he said, but he isn't sure there's enough funding for such a project.

More "rough" or unpaved walking trails may be added, as well.

A grand opening will be held for the park later this spring, probably in April or May, Witherspoon said.

The park is open to local citizens during daylight hours now, but after its grand opening, set hours will be from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.