City of Danville and Duke Energy officials gathered Thursday for a reopening ceremony for Abreu-Grogan Park in Danville. The three-acre park, located at 2020 Memorial Drive, reopened following the ceremony.
The park had been closed since Feb. 29 to allow for park enhancements made by Duke Energy. The enhancements provide greater recreational and educational opportunities for visitors, including a boat dock for launching and retrieving boats, a fishing platform to enhance fishing along the bank and a public information kiosk. Further enhancements include restroom facilities, barrier-free sidewalks and parking stalls, and added landscaping.
“Abreu-Grogan Park may be Danville’s smallest park, but for river enthusiasts it is as important as any in Danville,” Mayor Sherman Saunders said at the ceremony. “The water is perfect for flat water paddling and the park provides access to anglers wanting to fish upstream or fish from the banks. Today, we welcome our residents and visitors back to this park and to experience this place as never before.”
Duke Energy invested $500,000 into the project.
“We know the pride Danville takes in its cultural and natural resources, which is why we are excited to enhance Abreu-Grogan Park and access to the Dan River,” David Fountain, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, said. “We hope the citizens of Danville and surrounding areas enjoy the new amenities at the park this summer and for generations to come.”
In September 2014, Duke Energy committed to the City of Danville to enhance Abreu-Grogan Park recreation amenities in recognition of the city’s allowing Duke Energy to use the park during its coal ash removal activities in the Dan River.
In addition to the park enhancements unveiled Thursday, Duke Energy re-paved the parking area at the park after it completed river operations on the site in July 2014.