The West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC) has been awarded grant funding to improve I.C. DeHart Memorial Park in Patrick County, thanks to the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia. Rebekah Morgan, Community Development Director for WPPDC, collaborated with the Woolwine Park Association to secure this funding.
The Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia granted $20,000 from its Community Catalyst Funds for essential upgrades including cell service boosting equipment, weatherproof benches, ADA-compliant safety surfacing and inclusive play components for the playground, an ADA-compliant path and landing space leading to restrooms, and restroom upgrades. Additionally, the Community Impact Funds of the Community Foundation provided $880 for the purchase and installation of a high/low shower station and bike wash station.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia for recognizing the critical need for funding to improve the amenities at I.C. DeHart Memorial Park and for their generous support of these much-needed upgrades,” said Morgan. “For years, the Woolwine Park Association has worked tirelessly to maintain the park as a community destination through volunteer efforts and donations alone. Parks like I.C. DeHart Memorial Park are often overlooked when funding community services, despite their vital role in fostering healthy, vibrant communities and providing spaces where people of all ages and abilities can gather, connect, and thrive.”
“The Woolwine Park Association has worked diligently to implement improvements based on community survey feedback,” Sandra Belcher, chairman of the Woolwine Park Association, said. “While previous fundraisers and donations have supported minor upgrades and operational costs, Rebekah Morgan from WPPDC has elevated the fundraising efforts significantly. Her dedicated work securing grant funding has made larger necessary park upgrades possible.”
Belcher expressed gratitude for Morgan’s invaluable support in enhancing I.C. DeHart Memorial Park and supported future collaborations aimed at further improving the park as a community resource and tourist destination.
Morgan said the upgrades will enhance accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring the park welcomes everyone while addressing community safety and broader redevelopment goals. Investments like these improve local residents’ quality of life and support initiatives like the Mountain Spirit Trail, helping position Patrick County as a destination for tourism and outdoor recreation. This funding is a powerful reminder of how critical it is to support community spaces that enrich lives and bring people together.
I.C. DeHart Memorial Park, named after local resident Isaac “Ike” DeHart, was historically used for a grist mill and legal distillery before evolving into a favorite spot for hikers and mountain biking enthusiasts. The park, located at 2631 Charity Highway, Woolwine, VA, features amenities including a picnic shelter, playground, two tennis courts, a walking trail, a baseball field, a horseshoe pitching area, a natural wetland wildlife area, the Trail H.A.N.D.S sculpture, and mountain bike trails. It also hosts the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Virginia State Championships, Bootlegger’s Blitz, annually, with this year’s event scheduled for Saturday, March 29.
The West Piedmont Planning District is a regional planning organization serving the counties of Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania; the cities of Danville and Martinsville; and the Town of Rocky Mount. The WPPDC seeks to carry out its mission by facilitating regional thinking and dialogue among the district’s local government, K-12 and higher educational institutions, economic development organizations, workforce development, and other key stakeholders. Learn more at westpiedmontpdc.org.
