New Accessible Recreational Opportunities Open to Cabarrus County, NC Residents of All Ages

CABARRUS COUNTY, NC—Virginia Foil Park has officially opened to the public. Designed to meet the evolving needs of the Mount Pleasant community, the new 30-acre development combines a park, library and senior center with a range of recreational spaces that promote wellness, recreation and community connection.

At the heart of Virginia Foil Park is a 21,000-square-foot combined senior center and library, which will be used to host events, workshops and community gatherings. Surrounding the main building, the park features a three-field little league baseball complex with covered dugouts, two multisport fields and a centrally located picnic shelter and playground, creating dedicated spaces for both organized sports and casual recreation.

A paved trail system connects each of the facilities, with a shorter loop around the baseball complex and a mile-long trail encircling the entire park. Six exercise stations are strategically placed along the trails for visitors of all ages.

“Since the park connects to the public library and senior center, it was very important that the pathways were not too steep,” explained Jeff Ashbaugh. “We designed the site with gently sloping pathways, ensuring all amenities are fully ADA accessible.”

Benesch worked with Cabarrus County to develop a master plan and cost estimate. The project team held two well-attended public meetings to gather community input and guide the park’s final design. Benesch also assisted the County in securing a PARTF grant to help fund the project and provided design, permitting and construction administration services.

The project team carefully coordinated utilities and infrastructure to support both the park and the combined library and senior center. A well and pump system was installed as a cost-effective solution to irrigate the athletic fields, eliminating the need to rely on the public water system. Additionally, firewater storage tanks were added to compensate for the limited capacity of the existing public water system.

On October 23, the community gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the Cabarrus County Library, Active Living Center and Virginia Foil Park.