Catawba Meadows Park in Morganton has reopened after nearly 10 months following extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Helene last September.
An hour after opening, dozens of children filled the park.
One of the first people on the Beanstalk playground was Jodi Fisher’s great niece who will turn six this week.
“She was so excited when we pulled in and she just can’t wait to go explore all that’s here,” Fisher said.
The park, located on Sanford Drive off North Green Street, suffered $21 million in damage when the Catawba River flooded, submerging much of the area.
Families expressed gratitude for the progress made by the city, noting the reopening of Catawba Meadows Park after nearly 10 months of repairs following flooding from Hurricane Helene.
“The city of Morganton is known as ‘Nature’s Playground’ and this is our biggest park,” said Jonelle Sigmon, with the city of Morganton. “So having it reopen is just phenomenal. People are just ready, ready to be back out.”
The reopening included the Beanstalk playground, a long stretch of the greenway, disc golf, volleyball, and picnic areas. These facilities were closed due to the flooding.
While many areas have reopened, some sections of the greenway, including a boardwalk, remain off limits and will need to be replaced. Additionally, the baseball fields are still closed.
Resident Jenna Yeakley brought her triplets and was impressed with the recovery efforts so far.
“The crazy chair swing,” Yeakley said. “They love that they’re bigger now and can do more of the ropes course. They just love to climb and run and play.”
The reopening of Catawba Meadows Park marks a significant step in Morganton’s recovery from Hurricane Helene’s devastation, though some areas remain under repair.
The goal is to have the entire greenway reopened by December.
VIDEO: Popular Morganton attraction washed out by Helene partially reopens
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