Each year, thousands of visitors flock to the Rocky Mount area for fun and adventure. This halfway point between New York and Florida attracts travelers on their way to these destinations and others. During their stay -- which may be for more than just one night -- these visitors realize what area residents are well aware of -- the area is a haven for many recreational and leisure activities. From parks and picnicking to stadiums and sporting events, anyone can enjoy a relaxing day or an action-packed, fun-filled excursion.
A popular landmark in Rocky Mount is the newly rebuilt City Lake with its quaint island gazebo and spectacular fountain. It was originally constructed as a Works Projects Administration project under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration in 1937. Today, joggers and walkers make the trek around the 1/2-mile concrete path surrounding the lake, while others relax under the tall hardwoods and pines to feed the exotic waterfowl living around this famous site. The lake is decorated during the Christmas season with 1000's of white lights making it an even more spectacular sight during this time of the year.
Both counties have town-operated parks. Battle Park, a 54-acre park next to the Tar River on Falls Road, is the largest in Rocky Mount. This is the area where Rocky Mount got its name and is the site of the original village and post office, circa 1816. This scenic park, donated to the city in 1973 by Rocky Mount Mills, offers picnic facilities, fishing piers, overlooks and scenics walks along the Tar River and a handsome marble monument commemorates the area Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. Located along the Tar River adjacent to downtown Tarboro, Riverfront Park offers 25 acres of beautiful cypress lowlands, landscaped gardens and trails, and a boat ramp giving direct access to the river for fishing and boating enthusiasts.
For those who enjoy larger bodies of water, the Tar River Reservoir, just 20 minutes south of Rocky Mount, offers water enthusiasts activities such as skiing, fishing, sailing and pleasure boating. With two boat ramps and picnic grounds, the reservoir area is a popular spot for church groups, schools and businesses in the area. The reservoir covers 1,860 acres with 13 miles of waterway, and it's rated No. 3 in the state for bass fishing providing a hot spot for many fishing contests throughout the year.
Edgecombe County's newest park is Indian Lake, located in Tarboro. The park is a fifty-two acre tract that features a six and one-half acre lake, outdoor stage, pavilion, nature trails, nature museum, and campground with tent sites, water, grills, tables, and toilet facilities. Pedal boats, bingo, horseshoes, volleyball, and fishing permits are also available.
Both the Nash and Edgecombe County Parks and Recreation Departments sponsor a wide variety of leisure activities for citizens of all ages during the year, including playground programs, day camps, instructional classes, athletic leagues, afterschool programs, festivals, community theater, holiday events and trips.
Tarboro currently has three recreation centers: E.L. Roberson, Braswell and Ray Center that offer an assortment of recreational facilities to the public. These community centers have gymnasiums, basketball programs, game rooms, meeting rooms and kitchen facilities. There are a total of six lighted ballfields with organized civic league programs between the two parks, a variety of playground equipment, and thirty acres of usable park land.
E.L. Roberson Senior Recreation Center is a one-of-a-kind facility that offers a variety of programs and opportunities for older Tarboro residents, providing arts and crafts, a woodworking ship, greenhouse, multipurpose room for shows and small theater productions, education programs, game room, library, travel clubs, social, medical and legal services and meals program.
Two Rocky Mount city-sponsored events include the Down East Senior Games and the Rocky Mount-Nash Special Olympics. Both are athletic events at the local level with opportunities to advance to state and national competitions. The Senior Games is a quality recreation experience for adults age 55 and older. Each spring, older adults from a five county region compete in sanctioned local games from 20 different events from shooting basketball to discus throwing to swimming to tennis, and medal winners qualify for the North Carolina Senior Games State Finals.
The Rocky Mount/Nash Special Olympics is one of the largest volunteer-driven athletic events in the region. Involving more than 400 athletes who are mentally handicapped, it offers athletic training and competition, and winners at the local level advance to the state Special Olympics. RMNSO offers 16 sports in which athletes can train and compete, including aquatics and gymnastics in the summer; basketball and golf in the fall; and alpine and cross country skiing in the winter.
Nashville has a full-time recreational director who has programs scheduled year round for youth and adult involvement that include baseball, girls softball, football, cheerleading, soccer, basketball, and co-rec softball. The town's recreational park has lighted ball fields and tennis courts which are open the entire year.
The Rocky Mount Family YMCA has been serving the Rocky Mount community since 1911 and has two locations to serve spirit, mind and body. The downtown location (427 S. Church Street) is equipped with an indoor pool, double gymnasium, Nautilus and free weights equipment, Concept II rowing machine, Lifecycles, treadmill, indoor racquetball courts, steam and sauna areas, an outdoor ballfield and track. Massage services are also available.
The Westridge Branch YMCA is located near Nash General Hospital (109 Granville Court). Westridge boasts a large array of Cybex weight equipment and cycles, Quinton treadmill, Tetrix stairclimbers, Concept II rowing machines, large free weight areas, racquetball and Walleyball courts, indoor pool and supervised nursery.
The YMCA offers family programming which includes instructional swim classes for youth and adults, aquacize, arthritis aquatics, swim team and lifeguard training courses. The YMCA conducts a ten site after school program based at several school locations in the Nash-Rocky Mount School System as well as holiday and summer camps.
YMCA Indian Guides is a popular parent-child program in which family ties are strengthened through close interaction within the family unit. The common thread of values, education and esteem building runs through all YMCA programs including youth soccer, basketball and cheerleading.
Adults enjoy a wide variety of aerobics and fitness classes as well as competitive basketball leagues. Computerized fitness testing is available with information supplied such as body fat ratio, metabolic rate, exercise and diet recommendations.
The Rocky Mount YMCA located at 1000 Hunter Hill Road has a fully-equipped gymnastic program with a competition team and facilities including a spring floor walking track and fitness room, fitness classes, educational programs, after-school care, full-day summer camps and preschool for 2 to 5-year-old children. The YMCA also trains and maintains a list of sitters for children and the elderly. A meeting room space is also available at the YMCA, as the facility is a site for many groups' and organizations' meetings, including the Newcomers Club. This club helps new Rocky Mount citizens become familiar with the area, the facilities in the area and meet new friends.
And just a short drive west from Nash County, more baseball fans can be heard singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Five County Stadium, home of the Carolina Mudcats. This AA farm club of the Colorado Rockies has enjoyed much fan support since the first pitch of the season. A completely renovated stadium awaits fans on Opening Day of the 1999 season.
Race car driving is very popular in eastern North Carolina, and Rocky Mount residents and visitors can enjoy a night of racing at County Line Raceway from April through October. The 3/8-mile clay, oval track attracts nearly 2,000 spectators. Drivers, who compete in one of six events, come from as far north as Richmond, Va., and all across North Carolina. Points leaders at the end of the season win trophies and cash prizes.
The Bowling Center on North Church Street is a good sport for family fun. Whatever tastes area residents or visitors have, they can surely find a relaxing activity or a fun-filled day of excitement in the greater Rocky Mount area. And whether they want to watch it or actually do it, there is a recreational activity around here for everyone.
For more information, email rmacc@rockymountchamber.org.
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