Catawba Park in Tega Cay Faces Uncertainty After Hurricane Helene
As the lovely city of Tega Cay comes to terms with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, there are still many questions surrounding the reopening of Catawba Park. This beloved 62-acre park, which opened just two years ago along the picturesque banks of the Catawba River, has become a hot spot for families and sports enthusiasts alike. Unfortunately, the recent storm has caused significant damage, and city officials are currently assessing the impact while determining the timeline for the park’s full reopening and the continuation of sports seasons.
Assessing the Damage
As of Monday afternoon, the park was still without power. It features five baseball fields and three multipurpose fields, along with a playground and an event lawn for big community gatherings. The multipurpose fields, located closest to the river, bore the brunt of the storm, with reports indicating that some areas were underwater for a couple of days. Fortunately, the baseball fields were not as severely affected.
According to city spokeswoman Gretchen Kalar, “Two of the three soccer fields suffered the most damage.” This is concerning news for local families who participate in the city’s various sports programs, especially as they wait anxiously for updates in the midst of their seasons. The city anticipates restoring power to the park by Tuesday, but it may take until the end of the week before they can figure out if any electronics were damaged or what preparations are needed to get the fields ready for play.
Future Plans for the Park
The city is optimistic about the park’s future and is exploring the possibility of opening it for some activities, including team sports, while the more severely damaged areas remain closed. Built along the Catawba River, much of the park’s $14 million investment was designed to create walking trails and areas for passive recreation, meaning that city officials are eager to resume pedestrian access as soon as it is safe. “Once we can get it safely open, we’ll open it to that pedestrian use,” Kalar added reassuringly.
Youth Sports in Tega Cay
The growth of youth sports programs was one of the key motivators behind the 15-year endeavor to create Catawba Park. In recent spring or fall seasons, Tega Cay has hosted up to 2,000 young athletes. Amid concerns over the latest disruptions, many parents and guardians of those participants are anxiously awaiting more information.
The Charlotte Independence soccer organization partners with Tega Cay for city soccer programs, and on Monday, they reached out to parents across multiple teams. In their message, they noted the park had “undergone significant flooding and unfortunately has gone through structural damage on the fields.” They confirmed that the park will be closed at least through Sunday, suspending all practices and games until they can determine the next steps in conjunction with the city.
Other Parks Along the Catawba
While the situation remains difficult for Catawba Park, other parks along the Catawba River are also dealing with the impacts of the storm. In recent years, there has been a steady addition of new public parks in the area, including major upgrades at Ebenezer Park in Rock Hill and Allison Creek Park in Lake Wylie, as well as the upcoming Catawba Bend Preserve on the Rock Hill side.
As of Monday afternoon, parks like Cherry Park and Rock Hill Lake Park were also temporarily closed. However, good news emerged when Spencer Park, along with its dog park, as well as the Piedmont trail at Riverwalk and River Park, reopened on Tuesday. The community is seeing various levels of recovery as they work together to overcome the challenges posed by Hurricane Helene.
As Tega Cay continues to rebuild and assess the damage caused by the hurricane, the governing bodies remain committed to keeping the community informed. For now, families and sports enthusiasts will need to stay tuned for updates on when Catawba Park can welcome everyone back to enjoy its many offerings.
