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Parks report: Martinsville to light the park, host Santa events and continue dog-park upgrades
Summary
Martinsville's superintendent reported repairs to holiday displays, new displays and business-sponsored shelter decorations, dog-park upgrades aided by a Duke Energy grant, and a schedule of winter events including a park lighting on Nov. 29 and cookie/Santa events in December.
Ashley, presenting the superintendent and grounds report at the Nov. 11 meeting, outlined parks and recreation work and a schedule of winter events for Martinsville residents.
Ashley said crews are repairing older holiday displays, ordered eight smaller new displays and plan to expand lighting into additional park areas. She noted partnerships with businesses to sponsor shelter-house decorations (examples named in the transcript include the YMCA, Advantage Manufacturing and Patrick Maxwell). "We did orders about 8 new displays," Ashley said, and described efforts to repair broken displays that have been out of service for two to three years.
She confirmed a donated gaga ball kit had been ordered (Bell Intermediate ordered the same kit) and that installation would likely wait until spring because of cold weather and the need to obtain lumber. On maintenance, Ashley said crews visit every few weeks and that one or two additional invoices for flower/maintenance work are expected this year.
Ashley reported the dog parkgrand reopening went well and described upgrades: replaced wood on agility equipment, repainted metal, added two benches and two new trash stations, installed gravel in muddy spots and painted decorative "fire hydrants" for dogs to use. She attributed some funding or support for improvements to Duke Energy.
The superintendent listed winter events and ticketing details: park lighting will be Nov. 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Cookies with Santa is Dec. 12 from 6 to 7 p.m.; Breakfast with Santa is Dec. 14 from 9 to 11 a.m. (tickets required); Santa Paws photos and a Santa-themed pickleball tournament on Dec. 13 were also announced. Ashley noted that if weather forces a cancellation of the pickleball tournament, refunds for event fees will be issued but purchased shirts will not be refunded.
Ashley also said shelter-house and family pavilion rentals are booked for weekends through the end of the year, with reservations for 2026 opening Jan. 1 on a new website and full-season facilities reopening May 1. "We are not taking reservations for 2026 until the January 1," Ashley said. She encouraged residents to check the park and upcoming events.
The meeting then moved on to other items and adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9 at City Hall.
