The Town Of Pulaski is a proud participant in the Virginia Jamestown 2007 Community Program, established to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of our Commonwealth. The Town, nestled in the picturesque New River Valley through which flows the nation’s oldest river, the New River, and located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has a rich history and takes great pride in celebrating and commemorating its rural heritage.
In March 2003 a committee of eight citizens, each representing a unique talent and area of expertise, was formed to decide on a project that would commemorate this milestone in our community’s life in such a manner as to reflect the beauty of our area and enhance the quality of life for our citizens. Following many brainstorming and planning sessions, the committee decided to create a Heritage Park and Gardens, one of the many suggestions offered by the Jamestown 2007 Community Program.
With the concept firmly in place, the hard work of choosing and transforming a site began. The newly formed Pulaski Heritage Park and Gardens Committee, after much deliberation, decided to locate the park on a three-acre tract of land that formerly housed three dwellings. The site had become available following the clearance of the dwellings under a FEMA buyout program. Although prone to flooding in the past, the site not only offered its own natural beauty, but had the added plus of being located adjacent to the route of the New River Trail Extension.
Next the committee searched for a landscape architect to design the layout of the park and gardens. It didn’t have to look for long or go very far, because one of the committee members was a landscape architect, and volunteered her time and talents to create the master plan for the entire park and all the gardens.
The design included many existing plantings already on site including a huge willow tree, an apple tree, a large evergreen fir, and a row of wisteria. Several different varieties of gardens have been created including a sensory garden, an herb garden, a garden for butterfly and hummingbird habitat, and another garden for bird watchers. Other sections showcase Native Virginia plants and heritage trees such as the Mount Vernon Maple.
The design plans for the park and gardens included a shelter, pergolas, horse hitching posts and a parking area for visitors.
With the site chosen and the design completed, the committee set about enlisting members of the community to make this project a reality. Local businesses, garden clubs, service organizations, the Town of Pulaski, the Pulaski County School System and numerous volunteers all contributed to the effort. The Town of Pulaski Public Works Department did initial excavating and site preparation for the project. Carpentry and building trade students from Pulaski County High School, designed, built and installed the gazebo and pergolas for the park. The 24 foot by 38 foot shelter floor was constructed with concrete donated by Conrock Concrete and the structure itself built by the volunteer employees of and materials donated by Casey Industries. The Town of Pulaski’s Public Works Department designed and built a striking sign at the entrance to the new facility. Plus, gracious Volunteers donated 3,300 hours of their time to making the park a success.
The initial phase of construction of the Heritage Park and Gardens began at the end of October 2005 and was completed by the end of November 2005.
With the initial phase of the park’s development completed, the Town, wanting to introduce the Heritage Park to the public, planned a Christmas Celebration and Tree Lighting on December 4, 2005. This free event featured local singers and groups entertaining the crowd with seasonal music, foods from barbeque to kettle corn, train rides for children and adults, games and crafts for the children and, of course, visits and pictures with Old Saint Nick himself.
The public loved the event and thought the park was a welcome addition to the Town. Shortly after the Christmas Celebration, citizens started calling asking to use the park for other events.
While the initial construction has been completed, volunteers continued to work hard to complete the master plan for the park. On local artisan has built bird houses to adorn the bird habitat, while a Boy Scout working for his Eagle Scout badge has made benches to adorn the gardens. Garden clubs and master gardener have been busy planting spring trees and flowers.
The Heritage Park and Garden Committee has also offered a program by which people may make donations for trees or purchase paving stones for a memory path in honor or memory of a loved one or friend.
In recognition of local history connected to the Jamestown Celebration, a replica of the Pulaski County Courthouse archway has been built at the entrance to the Heritage Park. The committee felt that the archway would pay homage to the original, constructed for the Jamestown Exposition in 1907 and located to the Courthouse lawn that same year.
All remaining work on the Heritage Park and Gardens was completed in January 2007.
Although intended as a celebration of a milestone in the Town’s and Commonwealth’s history, the Heritage Park and Gardens is becoming another focus of Town life. Easter egg hunts, garden club meetings, family and school reunions, and weddings have been planned or held at the park.
This park has become a labor of love not just for the committee, but for the citizens of the entire town. It is a tribute not only to the Jamestown celebration, but to the pride and love of the citizens of Pulaski for their community.
For more information on the park or how to reserve the shelter at Heritage Park you may contact the Town of Pulaski Parks and Facilities Department at 540-994-8624.