Letter to the editor – Transylvania Times – Monday, August 19, 2013
I want to thank the county commissioners for initiating needed work at Silvermont Park. At last week’s meeting, they released $200,000 from the Silvermont Reserve Fund to begin needed repairs on the Silvermont mansion.
The Silvermont Centennial Committee has been working for the last 18 months identifying needs and opportunities at the park.
At the conclusion of our work, we presented a 4-year, 4-phase plan of repairs and improvements to the county commissioners. In April, they accepted our report and we look forward to working with them over the next four years as we approach the 2017 Centennial of the Silvermont mansion.
Our plan of work at Silvermont includes extensive interior and exterior repairs and improvements to the mansion. It also includes repairs and improvements to the grounds, the current structures on the grounds and the construction of a new basketball court in a new location. That will allow for a newly designed community gathering plaza in front of the mansion.
The committee is a group of volunteer citizens representing most of the groups who have worked and played at Silvermont over the years. Our vision is: Silvermont Park is a vibrant community center and historic landmark valued by residents and visitors of all ages for its beauty, history, recreation, education, music and special events.
We know that we will have to work hard to raise the funds needed to have this vision realized and to have Silvermont live up to its full potential as a community asset. An official fundraising campaign will be kicked off after the first of the year.
Jeannie Falknor
Co-chair
Silvermont Centennial Committee