Cumberland County Residents Find a Day at the Park Right Around the Corner

In recent years, western Cumberland County has exploded with new homes, but the families who live in the area had no place nearby to kick back, until the long-awaited Lake Rim Park joined their community.

"If you wanted to go anywhere like a park, you'd have to go to Honeycutt or Arnette Park, which is way across town. But for here, there's been nothing," says resident Karen Lavengood.

After three years of planning and some delays, fun is now right around the block. Picnic areas, tennis courts and walking trails can all be found at Lake Rim Park.

A softball field was supposed to be a large baseball field, but two acres of wetlands got in the way, and now the county is looking for an alternate site.

The size of the field does not make any difference to Ronald Wilson and his friends. They were used to squeezing in a ball game in the backyard.

"Me and my friends had to play on hills and stuff, and [here] there are no hills," Wilson says. "It's real big and you can play everywhere."

Lake Rim is the second public park in Cumberland County. In its first two weeks, nearly 3,000 cars stopped in for a day at the park.

Parents like Shawn Taylor say the park promotes togetherness.

"You are much more likely to bring your family out to something like this when it's just a few minutes away," Taylor says.

The new park is located off old U.S. 401. It will be officially dedicated on May 25.