Dan River Basin Association receives $21,500 grant from Purina to fund park project in Rockingham County
January 31, 2022
Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) today received a $21,500 donation from Nestlé Purina PetCare Company to support the development of the future Belews Park in Rockingham County.
Once completed, Belews Park will be located on a beautiful 100-arcre tract of land near Belews Lake and the Belews Lake Marina, and be in close proximity to the 189-acre Knight Brown Nature Preserve with nearly three miles of hiking trails. The new park will also create a potential connection to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the wildly popular state-wide trail in North Carolina.
“As we continue getting more acclimated with our new home in Rockingham County it’s evident that outdoor activities are one of this region’s best qualities, so it’s an honor to help DRBA and the county further their efforts to bring a quality attraction to our community,” said Will Steiner, new factory manager at the Purina manufacturing facility slated to open in Eden, North Carolina in 2023. “In all of our communities, Purina is committed to enriching the lives of pets and the people who love them. We’re excited to see lots of happy pets using Belews Park for years to come.”
The vision of DRBA is to foster a region where all enjoy a high quality of life with easy access to clean and healthy rivers, streams, parks, trails and heritage attractions – amenities necessary to supporting a strong and vibrant local economy. Outdoor enthusiasts and concerned citizens organized DRBA in 2002 to preserve and promote the wilderness-like rivers of this border region of Piedmont North Carolina and Virginia. Faced with the decline of tobacco and textiles, traditional economic bases, leaders in the Basin’s counties recognize the increasing importance of the abundant high-quality water in this 3300-square-mile region. In addition to its economic value as a water source and its historical significance as a means of transportation, this river system can provide excellent recreational opportunities to the 1.5 million citizens who live within an hour’s drive.
“Our organization is passionately committed to preserving the natural resources of this region and we are so appreciative to Purina for expanding operations here and almost immediately getting involved and making a difference,” said Tiffany Haworth, Executive Director of DRBA. “Belews Park will quickly become a cherished outdoor amenity that enhances the quality of life for residents of Rockingham County and all those who visit from around the country.”
This donation is being granted through the Nestlé Purina Trust Fund, established by Purina founder William H. Danforth to provide critical support to important community causes. The company is investing more than $1 million in its communities this year through several capital and capacity-building grants to support local non-profit organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.
DRBA will use the Purina Trust Fund donation to construct a half-mile trail, create a kiosk and educational/interpretive trail signage with information on local flora, build trail benches and install a Nature Sound Station designed to encourage visitors to be still and immerse themselves in nature. Belews Lake and the Knight Brown Nature Preserve are currently visited by thousands of people annually.
