News

Hospitals cool to park sponsorship pitch

By Bill Moss, Published: January 21, 2013

FLAT ROCK — The Highland Lake Park Exploratory Committee is looking at grants and fundraising to help pay for the acquisition of the land for the park and for improvements.

The committee plans to apply for a state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant by Jan. 30 and it has discussed creating a foundation to raise money on an ongoing basis.
Naming rights or some kind of financial partnership with area hospitals are not going so well.
In 2011, when Henderson County tentatively agreed to buy the golf course for a soccer complex, Park Ridge Health in Fletcher had agreed to fund part of the development. The Flat Rock advisory committee is trying to pitch the idea to both Park Ridge and Pardee hospitals, with limited success, board member Albert Gooch told former Flat Rock mayor Terry Hicks before the advisory board meeting last week.
"Moyer said he would bring it up and talk against it," said Gooch, referring to the former county commissioner who is chairman of the Pardee Board of Directors. Park Ridge CEO "Jimm Bunch won't return our phone calls."