Expand Your Lifestyle Redefined at the Rocky Mount Parks
In addition to the luxurious, spa-like amenities that helped introduce you and your family to “lifestyle redefined” at Belmont Lake Preserve, the vast array of outdoor living activities and scenery that you enjoy so much will be detailed in this the first of what will be an ongoing series to familiarize you with all of the incredible and beautiful Rocky Mount Parks, as well as other natural attractions across town.
Sunset Park
The first in our series on Rocky Mount Parks should come as no surprise to residents as any long time resident of the city can attest that at some point in their youth and their travels among the parks in Rocky Mount, they have waited on line to take their turn on the hand painted, wooden, carousel horses that are synonomous with Sunset Park. Referred to at the official Rocky Mount website as the “city’s main park,” the 25-acre, Sunset Park is located on Taylor Drive and River Drive beside the Tar River just off of Sunset Avenue.
The carousel itself, which for sure sets Sunset Park apart from the other Rocky Mount Parks, actually has quite a history of its own, as detailed at the city’s website. “The circa 1920 Herschell-Spillman “County Fair” style carousel was bought for the City of Rocky Mount in 1952 by the Rocky Mount Civitan Club.” It is then further explained that, “The Carousel was severely damaged in the flood of 1999 and required extensive restoration which was completed by Carousel Magic of Mansfield, Ohio. Renovated rounding boards were added to include paintings of images found on 1920’s postcards depicting Rocky Mount landmarks and activities of that time.”
In addition to the iconic carousel, Sunset is unique among the Rocky Mount Parks for a few other reasons as well. The obvious here would be the train, a miniature Model G-16 Train which was originally purchased for use at the park in 1952. It holds 36 passengers and travels at a speed of 8 miles an hour.
On top of these two rides, there is also a Spray Ground that was opened to help keep the kids cool on hot, summer days as well as on site consessions, offering popcorn, ivce cream, snow cones, and many other favorites of childhood that is sure to bring visitors down memory lane. The “main park” among the Rocky Mount Parks also boasts another “kiddie-go-round” type ride that all the youngsters enjoy and in addition has a disc golf course, two lighted basketball courts, a boat ramp, four picnic shelters, eleven lighted tennis courts with a backboard, and a little league baseball field.
Sunset Park is just one of the many Rocky Mount Parks that can help you to expand your “lifestyle redefined,” at Belmont Lake Preserve, and you’ll be pleased to know that this is just one of many outdoor living options that we will “walk through,” in this ongoing series.
