At its meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Gastonia City Council awarded a $5.5 million construction contract to Eagle Wood, Inc. for Phase I of the Linwood Springs Park project.
The Linwood Park property was originally a dairy farm, dating back to the days of the American Revolution. In the 1960s, the site was converted into the Gastonia National Golf Club and renamed the Linwood Springs Golf Course in 1981. In 2011, the property was sold to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for environmental preservation and mitigation.
City of Gastonia acquired the Linwood Springs Park property through a 30-year lease with the NCDOT in 2019. The property contains seven small ponds and a mile—of streambanks and is located in the southwest portion of Gastonia, with future connectivity to Crowders Mountain State Park and the Carolina Thread Trail.
“This project brings our mission to life — enhancing quality of life through smart, responsive, and cost-effective services. Transforming the golf course into a public park is a lasting investment in wellness, community, and outdoor access for all,” said Michael Peoples, City Manager.
In 2023, the City began converting the property from an old golf course to a City park by installing some of the amenities. Using grant funds from various sources, including the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to fill funding gaps, the staff has completed the following improvements/amenities:
- Renovation of two (2) existing restrooms
- Two (2) 20’x40’shelters (CDBG)
- New restroom building (CDBG)
- Concrete multi-use pad (ARPA)
- Grass volleyball court (ARPA)
- Playground (ARPA)
- Small and Large dog park areas (ARPA)
- Disc and soccer golf hard goods on-site (ARPA)
-MORE-
Eagle Wood, Inc. will construct the infrastructure to serve the park, which includes:
- 30 paved and fully functional recreational vehicle (RV) spaces
- New heavy duty vehicular bridge
- Repair of various existing pedestrian bridges and miles of cart path repair for greenway trails
- Water, sewer, electric, and stormwater infrastructure
- Main park road and expanded paved parking lot
- New site lighting
“This park is a promise kept — a space for families, neighbors, and visitors to connect, explore, and thrive,” said Gastonia Mayor Richard Franks. “It reflects our city’s vision, values, and commitment to serving every resident with innovation and heart.”
Phase I is expected to be completed in early summer 2026. The City has applied for the 2025 PARTF grant for future Phase II of the Linwood Springs Park Project.