In 2010, local resident, Gary Turner gifted 3.5 acres of land from the Turner estate to the Town of Broadway. Tucked along Linville Creek, just across from Heritage Park and resting within a flood plain, the property isn’t the sort of place you’d build houses or storefronts. But as it turns out, it might be exactly the right place for something even better.
Until now, the property has remained undeveloped since it was donated to the town. Broadway Lions Club member, John Knepper says the space has been used for a number of years for overflow parking for events in town and in the Heritage Park. Unfortunately, when there are significant rains during or just prior to an event, this prevents use of the field because it does not drain and cars damage the turf or get stuck.
Knepper says The Broadway Lions began looking at ways to develop this property and discussed it with then Town Manager Kyle O’Brien in 2018. They also discussed it informally with various stakeholders to get their input and suggestions.
In 2020, everything seemed to stop due to the Covid Pandemic. In 2021, conversations on this development were restarted, and the club began looking at how the property could serve to support the Shenandoah Rail Trail which is expected to have its southern trailhead right at the park location. The club worked together with the town and other interested parties and enlisted Gil Colman and Colman Engineering to assist with developing a conceptual plan for the park in the spring of 2022.
They were preparing to kick things off in early 2024 and secured their first grant from the Lions of Virginia Foundation. Financial challenges with the town stalled progress in early 2024. Up until this time, the town was expected to participate financially in the project. Then, in 2025, the Lions started moving forward with the project again, with the understanding that the town is not financially able to participate in funding it.
Fundraising is all on the Broadway Lions Club. Until a few years ago, the Broadway Lions annual budget was along the order of $10,000. This project is expected to cost about $750,000 by the time it is finished. In early 2025, Colman worked with them to update the conceptual plan and add amenities that have been determined to be needed to support the Rail Trail as well as serve the needs to support events in the town. They sought and gained official approval from the Broadway Town Council to move forward with the project in August of last year.
Concerns about wetlands and potential damage to Linville Creek delayed starting the project and the Lions sought approval from the U S Army Corps of Engineers and Virginia DEQ. An environmental engineer was employed to evaluate and make recommendations and Colman Engineering began developing design documents for the entrance roadway and sidewalk improvements and extension.
And now, it’s time to get things started!
On Wednesday afternoon, April 8, Gary and members of the Turner family were recognized at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new space. John Knepper shared that the late Donnie Turner, was a member of the Broadway Lions Club for over 50 years and would have been very pleased to see this project taking place on the family farm. April 7 would have been Donnie’s 93rd birthday. Donnie’s widow, Vivian Turner, and daughter, Dawn Turner, both members of the club were in attendance.
John went on to share the vision for the plot of land—a vision shaped by community needs and a desire to make Broadway an even more welcoming place to gather. “We are excited to take his gift and turn it into something the community can enjoy,” Knepper said, and it’s clear that enthusiasm is catching.
The Broadway Lions Club took a close look at what the town could use most, especially when it comes to events and recreation.
Of course, a project like this doesn’t happen overnight. Development will take place in phases, with the timeline depending largely on fundraising efforts. The good news is that support is already building. Contributions and backing have come in from several organizations, including Lions and Rotary groups, as well as regional planning partners.
Phase 1 includes creating a separate pedestrian walkway between the Heritage Park and the new Broadway Lions Park. The walkway will extend from the loop walking trail in the Heritage Park, under the Turner Avenue Bridge. This walkway will be visible, well lighted, and be accessible for individuals in wheelchairs. This walkway is being done in part by the Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville. The walkway will intersect a new loop trail around this property.
The sixth-grade class at J Frank Hillyard Middle School has been awarded a grant by Merck which they plan to use to provide interpretive signage along the portion of the new loop trail that runs along Linville Creek. This year’s sixth grade class will develop the design of the signs and have them made, and the signs will most likely be installed by next year’s sixth grade class. Phase 2 is construction of a 100 space environmentally friendly parking lot. This will incorporate a grass sod parking area with a rainwater storage system underground that will act as a detention system. They hope to move straight from phase 1 into phase 2 and have the parking area completed by next spring.
Phase 3 is construction of an events pavilion and events lawn. The events pavilion will serve as a large picnic pavilion but with tables removed can serve as an elevated stage area for concerts, festivals, movie nights, and other events in the park. Restrooms will be part of the pavilion and provisions for food trucks will be provided around the events lawn. The Lions are hopeful that this phase will be completed next summer, but it will depend upon fundraising success.
The Broadway Lions Club has committed over $100,000 of reserved funds from past fundraising. In addition, they have been awarded grants for this project from the Lions of Virginia Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation, The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Club of Broadway-Timberville, the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, and Rockingham County. They will continue to pursue additional grants. In addition, they are beginning a fundraising plea in the community for support of local businesses and residents. Donations should be sent to Broadway Lions Foundation, P. O. Box 572, Broadway, VA 22815. The Broadway Lions Foundation is a Virginia corporation and is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a private charity under section 501(c)(3) to receive tax deductible contributions.
Broadway Mayor David Jordan summed it up in a way that feels just right for the town of Broadway. He called the project a “memory trail”—a place where new traditions can take root and old ones can grow.
As for Gary Turner, the man whose gift started it all, he couldn’t be more pleased. In his words, he “couldn’t be happier” with how things are unfolding.
And maybe that’s the heart of it. A piece of land that might have seemed limited at first glance is quickly becoming something full of possibility—a place where neighbors gather, music plays,, and memories are made.
