Located just down the road from The Station at Mill Point, Lawrence Slade Park has reopened. The Elon community gathered on Friday, Sept. 19 to celebrate the event with face painting, games and food.

The celebration kicked off with a performance from Elon's own Sweet Signatures and concluded as the sun set with a movie on the lawn. The performance is just one of many things that the park can now host.

"Thanks to the advancements and renovations of Lawrence Slade Park, this is not only a place for children to play, but is now a meeting place birthdays, family reunions, holiday gatherings, live entertainment and recreation," said Lawrence Slade, the parks namesake.

Slade remembers what the space used to look like at Morgan Place before it was updated.

"I grew up in this community as a little boy. I remember when this space was nothing but red clay. We called it 'Red Hill'. I never imagined that 'Red Hill would take shape into a park for all to enjoy, bearing my name," Slade said.

The Town of Elon began fundraising years ago to update nearly four acres of land. Former Elon Assistant Basketball Coach and Class of 1988 alum Frank Haith is a major contributor.

"I grew up in this community went to high school at Western Alamance High School and went to college at Elon," Haith said. "So this park was somewhat here while I was growing up and I just feel so blessed to give back to something that gave something to me and this community".

Thanks to Haith's commitment, local residents like Stephany Fields and Camille White now have a place to play.

"I've been here all my life so it's a lot better than what it used to look like before," Fields said. "I stayed inside mostly because there was nothing to do out here. It was really run down and raggedy and no one wanted to come out here".

The improvements wouldn't have been possible without donations from several organizations. Elon University donated $25,000, the Twin Lakes Community donated $25,000, and the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund donated $165,000 making the grand total of donations $258,500 dollars.

Town Manager Richard White is excited for the community to have a place where not only his family, but everyone can come together as a community.

"It's a true addition to our community for our kids and neighbors and residents to come play and have a good time," White said.