Memorial Day in Franklin County won't just signify the beginning of the summer season.

It will also mark the opening of the third phase of the Smith Mountain Lake Community Park -- including a new beach.

"It's creating the first public beach area on the south shore on Smith Mountain Lake," said Bobby Pruitt, the county's park systems manager. "This is going to give residents another place to go."

Portions of the third phase, which features the beach and additional parking space at the park, are scheduled to be completed by Friday with the rest to be completed by the beginning of summer.

Construction on the new project, with a cost of close to $300,000, began at the beginning of February when Hubbard Excavating & Hauling of Troutville began to clear rocks and debris out of the lake portion that would be used for the beach, Pruitt said.

The new beach will be an acre in area and 6 feet deep.

Pruitt said more than 700 tons of sand had to be dumped in the water to make the water shallow enough for the beach and an additional 750 tons of sand will be placed on the ground.

The project has hit a few snags, though, in the past few weeks.

Pruitt said the weekend windstorm that was responsible for multiple brush fires in the region downed several trees at the park and caused delays. He said there's a plan to plant more rugged hardwood trees, replacing the downed pines.

Also, construction on the project was halted last week when a crane used to place the sand was broken.

"We have been moving fairly on target in this process," Pruitt said. "We've had a few delays, but we have been moving fairly well."

The third phase comes after the 37-acre, $4 million park, which features a playground, fishing pier, 1.5-mile hiking trail, bathrooms and picnic shelters, opened in June.

Scott Martin, director of commerce and leisure services for the county, said the third phase was to include a bathhouse, concession stand and water spray park, but funding was not available for those to be included in the Memorial Day opening.

"We are going to have to wait a little longer for funding," Martin said. "But so far the park has been a great success."

The park, which was the first new park to open in Smith Mountain Lake in 30 years, was not without its share of critics when it first opened.

Area residents complained that the park would bring an increase in speeding, crime and possibly late-night problems.

But Gills Creek Supervisor Russ Johnson said the residents have been happy with the park so far.

"I have not had one complaint and that says a lot," Johnson said. "There haven't been any incident[s] at the park, and the residents appreciate that."