Karen Dillon

Karen writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

Recent columns

• Park offers new ways to learn about old days
• Community Chorus tuning up for holiday performances
• For paddling and picking
• Bramlett is back; this time he's targeting plastic

Since opening in May, the beach has averaged about 150-200 people on weekend days, and recently the park expanded its beach hours to seven days a week, according to Scott Martin, Franklin County's director of Commerce and Leisure Services.

"We're really tickled about the public's response to the beach," said Martin, who oversaw its opening on Memorial Day weekend.

Greg and Sheila Bratton of Hardy have been regulars since the beach opened.

"It's not too crowded," said Greg Bratton as he shaded himself under a beach umbrella while his wife cooled herself in a chair at the water's edge. "It's peaceful; it's just a nice place."

Kendra Herlehy and her kids Katie, 7, and Tye, 3, were first-time visitors to the beach area.

"I think it's great; it's closer to home for us," said Herlehy. "We don't have to go to the Bedford side now [to Smith Mountain Lake State Park]."

The family lives on the main channel of the lake and it's easier for the kids to play in the water and along the beach at the park than at home, said Herlehy.

For the remainder of the 2008 season, beachgoers can enjoy the park admission-free. It hasn't been decided yet if and how much the county will charge next year.

"In previous discussions, the [Franklin County] Board [of Supervisors] has considered a range of fee options to recover some of the expenses that come with operating the park including a park admission fee, a beach-only fee, and/or a non-resident fee for park visitors from outside of Franklin County," said Martin. "The Board will revisit fee options at the close of the 2008 beach season."

In addition to the new beach area, the 37-acre park features a partially covered fishing pier, picnic area, playground, restroom facilities and walking trails. As for what's left to be built at the park, Martin said there are plans to add a bathhouse and a concession stand.

The beach, located just inside the park's entrance, has 200 linear feet of shoreline, said Martin. About 750 truckloads of sand were used to build the beach, which is approximately half the size of the beach at Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

"One of the great things about this beach is it has southern-facing exposure so you get sun all day long," he said.

For now, it's the only beach on Franklin County's southern shore. However, Martin said his department and the county have been in talks with officials from American Electric Power, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Department of Conservation and Recreation to conserve 265 acres in the Pennhall area of Union Hall for potential development as a new public-access park at the lake.

"We believe that the current FERC relicensing process for Smith Mountain Lake is our region's last best chance to set aside public lake access on Smith Mountain Lake," said Martin, who has been in his job for six years.

In the past several years, the county has created more blueways for canoers and kayakers to take in the natural beauty of the rivers. One of the newest blueways is just off Brooks Mills Road (Virginia 834) and features an eight-mile stretch of the lower Blackwater River, just before it reaches the lake.

Martin's office is working on developing a 15-year comprehensive parks and recreation plan to address the need for more public recreation facilities as the county's population continues to grow.

"It's a big deal for us," he said. "Franklin County is the fastest-growing county west of U.S. 29 in Virginia, and folks that choose to live in our community are not the sit-on-the-porch types of folks. Our residents want to get outdoors, be active and take in all of the benefits of living in Virginia's lake and Blue Ridge foothills country."

Soon, Martin's department will be seeking citizens' input on what types of recreational activities they would like to have and what they'd be willing to pay to have them.

"The survey will hit the streets in mid-July," said Martin. "We will mail surveys to households in Franklin County. If folks want to make sure their voice is heard, we will have the survey available on our county parks and recreation Web site at www.franklincountyva.org/parks."