HL editorial: Flat Rock can make park work

From the Hendersonville Lightning:

Some people said yippee and others said oh no when the Flat Rock Village Council voted last week to buy the Highland Lake golf course and develop it as a park.

We believe it was the right call.

As the Lightning has said in this space before, the Village Council exhibited a model of openness and transparency in its study of whether to buy the 66-acre tract, which is on the market for $1.3 million.

The Highland Lake Park Exploratory Committee covered an amazing amount of ground in just over three months, producing a 41-page report that recommended walking trails, a playground, picnic shelters and other passive features phased in over a number of years.

The council has some time, assuming it reaches agreement with the property owner to buy the land, to make plans. Mayor Bob Staton said the council has already notified course owners Jim Sparks and Tom Davis that they may go ahead and sell season memberships through September. Under that time frame, the village would take possession of the property in October. That's when the council will squarely confront the big question — now what?...

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