Bass Lake Park Cleans Up After Flooding, Prepares to Reopen 06/15/06

Bass Lake Park is set to reopen this weekend despite parking lot damage from Wednesday's flooding.

Town employees continued cleanup and inspections on Thursday, pleased with how well Bass Lake Park appears to have weathered the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto.

"There are repairs to be done, but it's not nearly as bad as it could have been," Parks and Recreation Director Len Bradley said of the damage.

See a 1-minute video of Wednesday's flooding at the park.

See a slide show of the flooding and aftermath.

Parties at the retreat center over the weekend include a wedding reception, a couple's 50th anniversary, and a "Welcome Back from Iraq" celebration for a returning soldier, said Park Manager Scott Barnard.

The lake trail will be open, and people can fish from the bank. Boat rental probably will not be available. With about 40 of the 68 spaces out of commission temporarily, parking could be at a premium.

On Wednesday, floodwaters submerged much of the parking lot and came perilously close to entering the retreat center. The channel beneath the concrete spillway turned into a raging river, washing away many of the boulders laid to weave water through the manmade channel.

Water in excess of what the concrete spillway could take washed over a secondary earthen spillway and into the parking lot. However, the structure held.

"The dam was designed to do exactly what it did," Barnard said.

Town employees are lowering the lake level a few inches to below the spillway level so they can inspect more closely for damage. The channel beneath the spillway must dry out before repair equipment can enter.

"We'll be reinspected numerous times as we progress through the project," Barnard said, noting the authority of state and federal agencies.

Damage estimates are not yet available.

No injuries were reported during Wednesday's storm. Flooding forced temporary closures of several streets.

A portion of Sunset Lake Road remains closed because of flood damage. Traffic is detoured at the entrance to the Creekside at Arbor Creek development and at Arbor Creek Animal Wellness & Rehabilitation Clinic.

Sunset Lake Road was closed to thru traffic there after floodwaters submerged the roadway. Road damage that became apparent after the water receded led the state Department of Transportation to call for the detours. It was not immediately known how long they would remain.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us