After nearly two years of construction, J. Dudley Watts Jr. Belews Lake Park is officially open in Forsyth County.
The 216-acre recreational area features an accessible fishing pier, multiple picnic shelters and grills. It also includes nearly 2 miles of both paved and natural surface trails.
Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Director Chris Weavil says visitors have already taken to them.
“This location lends itself to our trails," Weavil says. "This time of year, there's no leaves on the trees, so you've got beautiful views of the water.”
The area was previously owned by Duke Energy, but was purchased by the county in 2020 using a grant from the state’s Clean Water Management Trust.
Weavil says they have requested additional funding from the state to expand the park. They’d use it to add on to the trails and build a playground, among other things.
Belews Lake Park is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.