The East Lincoln Rescue Squad served eastern Lincoln County from 1977 through 2009, and was an all-volunteer organization with dedicated individuals giving of themselves for the community. The rescue squad donated their land to the Denver Lake Norman Rotary Club Foundation, to be used toward the East Lincoln Rescue Park, to recognize those individuals for the years of service. Rescue Squad Park is named in recognition of the devotion and service provided by the East Lincoln Rescue Squad and the citizens of Eastern Lincoln County who supported the Rescue Squad over the years.

The idea of a park for the Denver community started in 2003 when members of the community started Denver Days to raise money for a public park. Then, in the 2009-2010 time period, the Denver/Lake Norman Rotary Club Foundation received the assets from the East Lincoln Rescue Squad to support development of a park and worked with Lincoln County to secure a 40 year lease with an option for an additional 40 years for a 32 acre park in Denver. Rotary Club and Foundation members worked with Lincoln County and the Charter School to begin developing plans, designs, and cost estimates for the park.

In 2010 the Rotary Club assumed management of Denver Days, with all proceeds going towards the park. Every year the Rotary Club provides the leadership and manpower for the four day festival.

By 2013 the Rotary Foundation had received over $700,000 from the sale of Rescue Squad assets. The club worked with Lincoln County and received a grant from the State Parks and Recreation fund for $352,000, Lincoln County committed $150,000 to build a multi-purpose shelter and the Charter School committed $40,000 to lower and pave Galway Lane and agreed to do the mowing and trimming for the park.

In addition to the $1,250,000 raised by the end of 2012, an additional $500,000 was needed to meet the estimated costs for the first phase which included two athletic fields for field sports, open green space for community events and festivals, site utilities, sewer, water, and storm drainage, a lighted paved parking lot with 144 parking spaces, a half mile loop walking/biking trail around the park, a large multi-purpose activity shelter, three picnic shelters, and a nine hole disc golf course.

To meet the $1,750,000 cost for construction of the first phase, the Denver/Lake Norman Rotary Club Foundation has led a Capital Campaign over the last two years to raise the necessary funds. Rotary Club members and the Denver Day’s committee have committed over $250,000 along with generous gifts from the community totaling more than $260,000. Leadership gifts have been received from the Timken Foundation, Hecht Realty, Todd and Betsy Hamilton and the Treadstone Group, Inc. along with many other generous contributions from the community. Because of great support from Rotary Club members, businesses, and the community at large, we met our goal.

Effective July 1, 2017 Lincoln County assumed ownership and all maintenance responsibilities for the park. The Rotary Club agreed to pay the county $10,000 per year towards maintenance of the park of which $5,000 could be in kind services. Rotary also agreed to lead community fund raising efforts to support the original vision for the park and to maintain the disk golf course at the park.

The Rotary Club committed to raise the necessary funds to complete the vision for the park. With strong community support, we will build a dog park, concrete the walking/biking trail, add a natural surface trail and foot bridge; build a pavilion with concession stand and restrooms; an amphitheater; a large picnic shelter and add field lights.

Rescue Squad Park is a noble vision that has involved many years of hard work and commitment by many people. It will have a very positive impact on our community and offer opportunities to enrich the quality of life for Denver and the surrounding communities for generations to come.

We are proud to be partners with Lincoln County and the Lincoln Charter School to maintain and enhance the park.