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(rshsdepot) Tryon, NC
From the Tryon Daily Bulletin=2E=2E=2E
Norfolk to donate depot to Tryon=20
by Leah Justice
Part of Tryon=92s downtown revitalization efforts may include a park, loca=
ted
where the heart of Tryon first began=2E=20
Norfolk Southern has agreed to donate the train depot, located on Depot
Street, to the town of Tryon=2E=20
Tryon Town Manager Jim Fatland is currently coordinating community support=
for a park and a grant application to fund the efforts=2E=20
=93Officially they (Norfolk Southern) haven=92t donated it, but they have =
given
us the green light for what they want from us,=94 said Fatland=2E=20
Tryon is currently obtaining two appraisals for the property as required b=
y
Norfolk Southern=2E The appraisals may also serve as a local match for a
possible grant from the N=2EC=2E Parks and Recreation Trust Fund=2E The to=
wn is
seeking a grant, which is a dollar for dollar match program up to a maximu=
m
of $250,000, according to Fatland=2E=20
The application is due Jan=2E 31=2E=20
At no cost to the town, the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission=
(IPDC) has agreed to write the grant application=2E Mark Byington, a local=
landscape architect has also agreed to assist the town in design and cost
estimates=2E=20
=93Basically, what we=92re doing is looking at a plaza at the top of the
stairs,=94 says Byington=2E=20
He says he and officials are currently analyzing a couple of different
concepts for a park at the depot=2E=20
Ideas for the park expansion have centered around a water effect and a
possible path to connect streets of the downtown area=2E=20
Fatland has gained support from local organizations including the Tryon
Downtown Development Association (TDDA), the Polk County Historical
Association, whose museum is housed in the depot, the Tryon Garden Club an=
d
the park expansion=92s first supporters, the Godshaw Hill Homeowners
Association=2E=20
Fatland says he is also planning to meet with the Lanier Library in a
couple of weeks=2E=20
The more Fatland speaks with area people, the more he discovers of Tryon=92=
s
unique history, he says=2E =93The depot has a long history that affected t=
he
development of Tryon,=94 says Fatland=2E=20
Norfolk Southern discontinued using the railroad for regular freight
traffic through Tryon and surrounding municipalities last year=2E=20
It is expected that the museum and the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club will
continue using the depot space even after a park is established=2E=20
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
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