By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — Town officials hope to complete an addition to Hanna Park in time for this year’s Farmers Day.

China Grove plans to build a permanent stage for performances at the rear of the park. The city has allocated $40,000 to the first part of stage construction, which Town Manager Ken Deal says will begin within the next few weeks.

The Town Council this week agreed to proceed with building the first phase of the project.

“We’ve been looking at a stage for a couple of years,” Deal said. “Every year, at Farmers Day, we have to rent stages, and it’s pretty expensive. We asked, ‘Why don’t be build our own and we could use it for numerous events?'”

The town hopes to save a few thousand dollars per year on its Farmers Day festivities by building its own stage.

The will be 43 feet long and 18 feet wide and made of concrete and stucco, Deal said. Electrical wiring for the stage has already been installed.

This year, Farmers Day is set for July 15. Deal said he hopes construction will wrap up before the event, which draws a number of vendors and large crowds of people. It’s the town’s largest annual event.

Deal said CS Bradshaw Construction of Salisbury has been picked to build the stage.

In the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, Deal said, bricklaying students at South Rowan High School will add brick steps at the front of the stage. If the Town Council allocates additional money, Deal said, a roof will be added in the next fiscal year.

Other than Farmers Day, Deal said, town staff will work with Rowan Museum, which recently took over management of the China Grove Roller Miller, to organize events that would use the Hanna Park stage.

Deal said people will be able to sign up to use the stage. He said the town will come up with an application form or a permit for use of the stage.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.