Courtesy of Botetourt County
The Botetourt Chamber of Commerce is excited to host a ribbon cutting celebration for the senior fitness equipment dedication at the Troutville Town Park on Monday, June 19th at 11 am. All are welcome to attend.
This state-of-the-art outdoor equipment project was the dream of Dean Paderick and Harry (Skeets) Ulrich when one day they came together and decided that fitness equipment aimed specifically at senior citizens should be placed in the Town Park. While researching the project, they visited Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton, Virginia, which was the only one in the area that featured senior fitness equipment.
Courtesy of Botetourt County
To make their dream a reality, they fundraised, applied for various grants, managed fund appeal letters, and searched for private donations. There was a lot of help from different organizations in and around Troutville that helped them reach their goal, including Glenda F. Terry, Bank of Botetourt, First Bank, Botetourt Kiwanis Club, and APX Traffic Management.
Unfortunately, during this fundraising campaign, Dean Paderick was battling cancer, and sadly in June of 2022, he lost his fight. Skeets took the project over and with the help from many wonderful friends and family, their dream became a reality.
On May 20, 2023, a benefit ride was held at the Troutville Town Park in Dean’s honor. All the funds raised will cover the remaining balance on the installation of the equipment. Dean will be remembered at the ribbon cutting and his contributions to the project will continue to be enjoyed in the community by everyone that visits the park. The equipment and track surrounding it not only encourages a better quality of life, but it also offers a gathering area for seniors in the community to socialize and enjoy each other's company.
About the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce
As the premier business resource hub in Botetourt County, we offer a strong voice advocating for issues that affect business locally and regionally, innovative programming, and networking opportunities. Large industrial facilities and locally owned service and retail businesses are part of our thriving business community. Founded in 1945, we celebrated our 75th anniversary in 2020.
Our core purpose is to create, sustain, and enhance a positive business environment for our members. Our primary areas of focus are business education, workforce development, economic development, and infrastructure. We look forward to helping our member organizations grow and prosper. To reach one of our professionals, visit www.botetourtchamber.com or call 540-566-8812.