Thank you, Franklin County

On Memorial Day, we decided to visit the new Smith Mountain Lake Park, off 616 (Scrugg's Road). A dedication ceremony for the white sand beach had been held the previous Friday, and some of our FCL writers' group had visited some time back to check out the covered picnic tables and the gorgeous fishing/walking/sitting pier.
The two of us stopped at Westlake Kroger for sharp cheese and beef stick...three of us, actually, as we took Sadie Mae along. We had no idea how many people would have the same idea, but decided to go enjoy our 'picnic' and scope out the new park.
Well, it was perfect. Just enough families and kids on the pristine white sand beach to look like a calendar picture. The water was clear and blue, and an occasional sailboat passed by. The kids were having a grand time! We noticed some picnic tables at the beach, the colorful playground is nearby, and the sparkling clean restrooms as well. This is a 'carry-in, carry-out' park, so the only trash cans we saw were in the restrooms.
Next to the parking lot, there was a container of plastic bags for doggie cleanup. Well, Sadie Mae must have gotten the message, and cleanup went right into the restroom trash.
A winding, slightly sloping, pathway led down to the covered picnic tables and the fishing pier. There were a couple of families at the tables; all were delighted about the facility. Three women were playing cards while their sons and grandsons fished off the covered pier. One couple's young girl brought me a tiny daisy; her Mom told me they'd driven over an hour to get there and were so happy with the site.
Right now, the park is open on weekends. On June 11th, hours will extend through the weekdays as well. There is no charge, no entrance fee as yet. Probably by next summer season, there will be a modest fee since a lifeguard is at the beach, and we saw another park employee at the parking lot.
What a treasure for us! Soon, the Franklin County Library branch at Westlake will open as well. We owe a big Thank You to so many people in Franklin County, staffers and volunteers and contributors. Job well done at the Smith Mountain Lake Park.