Loan to Breaks park is completed

Documents related to a loan from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to Breaks Interstate Park were signed recently and included an amendment to allow spending on other needed park items.

In April, VCEDA approved an up to $150,000 loan to the park to assist with operating costs as a result of state-mandated COVID-19 shutdowns. In June, the VCEDA board approved an amendment to that loan to allow the park to use some funds for a project adding new paddleboats and expanding the dock area, according to an Aug. 28 press release.

The amended loan allows for the funds to be used for operating costs, as well as “the purchase of equipment, dock area expansion or other improvements,” giving the park flexibility to also use the funds for the paddleboat and dock projects or other projects that might arise. Funds for the loan come from the civil penalties fund earmarked specifically for the park.

Park Superintendent Austin Bradley noted the need for additional paddleboats became evident early in the park’s summer season as the park reopened to guests.

“In an effort to balance health department guidance and the safety of our employees/guests with the need to produce revenue for the park during the pandemic, we reopened many of our facilities, but also left several of them closed due to the inability to ensure any form of social distancing,” Bradley said. “As such, the activities which remained open began experiencing unprecedented levels of business. One such example was the paddle boats and the boat dock. The watercraft VCEDA previously helped us purchase through another grant met some of that new demand, but adding paddleboats to capitalize on the overall increased demand was identified as another area that would benefit the park now and in the years to come.”

Additionally, Bradley said the expansion in the dock area to make room for the new watercraft has provided more room for larger crowds in that area.