Special Column for Successful Gardener
Darrell Blackwelder
September 1, 2003

Elizabeth Holmes Hurley Park is a 16 acre public park composed of woodlands, streams, gardens, and quiet pathways. It includes collections of hollies and magnolias, a wildflower garden, an azalea garden, and many other plantings which provide year-round interest and beauty. Finely crafted cypress benches and tables, specially designed bridges, and distinctive gazebos enhance the gardens and provide a framework for the Park. Hurley Park provides an educational experience, a haven for wildlife, and a pleasant place to stroll. It also serves the community as a site for weddings, walking programs, informal meetings, and an annual spring celebration.
From its beginning, Elizabeth Holmes Hurley Park has been a joint venture between public and private interests. In 1984, the Salisbury City Council appropriated money to be used in the development of a master plan. The city staff and a volunteer committee continue to work together to implement this plan.
A generous donation in memory of Elizabeth Holmes Hurley from her husband, J.F. Hurley, Jr., and her sons, James Franklin, III, Haden Holmes, and Gordon Pannill, has allowed for an ambitious schedule for the Park's development. Mrs. Hurley, a lover of natural beauty, was one of the earliest residents of the City Lake area. This private donation, along with a Land and Water Conservation Grant, provided for initial Park development. The Park continues to be supported through a cooperative agreement between the City and the Hurley Foundation. Individuals, groups, and civic organizations are encouraged to donate their time, money, and ideas to the development of the Park.