Sherling Lake continues to rebound from damage sustained during Hurricane Ivan’s cutting swath back in September.

According to Phillip Herring, Sherling Lake Park Director, several projects continue to bring the park back to life and in ways make it better.

&uot;We were devastated by Hurricane Ivan,&uot; Herring said.

&uot;We were closed for about two months because of broken buildings and downed trees.

We thought it would never look like a park again.&uot;

He said thanks to Mayor Dexter McLendon, the Greenville Public Works Department and the Corp of Engineers, the recovery has been quite successful.

&uot;The cleanup was a terrific job performed by the Corp,&uot; he said.

&uot;They cleaned the park down to the lakesides.&uot;

The park employees have also been extremely busy filling holes, planting grass and putting out hay and cutting down broken trees, he said.

One of the biggest projects was the restoration of the pavilions.

&uot;We now stand with all four pavilions restored,&uot; he said.

&uot;They have been rebuilt and stained and have been covered with new metal roofs.

Those metal roofs look really good.&uot;

Herring said the tin tops will last for years and gives the park a special look with the different colors.

The City Council approved payment Monday night of $31,950 for the four pavilions.

Insurance will completely cover the cost of the replacements.

Herring said the campground is back in full order with some minor detail work yet to be done.

&uot;Our camping is up and going again and it’s growing again,&uot; he said.

&uot;Campers are here from east to west.

And according to recent travel survey down by Georgia Tech, people are traveling further to get to Sherling Lake Park, second only to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cambrian Ridge.&uot;

Another change Herring noted is the colors used throughout the park.

&uot;We are changing colors on most everything so that is forest green with yellow trim,&uot; he said.

&uot;It makes it easier to see.&uot;

The next project they’ll undertake is to add two more pavilions in the camping area, something many have asked for in the past.

&uot;Camping is the going thing right now,&uot; he said.

&uot;We finished our best year in 2004, even with the hurricane.&uot;

Herring said the mayor and City Council are owed thanks for dedication in keeping Sherling Lake a top-notch facility.

&uot;They and a dedicated staff want this to be the best park in the country,&uot; he said.