FROM THE MAYOR

Welcome to Oak Ridge! We’re proud of our town’s small-town charm and recreational opportunities. During 2023, we’ll complete the new Heritage Farm Park, which will connect to our Town Park and offer additional athletic fields, picnic areas, playground, walking paths, and a site to honor veterans. Together, these parks will preserve 140 acres of historic farmland and scenic vistas within our town core. We’ll also continue to expand local trail connections, including segments of the state-wide Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Oak Ridge is home to the historic Old Mill of Guilford, as well as a Historic District that includes the Oak Ridge Military Academy, Oakhurst, Charles Benbow House, and much more. While each site helps tell our community’s story, this year we hope to preserve another, often forgotten, chapter of our history through the adaptive reuse of a 1930s tenant farmhouse in our Town Park. We’ll also award our first CORE (Conserving Oak Ridge through Easements) grants, designed to preserve open spaces and historic sites through protective easements. Together with our Historic Heritage grants, now in their eighth year, these innovative programs preserve the beauty and livability of our town.

This year, key intersections will receive improvements to pedestrian and vehicle safety. Major steps toward municipal water in 2023 will include construction of an elevated water tank to serve our new park and expand water access for our fire department. We’ll also complete the design of a new water line that will eventually bring water from Winston-Salem to Oak Ridge. Although this project may take many years, it marks a dramatic step toward ensuring a safe and reliable water source for all residents.

Our town is known for its enthusiastic volunteers, outstanding professional staff, and commitment to preserving natural beauty, historic character, and a family-oriented lifestyle. We’re proud to call Oak Ridge home!

Mayor Ann Schneider

(336) 554-2125 aschneider.nc@ gmail.com

4-year council term ends 2025