By Randy Arrington
LURAY, June 21 — Just prior to The Seven Bends Band opening up the 2024 Evenings on Main summer concert series, Luray officials took a moment on Friday evening to mark the recent completion of ten of thousands of dollars in renovations at Ruffner Plaza.
“On a hot summer evening, you’ve chosen to spend yours at Ruffner Plaza…it’s a place where we gather and we meet up with old friends and even make new friends,” said Luray’s Director of Parks and Recreation Jen Jenkins. “We are so thankful for all of the partners that helped make this renovation possible, so Ruffner Plaza can continue to be a place where we gather.”
T-Mobile awarded the Town of Luray and the Hawksbill Greenway Foundation a $50,000 Hometown grant toward the renovations at Ruffner Plaza, as part of the mobile communication provider’s national community outreach campaign.
“Today represents more than the end of a construction project…it’s a new beginning here in Luray,” said Aaron Gray, manager of the T-Mobile store in Harrisonburg. “T-Mobile is committed to investing in communities like this. Together, we have built more than a plaza…we have strengthened a community.”
In March of 2023, T-Mobile announced that Luray was among 25 small towns and rural communities across the country receiving a T‑Mobile Hometown Grant for community development projects spanning technology, education, environment and health care. That round of awards totaled about $1 million. Since the program began, T-Mobile has given more than $13 million to help improve more than 300 communities in 47 states, according to Gray.
“Well it’s another great day in Luray,” Mayor Jerry Dofflemyer told the crowd of nearly 100 people gathered at Ruffner Plaza on Friday evening. “We look forward to many enjoyable evenings here.”
After nearly a quarter century of service to the community, the pocket park sitting along the Hawksbill Creek and the town’s greenway in the heart of Downtown Luray received a much-needed facelift. The renovations included replacing concrete for better accessibility and additional safety, additional lighting and electrical outlets, installation of a shade structure, and replacing safety bollards around the plaza’s parking lot.
Summer Williams of Convergence Grants Consulting in Luray prepared the successful grant application for the greenway foundation that brought in $50,000 for the upgrades to Ruffner Plaza, as well as previously doing pro bono work for the foundation that secured a $25,000 grant for a feasibility study on the half-mile expansion of the greenway to Yagers Spring. Luray was the only recipient of the T-Mobile Hometown grant in Virginia, with only 6 percent of the more than 400 applicants nationwide receiving funds.
“We’re very grateful to T-Mobile for their generous donation, but I want you to know that we also received 25 donations from individuals toward this beautiful renovation,” Hawksbill Greenway Foundation president Bill Dudley told Friday night’s crowd.
The remainder of Luray’s Evenings on Main summer concert series at Ruffner Plaza includes (all concerts on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m.):
- July 12 — Chad Laughlin and Blue Ridge Rain, original modern country
- July 26 — Spencer Hatcher, country
- August 16 — Road Ducks, classic rock/Motown
- August 30 — Cazhmiere, radio hits
- September 13 — The Hackens Boys, country
- September 27 — The Low Low Chariot, country
For more information about Luray’s Parks and Recreation, CLICK HERE.
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T-Mobile provides $50,000 for renovations at Ruffner Plaza through Hometown Grant
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