A shuffleboard court has been added to the newly completed Pavilion Park at Covenant Village. The recreational platform and equipment are a gift from resident Mrs. Hazel McLean and her family to honor Robert McLean, her late husband, who loved the game.

“My husband enjoyed shuffleboard very much. We installed a court on our back patio. He was quite skilled at the game, and I loved watching him play,” said Mrs. McLean.

When Mrs. McLean learned the new pavilion would include a space for shuffleboard, she wanted to help make it a reality. The family’s gift is a significant contribution to the vision for Pavilion Park.

“I love this place,” Mrs. McLean said in an earlier interview about the role Covenant Village has played in making her senior years fulfilling and satisfying. “I would do anything for it because I feel they would do anything for me. Covenant Village is the best thing that has ever come to Gastonia.”

In 2023, Covenant Village announced a $1.25 million gift from a generous donor to fund a strategic initiative focused on senior well-being and community enrichment. The funding provided a multifunctional outdoor space to encourage social and wellness-centered activities, which have been shown to greatly improve health and well-being as people age.

The idea for an accessible outdoor community space developed in response to the difficulties and limitations encountered during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Construction of Pavilion Park and a reimagined parking lane for residents was completed just before the 2025 holiday season. The new outdoor space is nestled in the heart of the Covenant Village campus, allowing access – without limitation – from the ARISE Wellness Center, apartment residences, the ARISE Health Center (including memory care), and nearby cottages. The project transformed an underutilized half-acre site and includes a covered pavilion, terraced seating, walking paths, an outdoor kitchen with grills, a fire pit seating area, and outdoor recreational activities.

“Pavilion Park has exceeded our expectations,” said Covenant Village CEO Dale Melton. “It is attractive, multifunctional, family-friendly, and expands our commitment to providing a wellness-centered community for all who live and work here.”

COO Matt Gibbons emphasized that the pavilion complex expands the abundant opportunities within the community’s 54 acres of natural, parklike areas.

“Pavilion Park enables every resident to enjoy the outdoors in new ways. We envision a variety of activities, such as outdoor concerts, exercise classes, shared meals, and residents spending quality time with their family members amidst the peaceful surroundings,” said Gibbons.

“This is an exciting time for Covenant Village. Mrs. McLean’s gift, alongside the initial foundational funding for Pavilion Park, affirms our Board’s vision to ensure the health and well-being of our residents and staff and to meet new expectations in senior living. We are grateful to all who contribute to the legacy of Covenant Village and make it the community where life is filled with promise,” added Melton.