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ROSEBORO - Sampson County's first new park in 35 years will open to the public later this month.

Built on 20 acres donated by Al McLamb, the $1 million Western District Park features two baseball fields, a picnic shelter, a playground and a half-mile paved walking trail.

"This park will be used as the standard for which I believe any facility built in Sampson County will be held against," said Ali Noll, the county's parks and recreation director. "It's premier, cream of the crop."

The county received a $500,000 matching grant from the state in 2005 to build the park.

But in the past few months, Noll and county commissioners went to towns and civic groups asking for donations because the final details went slightly over budget.

"We refer to it as the Western District Park sprint," Noll said.

And it worked.

Woodmen of the World donated a flagpole and a flag and paid to run electricity to a second baseball field.

Tri-State Turf gave the county a discount on infield dirt.

Roseboro, Salemburg and Autryville - the towns included in the Western District - all kicked in money, along with the county, to pour a concrete pad for bleachers, dugouts and garbage cans.

On Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the county will celebrate the opening day of the park. The state champion Little League baseball team will be honored. The new flagpole will be dedicated, and a free lunch will be provided to everyone who attends.

The park is on the 700 block of West Clinton Street in Roseboro.