ROCKINGHAM COUNTY -- Recreation and education will soon be easier to get at the Dan River in Rockingham County. A new park is planned in Madison-bringing more tourists to the riverbank.

"On top of it it's got dirt from the Dan River inside the encapsulated piece is water from the Dan River," said Lance Metzler, Rockingham County Manager.

The award from Duke Energy came with $91,000 to create a 3.4 acre park on the Dan River.

"It has an opportunity for us to expand our vision, expand out availability for our rivers which is a tourist attraction not only is it a tourist attraction but also is a tool for the county to be able to get our citizens out there," said Metzler.

Duke Energy pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating the Clean Water Act after a burst pipe at a retention pond in 2014 spilled 39,000 of coal ash in the river. The company had to pay fines and cleanup costs.

In a separate initiative, Duke Energy Foundation donated money or the park project, while the Dan River Basin Association and the county chipped in $4,000 each. After the spill, officials are trying to attract people to not only the Dan River but other county waterway's.

"We've got the Dan River, the Mayo River, the Smith River and we have the Haw River and we're very proud of the assets we have here. We have a lot of tourists come in spend money in the county and that's the best economic development that you have," said Metzler.

The property here on Planters Road will not only be another public access to the Dan River but it will be home to environmental signage and educational programs for youth.

"Vegetation, aquatic life, the animals that we have here to explain to kids K through 6 what we have here, what they have in their backyard they don't realize they have in their backyard," said Metzler.

The park is scheduled to be open by next summer. The Duke Energy Foundation's Water Resource Fund is a $10 million fund to improve water quality and conservation in North and South Carolina and other areas.

Rockingham County should have ownership of the land in January.