Town receives additional funding from Carteret County and NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund

 

After more than a year of hard work, the Town completed a partial closing on land for a new public boat launching facility on September 1.

 

The Town now owns 4 of the 7 lots that make up the 16-acre Shell Cove North tract, including the half-acre boat basin and dredged canal.  A closing on the 5th lot is scheduled for later this fall.  The Town was able to complete this partial purchase after recent funding awards from the Carteret County Board of Commissioners and the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund in August.  To date, the Town has secured $3.2 million in funding from State and County sources for the $4.25 million total land acquisition, and is seeking an additional $1 million from other State funding sources to complete the closing on the remaining 2 lots.  The Town will close on the remaining 2 lots in the next 1-2 years as additional grant funding can be secured. 

 

The 16-acre tract will be combined with the adjacent McLean Park property already under Town control, resulting in a 23-acre soundfront facility that will become the largest public boat launching facility on the NC coast.  The NC Wildlife Resources Commission has agreed to construct and maintain the new facility, which will have 4 launching ramps and approximately 125 vehicle / trailer spaces.  The new facility will be located directly adjacent to Chapel By The Sea near mile marker 18 on NC 58.

 

Design and permitting will begin immediately, and the Town and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission will be working to open the new facility as soon as possible.  The Town is pleased to be able to ensure that our residents, property owners, and visitors will have plentiful boating access in perpetuity.

 

The Town extends a special thanks to all funding partners, including the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the NC Division of Coastal Management,  Carteret County, and the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.