Connect NC would strengthen, expand State Parks

Lake James State Park would benefit from funding to build a 26-mile greenway around the lake.
Lake James State Park would benefit from funding to build a 26-mile greenway around the lake.

Tuesday, North Carolina voters go to the polls to vote on, among other things, a sweeping $2 billion bond package. About $75 million of  Connect NC would go to North Carolina’s State Parks.

Today on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. blog we give an overview of that funding and talk to former State Parks Director Lewis Ledford for his take on how the funding would continue a job started in 1993 by a watershed $35 million State Parks bond package. You can find that story here.

Here’s a look at the 45 State Parks projects that would receive money through Connect NC.

Triangle

  • Eno River State Park – Visitor Center: $2,830,500
  • Falls Lake State Recreation Area – Beaverdam Community Building: $789,750
  • Jordan Lake State Recreation Area – Campground/Electric Hook-ups: $3,000,000
  • Lower Haw River State Natural Area – Bynum Day Use Development: $203,250
  • Raven Rock State Park – Campground Expansion: $1,125,000
  • William B. Umstead State Park – Community/Education Building: $1,725,000
Connect NC bond money would help the Mountains-to-Sea Trail expand.
Connect NC bond money would help the Mountains-to-Sea Trail expand.

Triad

  • Hanging Rock State Park – Vade Mecum (Camp Sertoma) Improvements: $2,100,000
  • Haw River State Park – Land Acquisition: $1,500,000
  • Mayo River State Park – Land Acquisition: $750,000
  • Pilot Mountain State Park – Visitor Center: $4,481,850

Charlotte

  • Crowders Mountain State Park – Expanded Parking and Improved Access: $750,000
  • Lake Norman State Park – Family & Group Camp Improvements: $2,307,000
  • Morrow Mountain State Park – New Rental Cabins: $1,537,500

Piedmont

  • Bond money to build major projects would free other park funds for trail improvement and expansion.
    Bond money to build major projects would free other park funds for trail improvement and expansion.

    Carvers Creek State Park – Long Valley Farm Day Use Dev/Farm Seat Renovations: $5,700,750

  • Deep River State Trail – Public Access Development: $1,281,000
  • Kerr Lake State Recreation Area – Multiple Renovations: $3,750,000
  • Medoc Mountain State Park – Education/Community Building: $1,383,750
  • Weymouth Woods Nature Preserve – Land Acquisition: $428,250

Coast

  • Carolina Beach State Park – Campground Improvements: $855,000
  • Fort Fisher State Recreation Area – Bathhouse/Visitor Center Renovation: $1,125,000
  • Fort Macon State Park- Cannon Project: $135,000
  • Goose Creek State Park – Family Tent & Trailer Campground & Cabins: $1,477,500
  • Hammocks Beach State Park – Boat Ramp Development: $1,125,000
  • Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Visitor Center & Exhibit Hall: $751,500
  • Pettigrew State Park – Visitor Center/Museum: $2,830,500

Coastal plain

  • Eno River State Park doesn't have a visitor center; it would get one if Connect NC passes.
    Eno River State Park doesn’t have a visitor center; it would get one if Connect NC passes.

    Cliffs of the Neuse State Park – Campground Improvements: $692,400

  • Dismal Swamp State Park – Land Acquisition: $$990,750
  • Jones Lake State Park – Campground Improvements: $651,750
  • Lake Waccamaw State Park – Tent & Trailer Campground: $1,506,000
  • Lumber River State Park – Wire Pasture Public Access: $2,628,750
  • Merchants Millpond State Park – Campground Improvements: $870,750
  • Singletary Lake State Park – Visitor Contact Station: $575,250

Mountains

  • Beech Creek Bog State Natural Area – Land Acquisition: $600,000
  • Chimney Rock State Park – Rumbling Bald/World’s End Day Use Areas: $1,500,000
  • Elk Knob State Park – Land Acquisition: $900,000
  • Gorges State Park – Grassy Ridge Campground: $2,505,750
  • Grandfather Mountain State Park – Profile Trail Public Access (Phase II): $1,501,500
  • Lake James State Park – Visitor Center: $3,021,000
  • Mount Jefferson State Natural Area – Land Acquisition: $1,500,000
  • Mount Mitchell State Park – Summit Improvements: $600,000
  • New River State Park – Land Acquisition: $675,000
  • Yellow Mountain State Natural Area – Land Acquisition: $2,250,000
  • Stone Mountain State Park – Visitor Center Improvements: $1,338,000
  • South Mountains State Park – Clear Creek Campground: $2,250,000

Statewide

  • Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, Fonta Flora Trail – Land Acquisition: $4,500,000

    Find more information on these projects here.

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