North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority has approved $17.4 million for nine capital improvement projects and six land acquisitions at state parks.
“These land acquisition and park improvement projects will both expand our state parks system and repair and restore facilities and trails for the benefit of the people of North Carolina as well as visitors to our state,” N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary D. Reid Wilson said in a statement. “We are grateful to the General Assembly and Gov. Cooper for providing significantly increased investments in the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund over the last two years.”
Capital improvement projects funded include:
- historic building renovations at Carvers Creek and Hanging Rock state parks
- campground renovations at Pettigrew State Park
- upgraded sewer systems at Chimney Rock State Park
- development of a trailhead and trail construction along the Northern Peaks State Trail at Elk Knob State Park
Funding was also approved for repairs and renovations to state park facilities systemwide.
Also, $2.1 million was approved by the Authority for land acquisition at five state parks, including 215 acres that will connect two tracts of land at Mount Mitchell State Park, and 58 acres to connect Elk Knob State Park to Peak Mountain.
Several of the approved projects will supplement Connect N.C. Bond projects at Carvers Creek, Grandfather Mountain, Pettigrew and Hanging Rock state parks. Funding amounts for capital projects: