Division awards $2.8 million in public water access grants

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management announced Monday more than $2.8 million has been awarded to 14 local governments to improve public access to coastal beaches and waters for fiscal 2024-25.

The awards include $350,000 for Topsail Beach, which is partnering with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and North Carolina Division of Coastal Management to purchase in fee title property at the south end of the island totaling more than 149 acres and known as “The Point.” The $350,000 grant will be used purchase 1.5 acres of the parcel for public access. The Coastal Land Trust is to purchase the property and immediately transfer 1.5 acres to the town with the remaining acreage to be transferred to the state.

Related: Coastal Land Trust takes fresh approach to save ‘The Point’

“The natural resources of North Carolina’s coastal communities draw residents and visitors alike and are a vital part of the state’s economy,” said Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser in the announcement. “Supporting projects that help local governments and communities sustain safe natural shoreline spaces and improve access to our beaches and waterfront continues to be a priority for our agency.”

In addition to Topsail Beach, grants were awarded to the following local governments:

• Atlantic Beach received $58,243 for improvements to the Beaufort Avenue beach access to rebuild and extend the existing wooden walkway.
• Atlantic Beach also received $60,574 for improvements to the Greenville Avenue beach access to rebuild and extend the existing wooden walkway.
• Carolina Beach received $132,322 improvements to the 1810 Canal Drive site to build a parking lot with accessible parking spots, and construction of a six-foot-by-150-foot Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant wooden walkway allowing access from parking area to beach strand.
• Carteret County received $225,000 for improvements to the Straits water access site including adding 33 paved parking spaces with two spaces for people with disabilities at the old Harkers Island Bridge site. The project also includes the addition of a picnic shelter.
• Carteret County received $300,000 for improvements to the West Beaufort water access to add walkways connecting the existing amenities to Beaufort’s sidewalk system, improvements to the kayak launch area and additional parking for the boat ramp.
• Dare County received $114,010 for new construction at the Old Lighthouse Beach in Buxton. The project includes construction of a new restroom and shower facilities.
• Elizabeth City received $378,000 for improvements to the Causeway Park access site to replace dilapidated pilings and boardwalk; add a kayak launch and connecting boardwalk segment; replace the current observation decks and fishing pier; and install a concrete pad sufficient to provide two accessible parking spaces.
• Indian Beach received $179,863 for improvements at the Ocean Club neighborhood beach access to replace the entire length of the boardwalk. The new plans for the boardwalk include the reconstruction of the original walkway and a 10-foot-by-10-foot observation deck overlooking the beach.
• Kill Devil Hills received $77,928 for new construction at the Hayman Boulevard beach access for construction of a dune crossover. The walkway will be elevated to traverse the growing dune system at this site.
• Manteo received $95,738 for improvements at the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse Pier to replace decking on the pier leading to and surrounding the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse replica in Shallowbag Bay.
• Morehead City received $205,084 for improvements at the 10th Street access site. The project has two major components: removal and reconstruction of the western dock to include and improve accessibility, stabilization and site protection features, and installation of nature-based resiliency features, a living shoreline, to further reduce and disable wave energy to the northern shoreline and site structures.
• Nags Head received $207,669 for improvements at the June Street public beach access to build an approximately 6-foot-wide, 1,650-square-foot, accessible, wooden dune walkover, a 16-foot octagonal gazebo and an upgraded shower-station and lamppost.
• Oak Island received $32,000 for new construction at the SE 31st Street kayak launch to install a new ADA-compliant kayak launch with a 3-foot-by-12-foot safe launch, a 4-foot-by-12-foot open slip and an ADA-compliant transfer platform and new aluminum gangway.
• Ocean Isle Beach received $54,000 for improvements to the Concord Street beach access. The existing beach access currently terminates within the dune system, this project will extend the access from its current location and result in it terminating roughly even with the frontal dune. To meet ADA compliance, the stair system will be replaced by a wheelchair-accessible ramp that will have appropriate 5-foot landings per every 20 feet of inclined ramp. The access will also be widened to 8 feet across and have engineered X-bracing supports.
• Sunset Beach received $392,175 for new construction at Majestic Oaks Park to build 1,000 feet of pervious walkway, and about 460 feet of boardwalk and a wildlife observation area.

The program has awarded 530 grants totaling more than $55 million to improve public waterfront access sites since it began in 1981. For more information about the program, go to the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access website.

The Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access program provides matching funds to local governments in the 20 coastal counties. Governments that receive grants must match them by contributing at least 25 percent toward the project’s cost.

Funding for the grant program comes from the North Carolina General Assembly through the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. Access projects may include walkways, dune crossovers, restrooms, parking areas, piers and related projects. Funds also may be used for land acquisition or urban waterfront revitalization. Staff with the state Division of Coastal Management selected the recipients based on criteria set by the Coastal Resources Commission.