Making Waves Boating Access ‘Ramping Up’ on Crystal Coast While there may be few pastimes as pleasant as sitting in a vessel
county, with the help of the state, funded a complete renovation
of
the
site,
on the tranquil waters surrounding Carteret County’s Crystal Coast, the
reopening it to the public in April 2009. Previously it had just one
act of getting the boat into the water can at times be maddening. On
boat ramp and too few parking spaces. David Bullard, a boater from
a nice day, boaters have to form long lines at access sites. Once they
Beaufort, said the location was also difficult to get in and out of and
put their boat in, the search is on for a precious parking space that can
could at times be dangerous. “It was dilapidated,” Bullard said.
accommodate the vehicle and trailer. Sometimes they have to park half a mile away, other times they just give up.
The facility, constructed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, now has two double ramps, quadrupling the number of vessels that can
Thankfully, the county and its municipalities have been hard at
get in or out of the water at the same time, as well as a canoe and
work to ensure water access for boaters keeps getting better, and with
kayak launch. It also has a renovated pier, a floating dock, renovated
a massive water access project underway in Emerald Isle, Carteret may
bathrooms, a picnic shelter with grills and parking for 32 vehicles with
soon be one of the best places to go boating in the state. The town
boat trailers and 12 single car spaces. In addition, the site is one of the
wants to build a facility with four boat ramps and parking for as many
most handicap-accessible available, with handicap parking, restrooms
as 120 vehicles with trailers, creating a total of 23 acres of soundfront
compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a canoe launch
recreation property for public use. If all goes according to plan, the
that can be accessed via wheelchair.
facility, which will be located directly adjacent to Chapel by the Sea near
Those improvements have been embraced by the boating
mile marker 18 on N.C. 58, should open toward the end of 2010. The
community. “You’re not waiting on people anymore,” said Bullard, as
town will add amenities over time, including a picnic shelter, a pier and
he lowered his vessel, the Sea Boss, into the water, hoping to catch
a walking trail and possibly even a ball field. “Our plan is to make it a
some spot or puppy drum.
comprehensive soundfront park,” said Frank Rush, town manager of Emerald Isle.
“I haven’t heard one piece of negative feedback since we opened,” added Jack Veit, Carteret’s assistant county manager.
The town so far has raised $3.2 million of the necessary $4.25
These are just two of several projects in Carteret aimed at improving
million to complete the project and has already purchased the majority
access along the county’s coast. The county also recently purchased
of land. Rush said he is hoping to receive more grants from the state in
property in Cedar Point to add another 45 spaces for vehicles and
the next year. Once the town acquires the land, it will hand it over to
trailers adjacent to an existing ramp and Morehead City is adding
the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to construct and maintain the
parking to its access site on Radio Island.
facility. While this project is still some months off, boaters don’t have to
With the creation of projects such as these, boaters can now spend less time getting to the water and more time being on it.
wait to take advantage of the Western Beaufort Water Access site. The
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