RALEIGH — The state of North Carolina Tuesday announced a series of public meetings aimed at determining the “feasibility and suitability” of the development of a new state park along the Black River. The park would cover portions of Pender, Bladen, and Sampson counties.
According to the North Carolina State Parks Department, the Black River is home to cypress trees that are over 1,600 years old, making it “a popular paddling destination, in an area currently under served by the State Parks system.”
The Pender County meeting will be held in Burgaw, at the Cooperative Extension Office located at 801 S. Walker St. from 4-7 p.m.
A tributary of the Cape Fear River, the Black River is already protected along more than 14,450 acres of its shores through private organizations like The Nature Conservancy.
Residents of each county affected by the proposed park will have a chance to speak at the meetings. The first meeting is in Bladen County on Sept. 14, followed by one in Pender County on Sept. 18, and Sampson County on Sept. 19.
The Pender County meeting will be held in Burgaw, at the Cooperative Extension Office located at 801 S. Walker St. from 4-7 p.m.
These meetings will operate in an “open house format” to allow the public to comment and ask questions about the proposed park at any time during the meetings hours. Members of the design team, park rangers and staff from the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation will be on hand to answer questions.
This study will include an evaluation of the natural and cultural heritage significance of the area, whether it meets criteria to be part of the state park system, the suitability of the Black River for recreation, and a cost estimate for developing the park.
NC General Assembly has directed the NC Division of Parks and Recreation to undertake this study and report results to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources by March 1, 2018.
For more information, visit ncparks.gov, or ncdcr.gov.
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