
CAROLINA BEACH — Of all the public amenities in Carolina Beach, one of the most frequented is the Carolina Beach Lake. Though it has caused the town some headaches in the past (lake dredging, algae issues, etc.), it’s still a valuable asset to Carolina Beach and the town is looking for guidance from the public on the future of the lake.
The town’s Parks and Recreation Department have been working with a company to come up with a new plan for the redesign of Lake Park and residents will be able to attend several public workshops to view proposed plans and submit their own ideas.
“Public participation in the development of the Lake Park Master Plan is essential. The public will have an opportunity to be a partner in the design process by offering feedback at two drop-in style public workshops. The first workshop will be held in conjunction with the Carolina Beach Police Department Bike Rodeo on November 2nd from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Recreation Center. The Carolina Beach Parks and Recreation Department and the Carolina Beach Parks and Recreation Advisory Board have been working with Benesch, a park design firm, on a redesign of Lake Park,” according to a memo from the town’s Parks and Recreation department.
The look

So what could this new design look like? Well, early renderings include things like new picnic shelters, new piers, a 10-foot-wide boardwalk, a bandshell (performance center), and more.
It could also include the removal of current amenities to make way for new ones.
As far as funding goes, the town’s Parks and Recreation Department along with the design company are looking to design the park to be in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF).
“The Lake Park Master Plan will meet all requirements for the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant application. The PARTF awards matching grants to local governments for parks, public beach access, and improvement in state parks. The statewide program helps local governments reach their park and public access goals to improve the quality of life in their communities. There are also numerous avenues to fund park improvement projects through additional grants, fundraising, and sponsorship opportunities,” according to the Parks and Recreation statement.
It is possible the upgrades would take place gradually as the town applies for, and receives PARTF grant funding instead of one major project.
“The main objective is to get a community-approved plan adopted, prioritize the amenities, and then look into strategic ways of funding the improvements. The final Lake Park Master Plan document will include graphic illustrations that will provide staff with a program for implementing various components of the plan. It will also identify project priorities, estimated construction costs, and address phasing of improvements,” the memo from the parks department concludes.