Governor McCrory Highlights State Park Improvements in Connect NC Bond Proposal | Eastern NC Now

    Pinnacle, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory visited Pilot Mountain State Park today to discuss how the Connect NC bond proposal will improve North Carolina's state parks.

    "Our state parks system is a major reason businesses and people relocate to North Carolina, and a point of pride for those of us who call North Carolina home," Governor McCrory said. "The Connect NC bond proposal will address critical needs throughout the parks and improve the quality of life for everyone in our state."


    A visitor center at Pilot Mountain State Park is one of 28 state park projects included in the Connect NC bonds. Approximately $6 million would go to Pilot Mountain to provide enhanced facilities, environmental education exhibits and meeting rooms for visitors who picnic, hike, camp, climb, fish, canoe and cycle in the park.

    "The state's investment in Pilot Mountain State Park will greatly benefit the 400,000 annual visitors who frequent this park to relax, exercise and enjoy the natural resources protected and available here," Governor McCrory said.


    Governor McCrory was joined by State Budget Director Lee Roberts, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Don van der Vaart, Department of Transportation Secretary Tony Tata and Department of Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz at Pilot Mountain.

    The proposed bonds allocate more than $112 million for state parks and the North Carolina Zoo. The funds are needed to replace, restore and renovate aging facilities. The bonds also include funding for trail development, campground and access improvements, the construction of new facilities and land acquisition as well as funding to support environmental education, which is a key focus of the parks system.

    State parks receiving funding from the proposed bonds include:

• Chimney Rock State Park
• Lake Norman State Park
• Pilot Mountain State Park
• Hanging Rock State Park
• Grandfather Mountain State Park
• Stone Mountain State Park
• Mount Jefferson State Park
• South Mountain State Park
• Lake James State Park
• Yellow Mountain State Park
• Mount Mitchell State Park
• Mayo River State Park
• Crowders Mountain State Park
• Morrow Mountain State Park
• Singletary Lake State Park
• Lake Waccamaw State Park
• Lumber River State Park
• Jordan Lake State Park
• Raven Rock State Park
• Kerr Lake State Park
• Falls Lake State Park
• Goose Creek State Park
• Dismal Swamp State Park
• Merchants Millpond State Park
• Medoc Mountain State Park
• Pettigrew State Park
• Hammocks Beach State Park
• Gorges State Park

    North Carolina's state parks system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016. It encompasses nearly 225,000 acres and attracts more than 15 million visitors annually.

    Connect NC is targeted investments in North Carolina's roads, education, public health, parks and military. From small farming towns to large cities, Connect NC projects will benefit every community across the state while creating thousands of jobs along the way.

    The proposal includes two bonds of approximately $1.5 billion each - one for roads, the other for infrastructure - which would go before the voters for approval either in October or November. The proposed transportation bond would pay for 27 permit-ready highway projects throughout North Carolina that have completed environmental documents.

    In addition, the bond would fund the paving of 176 unpaved secondary roads totaling 113 miles. Because of the state's fiscal strength and strong balance sheet, no tax increase is needed to fund the bonds and the state's AAA bond rating would be preserved.

    To learn more about Connect NC, visit

    http://www.connect.nc.gov.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov