Governor McCrory Visits Hammocks Beach To Discuss Connect NC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Swansboro, N.C. — Governor Pat McCrory visited Hammocks Beach State Park today to discuss the Connect NC bond proposal. Connect NC will invest a total of $67.3 million in 28 state parks. Of that total, $1.5 million will be invested at Hammocks Beach State Park.

    "Our investment in Hammocks Beach will allow for the park to operate year-round by providing an expanded mainland area for environmental education and popular outdoor recreation areas," Governor McCrory said. "Improvements at Hammocks Beach and other state parks will allow us to meet the needs of our growing state population and to ensure these cherished assets are preserved for generations to come."

    In April, the McCrory administration settled a nine-year legal battle over the future of the park, allowing the North Carolina State Park System to acquire 289 acres on the mainland at Hammocks Beach State Park.

    The history of Hammocks Beach State Park reaches back a century to the friendship of Sharpe, an avid outdoorsman and physician from New York, and John Hurst and his wife Gertrude, who eventually became caretakers of Sharpe's hunting and fishing retreat. At the urging of the Hurst couple, Sharpe agreed to leave the property to the N.C. Teachers Association for use by its members, which at the time was the employee association for black teachers. The property served as a beach for African-American teachers in the days of racial segregation. Bear Island and part of the mainland property was later authorized as the state park.

    "Next year marks the 100th anniversary of our state parks," Governor McCrory said. "This anniversary is an opportunity for all North Carolinians to renew our appreciation for our state's spectacular natural resources and to renew a shared commitment of stewardship. I can't think of a better way to show our appreciation than by making this investment in our state parks."

    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 transportation proposal would pay for 27 permit-ready highway projects throughout North Carolina that have completed environmental documents. In addition, Connect NC 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://connect.nc.gov.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov