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STEWARD»
IGEST
www.ncparks.gov
Pat McCrory May 20 15
Governor
Volume 2 Number 3
Donald R. van der Vaart
Secretary, DENR
Gov. McCrory, park supporters dedicate Lake Norman visitor center
Gov. Pat McCrory, the family of the late Park Superintendent Casey Rhinehart and more than
too park supporters and officials together dedicated a new visitor center and district office April 23 at
Lake Norman State Park.
The completion of the n,ooo-square-foot facility and adjacent amenities, under the guidance of
Rhinehart and Ranger Jarid Church, is a benchmark in the park’s history and an example of sustainable
development, designed to national green building standards.
The project represents an investment of $4.3 million from the
N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
Before cutting a ribbon with Rhinehart’s family to open
the facility, Gov. McCrory said it also represents an improve¬
ment in infrastructure such as those he seeks in a pair of pro¬
posed bond referendums now before the General Assembly.
Investment in state parks - proposed at $67 million within the
total $2.85 billion - are an important part of the bond package,
he said.
“These parks give access for all citizens to these beauti¬
ful places,” McCrory said. “The parks need to expand and be exposed to all income levels so that all can
enjoy the best of North Carolina.”
The role of state parks as contributors to quality of life and to local economies was a common
theme for the event’s speakers, including Jeff Archer, a park advisory committee member and owner of
a local bike shop, David Pearson, executive director of Friends of State Parks, and W.E. “Bill” Russell,
president of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Murphy, state parks director, said the visitor center as a place to educate is a tribute to
Rhinehart, who died Feb. 25 of cancer after serving as superintendent at the park for 11 years.
Similar to visitor centers built at 22 state parks and state recreation areas since 1994, the Lake
Norman facility offers an architectural design styled to its lakeside setting, classrooms and interior and
exterior exhibits.
Hammocks Beach State Park expands with 289 acres on mainland
The North Carolina state parks system is adding a premier property of 289 acres on the main¬
land at Hammocks Beach State Park.
The state initially acquired 199 acres of the property, and the Conservation fund purchased an
adjacent 90 acres that eventually will also be added to the park. Both tracts were acquired from the
heirs of John Hurst, son of a onetime slave who was caretaker of game lands owned by Dr. William
Sharpe in the early 1900s.
The waterfront tract on Queen’s Creek once was the site of popular summer camps, and has long
been identified as a critical need for the state park for traditional park facilities and to enhance protec¬
tion of water quality and scenic assets on the creek. Prior to the purchase, the 1,155-acre park encom¬
passed 30 acres on the mainland, the site of a visitor center, along with Bear Island, Huggins Island and
Continued Other Side
NCDENR
NC Division of Parks and Recreation
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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