Pettigrew State Park has a new multi use pier and boardwalk project available for use.

The majority of the funds were supplied by NC Regional Trails Program which is ultimately a federal grant program.

The RTP is a federal grant program authorized by Congress in 2012 as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 Century (MAP-21). The intent of the RTP is to help fund trails and trail-related recreational needs at the State level. Funding for the RTP comes from federal gas taxes paid on non-highway fuel used in off-highway vehicles, and the program is administered at the Federal level by the Federal Highway Administration.

“The grant amount was for 64,000 dollars for materials and hardware, and it was a matching grant where at least 20 percent must come from other funding sources,for the purposes of this grant it was mainly an in-kind labor grant match. All labor was performed by park staff and a few volunteers for the in-kind match,” said Doug Lequire, Park Superintendent at Pettigrew State park.

61,000 of the 64,000 grant amount was spent.

“This trail was also partially funded to a much lesser extent in the amount of 10,000 by the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund which was a project requested by the park for materials and equipment that could not be covered by the grant funding.Total cost for this project excluding labor would be about 72,000. This price includes swim ladders, and specialized equipment.  The estimated commercial cost over 250,000 if project were to be privately built by a contractor,” said Lequire.

The grant for the pier project was awarded to the Washington County Chamber of Commerce whom administered the funding with the support of Washington County Traveling and Tourism Authority

Lequire explained that the project has two portions.

“For the Lake Shore Trail, the trail is 1800’ with a 224’ pier (for a total length of 2024’).  The width is 6’ with two platforms that will eventually have other amenities such as benches and rod holders.

For the Bonarva Trail, the land portion boardwalk is 550’ and will have a 100’ pier for a total of 650’ with a 24’x24’ platform  The pier and platform for this portion will be constructed in Spring of 2015. The land based trail is open to the public now.
Both trails are ADA accessible and will provide many opportunities for recreation which include: swimming, fishing, boating, nature hiking, bird watching, sunning, etc, “ said Lequire.

Pettigrew State Park staff consists of two full time maintenance personnel, one ranger and and Lequire.

“90 percent of the project was completed by park staff mainly two maintenance personnel and two seasonal park staff, we did have one volunteer that donated 150 hours to the project. Total construction time took about 10 months while maintaining the park and accounting for in climate weather,” said Lequire.

Most of the material was hand carried into the swamp which included over 600 eight foot long posts with a 8 inch diameter each driven 5 inches into the ground, 5800 2 by 6 boards were carted in by hand, over 800 2×8 boards were carted in by hand…and over 60,000 nails were used.

“The majority of posts were driven with a mini excavator all 75 posts in the water are driven by hand.  Each of the 600 posts had to be carried by hand and they weighed anywhere from 50 to 80 pounds each,” said Lequire