Washington is seeking a Coastal Area Management Act permit for a walkway along Runyon Creek at Havens Gardens, a project that goes back to at least 2009.

John Rodman, the city’s director of community and cultural services, mentioned the permit during his remarks at the City Council’s strategic planning session last month. The walkway project came about when the new N.C. Highway 32 bridge over the creek was built in 2009-2010 and opened in summer 2010.

When pilings for the new bridge were driven, pilings were driven for a walkway that would go under the bridge and connect northern side (where boat ramps are located) of Havens Gardens to its southern section.

Plans approved then called for the walkway to be built over Runyon Creek, with the walkway connecting to land on the west bank of the creek. The walkway, estimated to be about 300 feet long, would form something like this bracket: ].
The walkway, which would have observations areas, would connect parts of Havens Gardens that are separated by the highway, allowing pedestrians to move between those areas without crossing the highway. The walkway would also connect boat ramps north of the highway to sections of Havens Gardens south of the highway.

Since the bridge opened in 2010, the boat ramps have been improved by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Last month, the council adopted the updated Havens Gardens master plan prepared by Susan Suggs.

Suggs’ revised plan calls for moving the Havens Gardens parking lot south of N.C. Highway 32 westward to provide more open area at the east end of the park. She also recommends adding a loop walking trail west of the parking lot. Other suggestions include building a shelter on the west end of Havens Gardens so it overlooks the Pamlico River, provide a fenced-in play area for small children and adding facilities for a splash park, bocce and beach volleyball. The plan also calls for building a second pier at the park, a pedestrian pier that would join the existing fishing pier at the park.