State awards more than $2.25 million to improve public access to North Carolina’s beaches and coastal waters
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has awarded more than $2.25 million in grants to fund 10 projects that will expand and improve public access to the state’s treasured beaches and coastal waterways.
The grants, awarded through the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Grant Program, will help local governments in the 20 coastal counties acquire land for public access sites and construct or enhance amenities such as dune crossovers, fishing piers, parking areas, restrooms and kayak launches.
“These state investments will both ensure safe and expanded public access to our coastlines and strengthen the resilience of our communities by supporting infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “As we face increasingly severe storms, these projects will play a key role in safeguarding both public safety and the long-term health of our coastal environments.”
2025 Grant Recipients and Projects:
| Local Government | Project | Grant Amount |
| Atlantic Beach | New Bern Street Public Access Improvements - This project will remove the existing dune crossover and rebuild 381 linear feet of the 6-foot walkway with treated wood structure and Trex decking and handrails to provide access to the Atlantic Ocean. | $115,200 |
| Beaufort | Ann Street Park Water Access Project - This project will create an access site at the west end of Ann Street featuring an observation deck, greenspace, a picnic area and rain gardens while preserving existing open vistas and improving stormwater drainage. | $120,000 |
| Belhaven | Belhaven Harbor Park Expansion - This project will acquire 0.74 acres to expand Belhaven Harbor Park. Recent site improvements include a new bulkhead and a 200-foot dock. | $540,000 |
| Bertie County | Tall Glass of Water Beach Access Enhancement (Phase II) - This project will provide safe, maintenance-free access to the beach by constructing a solid surface, ADA-accessible 12-foot by 440-foot path and expanding the existing public beach by planting vegetation to stabilize the base of the bluff. | $80,000 |
| Cedar Point | Boathouse Creek Park Bathroom Facility (Phase II) - This project will add three ADA-accessible bathrooms and associated accessible parking to support and enhance usage of the Town's existing water access site at Boathouse Creek Park. | $305,000 |
| Nags Head | Hargrove Street Public Beach Access Improvements - This project will replace an existing bathhouse and dune walkover. The existing bathhouse, decking, emergency vehicle ramp, all wooden stairs and walkways, trash cans, fencing, three shower stations and signage will be removed and replaced. | $400,000 |
| New Hanover County | Trails End Waterfront Access - This project will install a new kayak launch, ADA parking, and an ADA sidewalk to the existing pier, along with additional signage. The work will be completed concurrently with bulkhead repairs. | $265,000 |
| Ocean Isle Beach | Shallotte Blvd Beach Access - This project will replace a non-ADA dune crossover. The new access will be widened to eight feet wide and be made to comply with ADA requirements. The stairs will be replaced with wheelchair accessible ramps. | $82,500 |
| Swansboro | Main Street Dock - This project will demolish and rebuild an existing pedestrian, fishing, and dinghy day dock at the end of Main Street, along the downtown waterfront area south of the White Oak River Bridge. The new docks will be built within the footprint of the existing facility. | $127,623 |
| Vandemere | Reel Access for All: Establishing an ADA Compliant Fishing Pier - This project will construct a new ADA-compliant fishing pier approximately 80 to 100 feet long and 9 feet wide. It will be located at the end of North First Street and provides access to the Pamlico River. | $167,700 |
In response to concerns over declining public access, the N.C. General Assembly created the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program in 1981 by amending the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA).
Expanded in 1983 to include estuarine areas, the program uses 5% of state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) annual funds to offer matching grants to local governments. It has supported more than 528 projects, enhancing public access for recreation and coastal enjoyment.
For more information about the program, go to the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access website.
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