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By: Charlotte Smith
There are many changes coming to Elizabethtown in the upcoming months and years, according to officials. The Elizabethtown Rotary Club heard about the expected construction projects.
Elizabethtown Town Councilman and Rotarian Ricky Leinwand introduced his speakers for the meeting. Elizabethtown’s Town Manager, Eddie Madden, and local architect Terry Cox explained several upcoming projects.
The first project was renovations to Tory Hole Park. Grant funding of $600,000 has been received for the entrance, to add Frisbee golf in the park, and a boardwalk trail from the park to the river, among other items, according to Madden.
There will be a second phase to the Tory Hole Park improvements which will include more boardwalk trails according to Madden.
“We also secured the lock and dam property,” Madden stated. The Town has used funding to improve the area at the Lock and Dam in Elizabethtown. Madden explained he hopes to continue improving the Lock and Dam area to attract campers during the Cycle NC event which will bring close to 1,000 people to the town.
“It is a great place for families,” Dr. Darrel Page, fellow Rotarian stated.
Madden did report the Dam will be closed November through March for repairs due to damages the Dam received during Hurricane Matthew.
The next project was the property beside the Cape Fear Farmers Market and across the street from the market. Madden said that the vacant lot, which has been used for overflow parking, is expected to become a community garden with a gazebo.
The corner lot directly across the street from the Farmer’s Market has been purchased by the town and, Madden says, it will be used for parking.
Rotarians also were told about the airport project. The first bids for the new terminal will be out on September 5 and the old terminal building may be sold or repurposed, according to Madden.
The new taxiway planned at the airport will extend air capability. Madden announced the project, which is being funded by $1.1 million in grants, should be completed by January.
Madden and Cox also detailed the upcoming renovations of the old Jessup building. Hurricane Matthew significantly damaged the old Emergency Responders building. The Town has since received a grant of about $2.5 million from the Golden Leaf Foundation to fund renovations. The work will result in a shared space for both the Emergency Responders and the Firefighters. The old rescue squad building will not be able to be used due to all the damage done by Hurricane Matthew. The building currently being used by the Fire Department will be used for the Public Works office once the shared space is available for the Emergency Responders.
Madden and Cox presented sketches of all the projects going on in the town.
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