State Rep. Phil Haire (D-Sylva) and state Sen. Dan Robinson (D-Cullowhee) joined Larry Nash and Tim Garrett of the Southwestern North Carolina Resource Conservation and Development Council in presenting Swain County funding to assist in the construction of a handicapped accessible fishing pier at the 288 Recreation Park on the Tuckasegee River.

Nash presented Swain Commissioner David Monteith with a $5,000 check last week. It is part of a $25,000 Local Projects Seed Money Grant-In Aid program appropriated by the N.C. General Assembly. The seed money will assist the county in attracting more funds to construct the pier. This money will be added to $30,951 awarded for the pier through the Water Projects Section of the N.C. Division of Water Resources.

According to McGill and Associates, the estimated cost of the 40-by-40 wooden pier would be $60,000. Construction will probably start within the next couple of months.

The pier is part of a comprehensive plan for the 288 Recreation Park.

Other goals include:
° A cleaner and healthier Fontana Lake by implementing monthly lake clean-ups.
° An extended summer lake level status by lobbying TVA to postpone its summer draw down until Oct. 1.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News