Newport Parks and Recreation
Four Star Awards- New Faculties
Budget of $1000, 000 or less
Newport Park and Float
In the late 1990’s, the City of Newport created a master plan in an attempt to take advantage of the City’s most predominant natural resource, the Pigeon River. The Pigeon River runs through western North Carolina and east Tennessee. It flows roughly parallel to Interstate 40 in North Carolina before entering Tennessee where it flows into the French Broad River. The Pigeon River runs directly within the northern Newport corporate limits. The river takes its name from the passenger pigeon, an extinct bird whose migration route once included the river valley.
The City’s overall master plan also includes additional phases of the River Walk Greenway Trail to extend it along the river all the way from where Phase II will terminate, to eventually tie into the section of greenway proposed to be included at the Park and Float facility. The City’s development of the river walk and subsequent recreational facilities along the Pigeon River has sparked tremendous community interest.
The improvements of this RTP site are an important part of the City of Newport’s overall river walk greenway master plan. The development of the Newport Park and Float facility have provide local residents a unique recreational opportunity. The park has provided interested river enthusiasts a place to congregate and utilize the City’s greatest natural resource, the Pigeon River.
The Park and Float program is intended to address safety concerns at many rivers and streams. Illegal parking along state highways, trespassing access, and refuse disposal are problems experienced across the state.
The purpose of Newport Park and Float is to allow the public to safely access recreationally important river along our town road ways by providing parking area and access to the water.
Paddlers and anglers can carry small boat, canoes, kayaks or rafts to the water, providing floating and fishing opportunities. This public use area for fishing and paddling has increased recreation use of this asset.
The Newport Recreation Board was developed in 1992 to pursue recreational growth and development on behalf of all Newport residents. Over the years, the City and Board have utilized several State and Federal grant programs to develop their existing park systems, as well as with the expansion of new park facilities. All of the facilities within the Newport park system now receive a tremendous amount of use. Therefore, the City of Newport and the Recreation Board recognize the importance of continuing in the development of the parks so existing, as well as additional, recreational activities can be offered.
Newport Parks and Recreation Budget for this project:
$78,000 Construction
$17,000 Professional services fee
$3,000 Land purchase