Superintendent Toby Hall looks forward to opening up the Bay Forest to park visitors. The trail will also provide a shortcut back to the park’s visitor center for those needing a shorter distance.
The Bay Forest habitat type within Lake Waccamaw State Park will be opened up to park visitors following the completion of a 500’ boardwalk trail linking the Lake Shore and Pine Woods Trail.
Cape Fear RC&D was awarded a $15,400 N.C. Recreational Trail Program grant to build the boardwalk. International Paper’s Reigelwood Community Foundation is assisting the project through a $1,000 contribution.
A significant reduction in construction and materials costs was pledged by Trigon of Whiteville, Inc., a company the park has worked with in the past.
Park Superintendent Toby Hall looks forward to providing hikers a shorter loop trail option to get back to the visitor center. It will be a two mile walk rather than the current five mile trek.
Lake Waccamaw is one of hundreds of Carolina bays in North Carolina. The term “bay” does not refer to a body of water but a natural basin whose name originates from the fact that there is an abundance of sweet bay, loblolly bay and red bay trees growing beside the watery, oval depressions in the earth.
The boardwalk was started by a local boy scout who was unable to complete the project a few years ago.
The park’s interpretive program will be enhanced by this addition to its nature study offerings. Bird hikes, tree identification and wildlife observation programs will be possible with he new boardwalk.
The trail should be completed by early summer, 2014. We look forward to its formal dedication.