New recreation projects come to Surf City, with more on the way

Chase Jordan, Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read
Surf City officials recently celebrated a new fishing area near the community center.
Surf City officials recently celebrated a new fishing area near the community center.

At the Surf City Community Center, two new docks are allowing fishers to cast their rods for free.

The project built in the spring of 2023 was made possible thanks to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission building the docks. Surf City officials said residents can catch up to five catfish a day. Anyone over 16 must have a fishing license.

Some of the wildlife near the Surf City Community Fishing Center include bass, carp, red tailed hawk, egret, and the common snapping turtle.

It's one of several recreation projects in Surf City. Here are some of the others that recently arrived or coming soon.

Surf City playground upgrade

Brock Woolard, a local Eagle Scout, created and installed a picture communication board at the community center's playground. The project is designed to help people with language disabilities.

Woolard, of Troop 777, was honored by the town and mayor Teresa Batts with a certificate of recognition.

Batts recreation project

According to town officials, design plans have been made for phases one and two of the Earl G. Inez Batts Recreation Center project.

The project, expected to take up 45 acres on the town's mainland, was made possible a few years after acquiring the space from the Batts Family Corporation, which was created by the late Earl G Batts and wife, Inez S. Batts, in the 1970s.

Jodi Shepard, director of parks, recreation and tourism, is looking forward to the project.

"We are very excited to see this vision start to become a reality soon, a lot of hard work has gone into this project from the town of Surf City staff, parks and recreation advisory committee and community members," Shepard said.

The first phase of the project includes a playground, skatepark, two volleyball sand courts, and restroom shelter facility. Phase two includes two multi-purpose fields with field lighting, and shade structures.

Officials are awaiting permitting from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to continue with full plans and the bidding process for the first phase.

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Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What's new at Surf City NC parks