PITT COUNTY, N.C. – Pitt County Planning Department, in partnership with Carolina Wetlands Association, announces the Duke Energy Foundation awarded a $65,000 Resilience Accelerator Grant to expedite a Pitt County project included in the N.C. Office of Recovery & Resiliency’s recently published regional resilience portfolios.
The funding will be used for data collection and planning activities to produce a shovel-ready plan for stormwater & wetland restoration improvements along Parker Creek at the County’s Office Park. The County will partner with Carolina Wetlands Association & SWCA Environmental Consultants to develop the plan over the next two years.
“Parker Creek has experienced flooding problems that affect local government facilities, churches serving minority communities and a significant access road. By restoring the wetlands and floodplains, and increasing their water holding capacity, the project will reduce flooding along the lower portion of the creek,” says James Rhodes, Assistant County Manager/Planning Director.
Regional benefits are largely along Parker Creek within a couple of miles of the Tar River. A greenway connecting River Park North and the planned Pitt County Recreation facility will also be designed as part of this project, expanding the benefits of the restoration work to include enhancing recreational opportunities and access to nature.
“Resiliency to climate hazards begins at the local level,” said Derrick Remer, Duke Energy’s District Manager. “Eastern North Carolina has been hit hard in recent years by natural disasters and storms. These grants will help communities thrive amid changing climate conditions.”
The Duke Accelerator grant provides an opportunity for Pitt County to complete planning and crucial data collection to move the project from initial planning and project concepts into final engineering design.
For more information, contact Pitt County Planning at 252-902-3250.