GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1573

Short Title:  Cumberland State Park Study Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Shaw of Cumberland; Jenkins, Lucas, Rand, and Weinstein.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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June 1, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A STATE PARK IN NORTHEASTERN CUMBERLAND COUNTY AND DEVELOPING A STATE RESERVOIR LOCATED IN THAT STATE PARK.
Whereas, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution of North Carolina states that it shall be a proper function of the State of North Carolina to acquire and preserve park, recreational, and scenic areas; and
Whereas, in 1987 the General Assembly enacted the State Parks Act, Article 2C of Chapter 113 of the General Statutes,  declaring that the State of North Carolina offers unique archaeological, geological, biological, scenic, and recreational resources; that these resources are part of the heritage of the people of the State to be preserved and managed by those people for their use and for the use of their visitors and descendants; and that the State Parks System shall consist of parks that include representative examples of these resources; and
Whereas, northeastern Cumberland County is well situated for a State Park that would serve the entire region; and
Whereas, northeastern Cumberland County is easily accessible to the fourth largest metropolitan area of the State and also is near several major interstate highways; and
Whereas, the Cape Fear River and the South River flow through northeastern Cumberland County, thereby providing an opportunity to develop a State reservoir; and
Whereas, a State reservoir in this part of the State would address the future drinking water supply needs of the area; and
Whereas, a State reservoir within that State Park would provide wholesome water sports and recreational activities to families from the entire region; and
Whereas, Cumberland County is a low-wealth county; and
Whereas, a State Park located in this economically distressed area would vastly improve the quality of the life of the people who currently reside there; and
Whereas, by preserving the natural beauty of the land and by providing recreational activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, biking, and fishing, a State Park in northeastern Cumberland County that includes a State reservoir would attract economic development to this region;  Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to review the needs of the State Parks System as described in the Plan in accordance with G.S. 113-44.14(b), determine the feasibility and cost of developing a State Park in northeastern Cumberland County, select a site for a State Park in Cumberland County that would be conducive to having a State reservoir created within that State Park, determine the feasibility and cost of developing a State reservoir that could serve as a future drinking water supply for the region and provide recreational activities to visitors to that State Park.  The Department shall report the results of this study to the 1999 General Assembly.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1998.