Park Grant Request “Priorities”
Crowders Mountain State Park Grant Request “Priorities” Updated May 29, 2010
1. Funding to purchase 33 acre tract of land off of Little Mountain owned by Lewis Young $400,000.00
This land is attached to the park and attached to a “Designated Nature Preserve” and has previously received consideration for a housing development and/or a water tank site. This area is critical to protect the park boundary from non “compatible” uses. The state of NC has had three appraisals completed, and attempted to make a preliminary offer to the landowner, but the landowner has not responded. The landowner was offered considerably more than the state’s offer when the “Raven’s Ridge” development was planned in 2006. Raven’s Ridge never came to fruition due to rejection of its plan by the city of Gastonia Planning Council. The dollar amount request is considerably more than the state’s preliminary offer, and it is hoped that Mr. Young may be willing to sell the property at this price.
2. Funding to Purchase a .5 acre tract of land with a residence at 182 Freedom Mill Road $180,000.00
This property and residence borders the state park. In a 2008 survey of all the Gaston County portions of the park, it was determined that over half of the northern driveway the homeowner uses is park property. The owner, Tom McCarthy is highly motivated to sell the property and house to the park, but thus far the state has not pursued it. The attaché d residence is highly suitable for a residence for the Park Superintendent and family due to its large size of 2000 square feet with three bathrooms.. The current Park Superintendent residence is only 1,100 square feet and only has a small bathroom. The homeowner has had the property appraised recently at approximately $155,000. The additional funds requested are for closing costs and other purchasing needs.
3. Picnic Sites and Shelter for Boulders Access Area $80,000
The Boulders Access Area, near the South Carolina State line, was opened to the public in 2009. Plans were for the construction and installation of several picnic sites, and future plans included potentially building a picnic shelter. By the time construction began, though, funding was inadequate to provide for this. Funds requested are for contractor construction and installation of a 6 picnic table shelter with electrical service, trash cans and two grills and 6 park designated picnic pads on the hilly areas around the back of the building, including site clearing, installation of 6 X 6 timbers, rock base and surface screenings, trash cans, grills and park provided picnic tables.
4. Installation of Electrical Service to Picnic Shelters at Sparrow Springs Access Area $4,000.00
The two shelters at the Sparrow Springs Access Area do not have electrical power available. This limits the ability to hold special events and to rent the shelters to many user groups. Funds requested are for 110 electrical service to both shelter, and approximately 3 separate outlets at each shelter.
Notes: Removed bridge over NC Hwy 161 due to lack of response from NC DOT and Superintendent’s desire to see how well the crosswalks work before pursuing the bridge option.