Halifax County commissioners Monday unanimously approved a $50,000 matching grant to go towards Weldon’s plans for a riverfront enhancement project at River Falls Park.
The board also approved an accompanying resolution on the matter.
The town has applied for a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for the project.
According to the resolution adopted, the town intends to appropriate $50,000 of its own funding and has either received commitments or has pending commitments from various sources for matching funds totaling $450,000.
The resolution says, “The county has never made an appropriation to a municipality in support of a municipal park or recreational facility, but due to the significant impact the project will have on the Roanoke River Paddle Trail and the substantial impact the project will have in providing recreational activities for the public good and general welfare of the citizens of Halifax County and beyond, the county is willing to enter into an interlocal agreement with the town.”
The project will consist of construction of boardwalks both upriver and downriver from the boating access area maintained by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
It will include pavilions at the end of each project for community programming, concerts and special events. The pavilions consist of picnic facilities and trash receptacles. “These enhancements will allow handicap accessibility to the Roanoke River vistas and encourage recreation along Weldon’s riverfront.”
Commissioner Patrick Qualls said, “This is a lot of money to a lot of people but this is an important part of Halifax County. I think it’s important to recognize that not every part of Halifax County has the Roanoke River running through it.”
Qualls said he understands that people who don’t have the river running through it could feel slighted. “We represent the whole county and Weldon is part of that county. This is an important part of the county.”
Commissioner Rives Manning made the motion to pass the resolution and interlocal agreement.
Public safety grant
Commissioners also approved a grant project ordinance to account for a North Carolina Department of Public Safety grant in the amount of $84,269.66
Lieutenant Shane Guyant of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said the money will be used to buy 35 laptops for patrol officers and three tablets for the criminal investigation division which can be used in the field or at crime scenes.
