COLUMBIA — The Greater Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce gathered Monday afternoon (Aug. 11) with a crowd of about 40 people filling the Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft’s Riverside Lodge meeting room in Columbia, where the discussion centered on how eco-tourism, infrastructure, and community planning could shape the county’s future.
The highlight of the session was a presentation from Tess Stogner, a master’s student in landscape architecture and environmental planning at NC State University. Stogner, who has family ties to Tyrrell County, is developing a study to improve waterfront access at five sites in the county. Her presentation zeroed in on Pledger Landing, a site in the Alligator community located within Palmetto-Peartree Preserve.
Her concept includes a parking lot, a wooden boardwalk leading to Albemarle Sound, and a kayak launch. Additional features could include a small park and nature walk with observation points.
Residents welcomed the proposal but voiced concerns about potential traffic in the Alligator community, safety during hunting seasons, and accessibility. Some asked for kid-friendly amenities, while others stressed that any kayak launch must be located close to parking so visitors do not have to carry boats long distances.
County Manager David Clegg praised the project’s level of detail. He noted that eco-tourism studies have been done on Tyrrell County for the past several decades. This is one of the first plans that is more than an idea. It comes with phases, costs, and a strategy for pursuing grants.
Clegg noted that any eco-tourism has to be backed with the proper infastructure, such as sewer systems, internet and basic services. Clegg reminded attendees that Tyrrell County recently accepted bids for a $5 million sewer expansion in Alligator, part of an effort to modernize utilities.
Safety issues also surfaced, given that Pledger Landing lies within a hunting preserve. It was suggested that signage advising visitors to wear bright orange during hunting season could be incorporated into the plan. Others suggested the state preserve could open gates for hunters further from the proposed recreation site to reduce overlap.
The meeting also featured updates on resilience funding. Helene Wetherington and Holly White of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality described a recent Resilient Coastal Communities Program award of $75,000. It is for Phase 1 and 2 of a project and will include Community Engagement, Risk & Vulnerability Assessment/ Planning, Project Selection and Prioritization. This will allow Tyrrell County to use community input and plan a project that could go futher in the RCCP process to include design and implementation.
Chamber members also heard about the availability of applications for home elevations. Currently, 12 properties in the county have applied for funding.
In other news, visitors to Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge can expect big changes ahead as the Scuppernong River Boardwalk is set to be replaced with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
To prepare for the project, federal officials will conduct required assessments for engineering design, which means the loop section of the popular boardwalk trail was closed periodically until March 2025. Survey marker can be found on some trees near the boardwalk, which includes a loop and a few observation areas.
The improvements come after years of wear and recurring flooding issues, with parts of the boardwalk often underwater during high river levels. Refuge officials say the replacement will ensure safer and more reliable access for the public to enjoy the refuge’s wetlands and wildlife.
Full construction of the new boardwalk is expected to begin in fiscal year 2026.
Last point — Beyond presentations, the Chamber paused to sign a card for Columbia Town Manager Rhett White, who has been ill. Local government representation was strong: two county commissioners, Columbia’s mayor, town council members, and the library director were in attendance, along with business owners and representatives from state agencies and local organizations.
Stogner’s proposal was shaped by community engagement. As she continues her work, she’ll delve into the details of the Pledger Landing project and do some preliminary work on the other areas residents mentioned as possible eco-tourism sites.