The proposed Runyon Creek boardwalk is back on the City Council’s radar.

During its meeting Monday, the council will consider authorizing the city’s parks and recreation manager to apply for a $100,000 grant to help build the boardwalk.

If awarded the Public Beach & Coastal Waterfront Access Funds grant, the city would be obligated to provide $10,000 for the project, at least $5,000 in cash and an in-kind, non-cash contribution, according to a memorandum from Kristi Roberson, the city’s parks and recreation manager, to the mayor and council.

The boardwalk would be built in two phases, according to the memorandum. The first phase would connect Havens Gardens to the existing concrete walkway under the N.C. Highway 32 bridge that connects Washington and Washington Park. The second phase would connect the boardwalk to the boat ramps at Havens Gardens.

The city’s Recreation Advisory Committee includes the proposed project on its list of high-priority projects, according to the memorandum.

As proposed several years ago, the project calls for the walkway to be built over Runyon Creek, with the walkway connecting to land on the west bank of the creek. The boardwalk, estimated to be about 300 feet long, would be formed something like this bracket: ].
The boardwalk, which would have observations areas, would connect parts of Havens Gardens that are separated by the highway, allowing pedestrians to move between those areas without crossing the highway. It also would connect boat ramps north of the highway to sections of Havens Gardens south of the highway.

In April 2009, the Washington City Council authorized further development of an improvement plan for Havens Gardens. Those improvements could not be made while the new bridge was being constructed. At that April 2009 meeting, the council endorsed Concept C, the preferred plan for modifying the waterfront park, which abuts the Pamlico River and Runyon Creek.
Concept C included improved walkways near the park that connect neighborhoods, Jack’s Creek greenway and public facilities such as Veterans Park. One of those walkways, when built, would be over Runyon Creek, with a segment of it passing under the new bridge. Concrete pilings for the section were driven into the creek when pilings for the new bridge were driven.