Washington’s City Council, during its meeting last week, authorized Kristi Roberson, the city’s parks and recreation director, to apply for a $83,700 grant to help pay for a new fishing pier at Havens Gardens.

If the city is awarded the grant through the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access program, the city would be required to provide a $9,300 appropriation toward the new pier, for a total of $93,000 in grant and city funds earmarked for the pier. During its February meeting, the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee recommended the city seek the grant.

Councilman Doug Mercer expressed some concern that the city’s “match” for the grant was not included in the current budget. Roberson explained that the city did not learn it had been approved during the pre-application phase until after the budget process had started and it was too late to include the city’s match in the budget. Mercer supports the project. “I think it’s a great idea. I’m ready to tell Kristi to proceed,” he said.

Mayor Mac Hodges asked if adding 8-foot extensions on each side of the pier at its end would be possible. Roberson said Coastal Area Management Act officials, who issue permits for such projects would only allow “so much.” “Right now, we’re talking about like a 9-foot pier, which a little bit larger than what we currently have, but not much,” Roberson said.

The new pier, if built, would include cutouts from which handicapped people could fish, according to a city document. Though the Havens Gardens pier is included in the city’s capital-improvements plan, its tentative budget does not reflect the cost of the cutouts, according to a memorandum from Roberson to the mayor and council members.

Early next month, the grant program will decide which projects seeking grant money will be funded, with contracts for the selected projects to be signed in November, according to the memorandum.

The new pier was part of a list of recommended improvements for the waterfront park recommended to the city several years ago. Other proposed improvements at Havens Gardens include a loop walking trail west of the parking lot, a shelter on the west end of Havens Gardens so it overlooks the Pamlico River, a fenced-in play area for small children and adding facilities for a splash park, bocce and beach volleyball.

A kayak launch at the adjacent boat ramps is in the works.