NC Awards $1.8M for Public Beach Access
North Carolina's coastal access grant program funds waterfront projects in several towns and counties for fiscal year 2026-27.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in National Parks
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The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality awarded more than $1.8 million in grants for public beach and coastal waterfront access. The awards mark the 45th anniversary of the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program.
Why it matters
The grants expand public entry points to North Carolina's beaches and coastal waters, giving residents and visitors across the state more places to reach the shoreline. The program is funded annually through the state's Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
The NCDEQ announced more than $1.8 million in fiscal year 2026-27 awards, led by $300,000 for Calabash Waterfront Park and $250,000 for facilities at Topsail Nature Preserve. The announcement does not compare these awards with prior years' totals or report how many applications were received.
The players
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)
The state agency that administers the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program and announced the grant awards.
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The state department that provides the annual funding for the program through its Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
The details
Grants go to towns and counties including Calabash, Surf City, Topsail Beach, Craven County, Dare County, Emerald Isle, Manteo, Newport and Winfall. Calabash's award supports engineering and construction of a new boardwalk at its waterfront park, and the program works with local governments to create and improve public access to beaches and coastal waters.
Timeline
Fiscal year 2026-27: grants take effect under the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program.
November 13, 2026: NCDEQ announces the awards and marks the program's 45th anniversary.
Season Trajectory
These awards continue a program now in its 45th year that has steadily funded public beach access along North Carolina's coast. They add new boardwalk and waterfront projects to a long-running state effort that depends on the annual Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
Visitors planning beach trips to the awarded towns may find new or improved public access points as projects are built. The grants fund construction and engineering, so timing of completed boardwalks and facilities is not stated in the source.
The takeaway
Public access grants like these show how state trust funds can expand where residents reach the coast. Check local town announcements for when new waterfront facilities open near you.
Further reading
Explore more about coastal public access in National Parks.
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