Waterfront park coming to Belmont

Two parks and a pipeline highlight coming improvement projects on Lake Wylie.

Work should begin this fall on Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park in Belmont. The East Catawba Street site will include a canoe/kayak launch, amphitheater, picnic shelters, a playground, trails, restrooms and observation or fishing piers. The city expanded plans for the property with the inclusion of more land near Wilkinson Boulevard. A five-slip floating dock is now included. Three houses were removed to make room for the park.

“This park will be used for public access to the water, which is sorely needed,” said Adrian Miller, assistant city manager.

Miller updated the Lake Wylie Marine Commission of planning at the group’s June 22 meeting.

Another lake park plan was addressed. Karri Blackmon sought comments from the commission about a shoreline stabilization project in Rock Hill.

The shoreline at Ebenezer Park is “horribly eroded and in dire need” of repair, Blackmon said. York County Council previously set aside money for the work. The latest plan is to stabilize about 500 of the 900 total feet of shoreline with native plants in and near the water. The work includes shoreline from the point to the boat ramp at the park, but not the swimming area.

“The scope of work of this project has been reduced,” Blackmon said.

A different type of permit is required for stabilizing the swimming area which could come later, but would unnecessarily hold up the planned work if included, she said.

“That would have to be an individual permit,” she said. “Individual permits take quite a bit longer.”

Still more work involves a pipeline below the lake. York County Natural Gas Authority plans a pipeline below Concord Road. Commissioner George Medler is looking into the project for the commission.

“Everything, in my opinion, looks good,” he said.

There is a gas line already on either side of the proposed line, to be installed 20 feet below the river bed.

“What we’re doing is we’re hooking it together,” Medler said. “This has all been approved by the state of South Carolina.”

The marine commission is one of several agencies that provides comments on projects impacting the lake. Duke Energy, the company that manages Catawba River lakes, issues construction and other needed permits.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Waterfront park coming to Belmont."