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County updates Kehukee Park horse trail plan; RTP pre‑application advances to final stage
Summary
County staff reported that Martin County’s Recreational Trails Program pre‑application for a horse trail at Kehukee Park was approved and invited for final application due Aug. 2, 2019. The RTP grant could provide up to $100,000 with a required 25% local match; scope was reduced to avoid wetlands and partners discussed trailhead improvements and connecting to Martin Community College equine facilities.
County Manager David Bone updated the Board on a potential horse‑trail and nature‑trail project on approximately 85 acres at Kehukee Park where timbering occurred in fall 2018. The county’s pre‑application to the North Carolina Recreational Trail Program (RTP) was approved and the county was invited to submit a final application by Aug. 2, 2019.
Bone said project partners—Martin Community College, NC Forest Service, Cooperative Extension, Soil & Water and consultants—had adjusted the plan to avoid wetlands after coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Planned improvements include trailhead upgrades (parking and bathrooms) and connections to Martin Community College’s equine facilities.
Project proponents discussed an approximate 3–5 miles of new equine trails beginning at the proposed trailhead, plus a cross‑country training field. Commissioner Joe R. Ayers and other commissioners emphasized tourism and educational benefits. Commissioner Ayers later said the trail would be less than two miles, indicating a difference of opinion about final trail length that staff will resolve during detailed design.
Bone said David Hodges and others were assisting with grant development; no Board action was required at the meeting. Staff will continue to refine scope and submit the final RTP application on behalf of the county.
Why it matters: If funded, the RTP grant could provide infrastructure for recreation and equine training, support Martin Community College programming, and add a local tourism amenity. The grant is competitive and requires a 25% local match; wetlands constraints have already reduced the project scope.
