The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and Pender County have scheduled a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Hampstead Boating Access Area in Pender County.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday at the boating access area, which is located at 613 Lewis Road in Hampstead. The new access area, which will be open to boaters after the ceremony, allows boaters to launch onto the Intracoastal Waterway.

The 6.6-acre Hampstead site has three launch lanes, along with floating and fixed docks. The gravel lot has about 70 parking spaces, including those for trailered and single vehicles. Pender County purchased the property with a $2.8 million grant from the North Carolina Waterfront Access and Marine Industry (WAMI) fund. The site was built using the WAMI grant, money from sales of the Coastal Recreational Fishing License and motorboat registration receipts.

“We are so grateful for the partnership with Pender County and the support of the Division of Marine Fisheries, which have allowed us to construct this much-needed boating access area,” said Erik Christofferson, chief of the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Engineering Services. “With the completion of this site, boaters across the state can enjoy increased access to the coastal waters of North Carolina.”