What’s New

The Center for Coastal Protection and Restoration

77 acres

were secured in partnership with Carteret County in March of 2020

$8.0M

raised through a capital campaign as of 12/31/23

2 miles

of nature trails were blazed in 2021

371 feet

of living shoreline were installed along the waterfront wetlands in 2021

Key Milestones

2019

2020

March, 2020

2021

2022

December, 2022

2023

View Our Final Designs

YouTube player
By Bowman, Murry, Hemingway Architects

Coming Soon at the Center

    • Additional features on the two-mile Chris B. Smith Nature Trail are planned, including loops around two wetland ponds, new trailhead accesses, and trail signs and maps.
    • Final designs of the main entry road from Highway 24 and the boat ramp are underway under the leadership of Carteret County. Stay tuned for more updates and ground-breaking announcements later this year!
    • Plans for comprehensive native landscaping are underway to guide our portfolio of work and long-term plans for native plant conservation, stormwater management, and habitat transition. Selective thinning of weak and storm-damaged trees will give native pine and hardwood trees room to grow. The Coastal Federation will supplement existing trees with native, storm-resilient species such as live oak trees and longleaf pines.
    • Construction is anticipated to take place for 18-months in 2024-2025, with a grand opening tentatively planned for the fall of 2025!

Thank you to all our supporters and volunteers, including teams from Conservation Corps NC, local businesses, and scouts, for their help bringing the Center to life!

Learn More

Visitors explore the site on a gorgeous summer day.

You Can Inspire a Brighter Future for Our Coast

Please join us in bringing this Center for Coastal Protection and Restoration to life.