CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County commissioners said Friday that the money is in place to build a beach at Ramsey Creek Park on Lake Norman.
Officials originally said the beach would open next summer, but later said it wouldn't be open until 2016.
It's a project that Bill Russell with the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce has been working to get for some time.
"If you don't own property on the water or have a personal watercraft or know somebody that does, you simply don't have access to the lake," Russell said.
Right now, you can't swim in the water at county parks, and the closest place that offers beach access is in Iredell County.
"I know that there's a beach up at Lake Norman State Park, but that's really far for people in this area to drive," said Davidson resident Chris Fant.
The idea of installing a beach has been in the works for more than a decade.
"The concern had been liability. The county leaders were looking at what if there is a drowning or something of that nature," Russell said.
But the plan is now moving forward, and Sally Ashworth with Visit Lake Norman said it will bring in a whole new group of people and more money.
"It is a very critical component of our tourism market," Ashworth said.
She said, each day, people come into her office looking for the closest place to swim. She expects that next summer she won't have to send them to another county.
WSOC
