Visitors Center gets major DOT grant

A $220,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation will be used to add beauty and functionality to the new Visitors Center at the intersection of U.S. 70 and U.S. 258.

This will be the second DOT grant to the center. The first was for $99,736 to build the center.

"The original grant was to cover the footprint of the building," said Bill Ellis, Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation director. "It didn't cover exhibits, the meeting room, the plaza or any of the equipment."

The county must contribute 20 percent of the grant amount, or $22,000. The county also will be responsible for any money that is spent over and above the grant. Ellis said commissioners have agreed to pay the 20 percent and the construction project won't go over budget.

"We haven't brought anything in out of budget yet," he said. "This is going to be a really nice feature for Kinston and Lenoir County."

The center will not be promoting only the battlefields. Ellis said other features of the city and county also will be highlighted, such as Herritage Street, the CSS Ram Neuse, Harmony Hall, the county's bike trails, Tyndall's Tractor Museum and other interesting sites.

Bernie Everette of Everette Site Preparation demolished the concrete block building at the old weight station at no charge three weeks ago. Ellis said Everette donated his time and labor.

Plans for the new building will go out for bids and the winner most likely will be named within the next 30 days.

Conceptual drawings suggest the building will be 40 feet by 50 feet, with a 40-foot by 40-foot attachment to be used as a meeting room for groups to view Power Point presentations and films about the area.

Flagpoles and statues will be installed at the top of a small hill on the side of the building facing Hardee's, as well as a storyboard to tell about the battlefield where the Second Battle of Kinston was fought during the Civil War.