Riverwalk fence upgrade could be added to the list of construction projects near the Broad Street Pier in downtown New Bern.
City Manager Foster Hughes told the New Bern Board of Aldermen on March 26, 2024, that he was working on a plan with Alderman Bobby Aster (of Ward 3), staff, and other agencies to build a pier at 400 E. Front Street during their meeting at city hall in New Bern, NC, as reported here.
Bobby Aster told the Board of Aldermen that he wanted to use $120,000 of his ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money to go toward funding the pier. The city spent the ARPA money on public safety salaries a few years ago, and city officials have since called a pot of $6.7 million that they set aside “ARPA or ARPA Enabled Funds.” The city’s General Fund paid for the pier and there are no federal grant restrictions.
In April 2024, the city manager said the pier was the top priority, and they would have to deal with the parking cost later. A consultant estimated the cost of including 25 parking spaces at approximately $400,000, as reported here.
Aster said another agency may be able to fund $230,000.
Aldermen Rick Prill (Ward 1), Hazel Royal (Ward 2), Bobby Aster (Ward 3), Johnnie Ray Kinsey (Ward 4), Barbara Best (Ward 5), Robert “Bob” Brinson, Jr. (Ward 6) approved the plan on April 9, 2024. Mayor Jeffrey Odham (of Ward 6) also voted on the motion.
In Janary 2026, Parks & Recreation Director Kari Greene-Warren told the newly elected Board of Aldermen that the fishing pier project with lighting had been completed during a retreat at the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce.
Foster Hughes talked about the 11-cent special tax that residents and businesses in the Municipal Service District in downtown New Bern pay on top of city and Craven County taxes and referenced several projects that he said had already been approved.
Alderman Dana Outlaw (of Ward 6) asked about the cost benefit ratio and the radius of the cul-de-sac (parking lot). He said five years ago he hoped for 20 spaces. “I mean for whatever that project cost is to get 10 parking spaces you just kind of have to ask yourself a question — is the return there? I don’t know. But it’s pretty disappointing not being able to get more than 10.”
Public Works Director George Chiles, “Right now pricing is we have not been really accurate in our estimates just because prices have been all over the place recently on construction.” He noted the project allows for emergency vehicles to get in there.
They also talked about adding restrooms between the parking spaces and the pier.
On Aug. 18, Hughes told the city’s Municipal Service District Advisory Committee that “Alderman Aster had some ARP funds that he allocated for that. We also received some funds from the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation to build the structure. And because of the flood zone it’s in, we can’t build a building. If we did, we’d have to elevate that. Then that would then add the accessible ramp. So, it would just take up a lot of space. So, what we are building is in a sense a shelter that will hold basically a portable restroom. So, it’s a trailer that would back in there and that would be where you could use the restroom…”
NewBernNow.com asked the city for the estimated costs of the pier project on Aug. 18. Public Information Officer Colleen Roberts replied, “The estimated cost of the parking portion of the project is $300,000. That is coming from MSD. The restrooms are being paid for with ARPA-Enabled funds (City of New Bern General Fund dollars) and a grant from the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation. Alderman Aster committed $140,000 in ARPA-Enabled funds & the grant from NCWHF totals $50,000.”
It looks like the costs of the pier, parking, and portable restrooms are estimated at $610,000.
The New Bern Municipal Service District Committee approved an expenditure of up to $80,000 of MSD funds on Aug. 18 to upgrade the fence from the fishing pier to Council Bluffs during their meeting at the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce. Here’s a link to the video that was uploaded to the city’s YouTube channel the next day. The Board of Aldermen will have the final say when it comes to spending MSD funds.
Related news
As of June 30, 2026, the Board of Aldermen have allocated over $5.4 million of General Fund dollars for several miscellaneous projects which have been referred to as “ARPA funds” and/or “ARPA Enabled funds.” The messaging has led some people to believe the money is federal grant money when it’s not. Find out more here. The list of miscellaneous projects can be found here.
The aldermen meeting schedule can be found here. Meeting agendas and packets can be found here. Video of the meetings are available on the city’s Facebook page, City 3 TV and YouTube channel.
By Wendy Card, editor. Send an email with questions or comments.