Conceptual plans for proposed developments along Kinston’s stretch of the Neuse River have been forwarded to Pride of Kinston’s board of directors and its Waterfront – Now! Task Force in the form of a final report North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) College of Design.

The report, labeled a “Conceptual Vision Plan—Recommendations for Rebuilding the Riverfronts,” contains specific ideas, with illustrations and drawings, submitted by the 15 design graduate students who participated in a months-long research project earlier this year.

The concepts evolved out of two large public meetings in Kinston and numerous smaller sessions allowing residents to submit their recommendations to the design process. The Dec. 2005-May 2006 study was conducted under a partnership between Pride of Kinston and the NCSU College of Design, a partnership promoted by NCSU’s Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Service.

“The graduate students, working with Kinston-area residents, developed some very exciting and far-reaching concepts,” according to Adrian King, Pride executive director. “The ball is now in Kinston and Lenoir County’s court, to devise a specific plan of action to turn some of these ideas into reality. There is enormous potential for Kinston’s economic growth,” he said. “The river represents a major untapped resource for us.”

Pride board and task force members, headed by Co-chairs Dr. Lyn Turner and businessman Tommy Pressly, will meet at 5:00 pm Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006 at the Pride of Kinston to begin the process of developing priorities and establishing funding needs. The group will also develop an agenda of visiting other communities which have undertaken successful riverfront development projects, including Washington, NC, Greenville, North Carolina, Greenville, South Carolina and perhaps Chattanooga, TN.

Interested members of the public who participated in designing the plans are also invited to attend the Thursday meeting, according to Turner and Pressly.