2,600 soldiers, families visit Fort Bragg’s new outdoor recreation center, beach

By Staff Report, posted Jun 8, 2021 on BizFayetteville.com

The Smith Lake Outdoor Recreation Center has opened after repairs that were made to the dam at Smith Lake. (Photos by Elvia Kelly, Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Office)

Thanks to the U.S. Army's People First Initiative and Fort Bragg's MWR program, Smith Lake has reopened with a couple of new features.

In 2016, Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc on the area and the dam at the lake was closed for repairs and renovations. The project costed roughly $3 million.

The lake is open now, and Fort Bragg just celebrated the opening of the new Smith Lake Outdoor Recreation Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 26.

Additionally, visitors will find that the beach is now ADA compliant with the addition of a ramp and has a snack bar, pavilions, kayaks, bumper boats and sand volleyball.

“Smith Lake is back,” said Col. Scott Pence, Fort Bragg Garrison commander, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It is able to provide a measure of quality of life for Families and Soldiers that they haven’t had for five years.”

Col. Scott Pence, Fort Bragg Garrison commander (center), and Fort Bragg team members cut the ribbon signifying the official grand opening of the Smith Lake Outdoor Recreation Center and the re-opening of the beach at Smith Lake Recreation Area, May. 26. (Photo by Elvia Kelly, Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Office)

“We have now a state-of-the-art ADA access cement pave which brings you from the Outdoor Recreation Center, from the parking lot, right down to the beach access for our [mobility-impaired] personnel and their families,” Pence said.

The recreation center features a warming kitchen, breakout rooms and three large conference rooms that overlook the lake.

“It has a top-of-the-line [audio visual system], the ability to bring in catering, 62 parking spaces, and handicap access,” Pence said. “This is something Fort Bragg Families have asked for a while.”

Smith Lake's re-opening was a success, and James Day, FMWR Outdoor Recreation Branch chief was pleased with the outcome.

“On Memorial Day alone, we had 900 people come visit,” Day said. “Since the grand opening, we estimate about 2,600 people total. We had a couple who has lived in the area since 1960. They came to visit us and said they just wanted to check out the new area.”

For more information about Smith Lake Recreation Area, visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/smith-lake-recreation-area.

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