Construction is underway on a new public beach on Lake Norman, the Lincoln County Parks and Recreation department said in a release this week. The beach will be located 25 miles north of Charlotte at Beatty’s Ford Park, 8335 Shipley Lane, in Denver. It will include a public swim beach area, fishing pier, a concession building with bathrooms, additional paved parking and a looped drive for safe entering and exiting of the park, according to the news release.
Duke Energy, which is behind the project, is required to provide amenities on the lake under its 2006 Comprehensive Relicensing Agreement. The utility also is required as a condition for keeping its hydroelectric operating license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2015. “We are very excited for this project as it will add another amenity for Lincoln County families and visitors. Lake Norman is the largest man-made lake in the state of North Carolina, and creating a safe and enjoyable access for the public to enjoy adds to the caliber of our community,” John Davis, the parks and recreation director, said in the release.. Construction is slated for completion this fall, and the swim beach will open to the public May 2025.
When construction concludes, Beatty’s Ford Park will become the third public access area for swimming on Lake Norman, after Ramsey Creek Park in Cornelius and Lake Norman State Park in Troutman.
