The new year has brought increased focus on the Fisherman’s Co-op, with construction currently underway to reach a key October deadline.

“At this point, we have a deadline of October 20 of this year to get it done,” Matt Kent, Bryan County communications manager said.

The Fisherman’s Co-op was built in 1979 and was initially used by shrimpers to offload their catches. And as of this week, construction workers have removed a huge 50 ft. crane–previously used by shrimp boaters in the past–in order to begin the bulk of their work, according to Kent.

Construction on the Bryan County Fisherman’s Co-op is divided into phases, with Phase One set to be complete by October 20. Phase one will include parking, two boat ramps, docks, a waterfront pavilion, restrooms, a shower pad and a boardwalk, as previously reported in September.

“The overall goal is to make it another place to put boats in,” Kent said. “The goal is to get rid of all those [old] docks, put in safe docks and boat ramps.”

A second phase will aim to add additional boat ramps, among other amenities.

“Ultimately, it’s starting out as a twolane boat ramp, and hopefully it can be expanded to four in a future phase,” Kent said.

Bryan County bought the 24-acre property back in 2020 for $3.25 million with plans to turn it into a public recreation area, in an effort to preserve outdoor space for the public to enjoy.