This Land, Your Land

Lake Norman State Park is keeping its rental canoes and pedal boats docked as its "small cutbacks here and there" that state parks are experiencing because of a 9 percent state budget shortfall, says the Statesville Record & Landmark.

Elsewhere, lifeguards will be absent from swimming areas at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Fort Macon State Park, Hammocks Beach State Park and Jones Lake State Park, which is also halting canoe and peddle boat rentals. And the swimming pool at Morrow Mountain State Park is closed until further notice, according to the Division of Parks and Recreation.

Parks spokesman Charlie Peek said visitors to the state's 37 state parks and state recreation areas will see small cutbacks here and there through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, according to the Record & Landmark. "The grass might not be mowed as often," Peek said. "Every park has its own little issues. They are being stressed a lot thinner in order to take care of some of the duties seasonal (employees) would."