Municipalities on the Grand Strand are receiving funds from the state in a grant matching program to improve public beach and water access.

North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach and Horry County all will get money for dune walkovers or beach accesses, according to the Associated Press, while Georgetown County is receiving funds to renovate a boat landing.

A complete list of the projects was not available Wednesday from S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, but North Myrtle Beach city spokesman Pat Dowling said six beach accesses there will be repaired.

The cost to North Myrtle Beach is about $102,500, Dowling said, with the same amount coming from the state to complete the project.

Those walkways are important for protecting the dunes while offering mobility and convenience for beachgoers trying to get on the sand, Dowling said.

“If you don’t have the walkways then what you have is people walking through the dunes and beating those down,” he said.

Damaging the dunes could raise the risk of erosion.

In total, there are 23 projects eligible for the funding, the AP said.

Sullivans Island and Folly Beach will also receive money for beach access points.

Ten municipalities along the South Carolina coast are getting state money to improve public beach and water access.

In Charleston County, the money will be used for water access along state Highway 174 and at McLeod Plantation.

Mount Pleasant is getting money for interpretive signs at its new Shem Creek Park.

The grant also will help pay for a waterfront walkway in Port Royal.