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Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Grants Will Fund Projects Across North Carolina

Last Updated on January 27, 2022 10:04 am

RALEIGH— The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced that the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) Authority has approved $28.6 million in capital improvement projects and land acquisitions for state parks and an additional $13.6 million in grants to fund 41 local parks and recreation projects across the state.

The second round of local grants this fiscal year was made possible in November with the recently enacted state budget’s allocation of an additional $101 million to PARTF to support state and local parks projects, for a total of $135 million over two years. The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Authority had previously approved an initial 14 local grants for the year in September 2021 using its recurring annual appropriation.

“The new state budget’s increased funding for parks and recreation will make more recreational opportunities available across the state,” said Reid Wilson, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “As we’ve seen since the beginning of the pandemic, North Carolina families need more parks, trails, greenways, and facilities to get outside and active.”

Local communities applied for the grants to fund land acquisition and development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. The maximum grant awarded for a single project under the program was $500,000. Awardees must match funds at least dollar-for-dollar for the awarded amount.

“These grants will help us continue making outdoor recreation opportunities available to more people in all areas of the state,” Wilson continued. “Outdoor activity produces important physical and mental health benefits that are essential for quality of life. The members of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Authority and State Parks staff did excellent work in delivering these benefits to communities so soon after the budget became law.”

The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is administered through the state’s Division of Parks and Recreation.  

At the Jan. 6 meeting, $23.1 million was approved for capital and maintenance projects at Kerr Lake and Fort Fisher Recreation Areas and Hammocks Beach, Morrow Mountain, Medoc Mountain, Eno River, Mayo River, Carvers Creek, Chimney Rock and Stone Mountain State Parks. 



The Authority also approved $5.5 million for land acquisitions at Baker’s Lake State Natural Area and Elk Knob, Eno River, Hanging Rock, Mount Mitchell, Morrow Mountain, Stone Mountain, and William B. Umstead State Parks.



The projects include:

  • $90,000 for fishing pier restoration and repairs at Carvers Creek State Park (Cumberland County)
  • $400,000 for restroom renovations at Chimney Rock State Park (Rutherford County)
  • $250,000 for beach access boardwalk repairs at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area (New Hanover County)
  • $1 million to fund Recreational Trails Program projects (statewide)

Land acquisitions include:

  • $1.1 million for lands west of the peak area at Elk Knob State Park (Watauga County)
  • $700,000 for a western addition to Morrow Mountain State Park (Stanly County)
  • $850,000 for a large ridge that dominates the vista from the campground at Stone Mountain State Park (Wilkes and Alleghany counties)
  • $553,000 for a tract in Orange County to join Eno River State Park

Nov. 19, 2021 PARTF meeting local grant recipients and amounts are as follows:

GranteeCountyProject NameFunds Awarded
AsheboroRandolphZoo City Sportsplex$500,000
Beaufort CountyBeaufortWright's Creek Phase II$249,895
BelmontGastonBelmont Recreation Center$500,000
Blowing RockWataugaMemorial Park Enhancement$500,000
BogueCarteretBogue Town Park$263,000
Cabarrus CountyCabarrusRob Wallace Park Expansion$100,000
CantonHaywoodChestnut Mountain Park$500,000
Clay CountyClayClay County Sports Complex$500,000
ConcordCabarrusMarvin Caldwell Park$400,000
DentonDavidsonHarrison Park Community Center with Amenities$400,000
Elk ParkAveryJumping Pillow & Basketball Renovation (Lucille Winters Park)$26,136
Fair BluffColumbusRiverside Park Acquisition$392,500
Forest CityRutherfordPark Square Depot$450,000
Forsyth CountyForsythBelews Lake Park$500,000
GreenvillePittWildwood Park$481,350
HendersonVanceWilliams & Montgomery Street Park$357,497
High PointGuilfordCity Lake Park Phase I Renovations$500,000
HildebranBurkeNew Town Park Development$289,700
JacksonvilleOnslowCity of Jacksonville Marina$110,000
Jones CountyJonesBrock Mill Pond Enhancement$400,000
LawndaleClevelandLawndale Park$415,000
Lee CountyLeeKiwanis Children's Park Phase II$209,000
LumbertonRobesonPennington Complex – Phase III$400,000
MadisonRockinghamMadison River Park$241,440
MooresvilleIredellLiberty Park Renovation$500,000
Oak RidgeGuilfordWhitaker Park$490,000
Ocean Isle BeachBrunswickTown Center Park Phase II$395,289
Perquimans CountyPerquimansPerquimans Recreation Park Tennis Courts$65,600
RamseurRandolphDeep River State Trail and Blueway$128,922
RandlemanRandolphStout Street Park Improvements$354,991
Rowan CountyRowanWoodleaf Community Park Phases I & II$354,346
ShallotteBrunswickPrice Park Landing at Mulberry Park$500,000
ShelbyClevelandShelby Rail Trail Depot Park Segment – Phase I$420,000
SimpsonPittSimpson Walking Trail Improvements$22,500
Spruce PineMitchellBrad Ragan Park Improvements$100,000
Tabor CityColumbusTabor City Athletic Complex$500,000
Wake CountyWakeBeech Bluff County Park$425,000
WaynesvilleHaywoodRichland Creek Park and Greenway$232,750
Wilkes CountyWilkesBathhouse and Picnic Shelter (River's Edge Park)$191,194
WilkesboroWilkesCub Creek Park Expansion$256,250
YoungsvilleFranklinLuddy Park Renovation$29,223
    
  Total$13,651,583

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.



NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, three science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 41 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, and the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov

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