Today Governor Josh Stein announced more than $8.7 million in grants that will fund 22 local parks and recreation projects across the state through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). Combined with Accessible Parks grants awarded earlier and applicants’ required matching funds for each project, the grants bring the total to more than $20 million in investments into 30 municipal and county parks, improving recreation access across the state.
The awards made earlier this summer provided an additional $3.8 million to nine Accessible Parks grant projects, which focus on creating new or renovating existing facilities to make them accessible for visitors with disabilities.
“North Carolina has incredible natural beauty, and a strong parks system allows every North Carolinian to enjoy it for years to come,” said Governor Josh Stein. “These investments will strengthen local economies and improve people’s health and quality of life.”
PARTF’s total recurring funding is split across state parks and DuPont State Recreational Forest, local municipalities and counties, and public beach and coastal accesses. Local communities apply to PARTF to fund land acquisition, new recreation facilities, or improvements to existing parks. A maximum of $500,000 can be awarded to a single project, and the awardees must match funds dollar for dollar for the grant amount.
This year, the Parks and Recreation Authority considered 41 grant applications requesting a total of more than $16.5 million. The 21 projects were chosen at an August 22 meeting. In addition to those recipients (listed in the table below), an additional applicant was offered partial funding and is pending approval acceptance from its town council.
The Accessible Parks Grant program was authorized in the 2023 budget to provide matching grants for parks and recreation to benefit people living with disabilities in North Carolina. The second and final round of non-recurring funding considered 29 applicants requesting a total of $11.7 million. Awardees must match the grant with at least $1 of local funds for every $5 in grant funds.
Both PARTF and the non-recurring Accessible Parks grant subset are managed by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources through its Division of Parks and Recreation. A partnership with Recreation Resources Service at N.C. State University offers assistance from grant specialists to local applicants.
“Congratulations to the grant recipients. We look forward to seeing the impact of this funding in communities across the state,” said Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela Cashwell. “We are grateful to Governor Stein and the General Assembly for their continued investment in parks and outdoor recreation through PARTF. This fund has established a wonderful legacy and has improved the lives of millions of North Carolinians over the past three decades."
PARTF Grant Awards
- Edgecombe County: City of Rocky Mount, $500,000 for Stith-Talbert Park Renovation
- Randolph County: City of Trinity, $500,000 for City-Center Park Phase I
- Transylvania County: Town of Rosman, $301,694 for Rosman Riverfront Park Phase I
- Harnett County: Harnett County, $500,000 for Neill’s Creek Park Phase I
- Wilkes County: Town of Wilkesboro, $500,000 for Courtside Gateway Plaza
- Madison County: Town of Mars Hill, $500,000 for Mars Hill – West Farm Acquisition
- Onslow County: Town of Holly Ridge, $500,000 for Holly Ridge Municipal Park Phase I
- Sampson County: Town of Salemburg, $84,621 for Love McDaniel Memorial Park
- Chatham County: Chatham County, $500,000 for Parkers Ridge Phase I Development
- Cumberland County: Town of Hope Mills, $500,000 for Heritage Park Phase II
- Rockingham County: Town of Mayodan, $500,000 for Washington Mills Park
- Nash County: Nash County, $500,000 for Nash County Recreation Center Acquisition
- Alamance County: City of Graham, $307,725 for Bill Cooke Park Expansion
- Jackson County: Town of Sylva, $341,323 for Pinnacle Park Improvements
- Surry County: City of Mount Airy, $500,000 for Carter Street Park Development
- Harnett County: Town of Angier, $500,000 for Angier New Park Phase I
- Alamance County: Alamance County, $170,000 for Carolina Mill Community Park
- Mecklenburg County: Town of Huntersville, $500,000 for Fire Station No. 4 Park
- McDowell County: City of Marion, $500,000 for Peavine Rail Trail Phase II
- Iredell County: Town of Mooresville, $286,125 for Willow Valley Park Phase II
- Rowan County: Town of Spencer, $246,813 for Fred and Alice Stanback Educational Forest Center
Accessible Parks Grant Awards
- Alamance County: Alamance County, $310,232 for Cedarock Park – Accessibility Enhancements
- Harnett County: City of Dunn, $500,000 for C.B. Codrington Park Accessibility Improvements
- Henderson County: Henderson County, $498,513 for East Flat Rock Park
- Jones County: Jones County, $468,750 for Jones County Accessible Park
- Rowan County: City of Kannapolis, $500,000 for Baker’s Creek Park Restroom Building
- Stanly County: City of Locust, $500,000 for Redevelopment of Officer Jeff Shelton Park
- Nash County: Nash County, $500,000 for Nash County Recreation Center Improvements
- Robeson County: Robeson County, $248,542 for Revitalization of Purvis Park
- New Hanover County: City of Wilmington, $237,618 for Fit for Fun Center Accessible Playground
About the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
The Division of Parks and Recreation manages more than 264,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, education, and recreation. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.