RALEIGH – State officials on Wednesday announced the award of $3.8 million in grants from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to 14 local governments for parks and recreation projects.
“Through the local grant program of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, state and local governments have been partners in providing green space, outdoor recreation opportunities and stimulus into local economies,” said Lewis Ledford, director of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. “The result has been healthier citizens and improvement in the quality of life in North Carolina.”
The matching grants, awarded by the Parks and Recreation Authority, will help fund land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. The authority considered 73 grant applications requesting more than $20 million. A maximum of $500,000 can be awarded to a single project.
The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and was established in 1994 when the General Assembly dedicated 75 percent of the state’s share of the excise tax on real estate deed transfers to the fund. The revenue is distributed to three programs: 65 percent to the state parks system for repairs, capital improvements and land acquisition; 30 percent for matching grants to local parks and recreation programs for development and land acquisition; and 5 percent to the coastal beach access program.
Since 1995, the Parks and Recreation Authority has received 1,425 grant applications with requests totaling about $307 million. The board has awarded 736 grants for $165 million.
The local governments receiving grants in the most recent cycle are:
- Cramerton, which received $500,000 for the Goat Island Phase 2 project;
- Hudson, which received $280,750 for the Redwood Park renovation and development;
- Seven Devils, which received $135,800 for the Otter Falls property acquisition;
- Spruce Pine, which received $223,827 for the Ragan Park Indoor Recreation Facility;
- Elon, which received $162,500 for Lawrence Slade Park;
- Dobson, which received $497,100 for Dobson Square Park;
- Lucama, which received $24,700 for Lucama Community Park;
- Scotland Neck, which received $10,000 for the Scotland Neck Athletic Complex;
- Seaboard, which received $177,000 for the Seaboard Community Park and Recreation Center;
- Wallace, which received $470,000 for the Boney Mill Park and Greenway;
- Jackson County, which received $435,000 for the Tuckasegee River Greenway;
- Davidson County, which received $94,725 for the East Davidson Hughes Community Park project;
- Brunswick County, which received $500,000 for the Waccamaw Park project; and
- Camden County, which received $290,240 for the One Mill Park project.
-Press release from the N.C. Department of Natural Resources, shared June 5.
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