State awards $8.4 million in local grants, including WNC projects

Press release:

State Awards $8.4 Million in Local Parks and Recreation Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (919) 814-2100
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 govpress@nc.gov

Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Pat McCrory announced today that grants totaling $8.4 million from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund will be awarded to 32 local governments to help fund land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas.

“North Carolina’s parks and recreation areas are experiencing all-time-high visitation rates and continue to be an essential part of our state’s quality of life,” said Governor McCrory. “These grants will continue to make North Carolina one of the best states in the nation to work, live and visit by preserving these treasured assets for generations to come.”

The Parks and Recreation Authority considered 66 grant applications requesting $18.3 million. A maximum of $500,000 can be awarded to a single project.

“Our green spaces are what adds to our wonderful quality of life, and attracts tourists and new residents to our great state,” said Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz. “The preservation of our natural environments North Carolina provides means more economic development and jobs for all of us.”

Since 2013, more than 136 grants have been awarded from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund totaling more than $29.7 million.

The local governments receiving grants in the most recent cycle are:
Asheville, French Broad River East Bank Greenway and Recreational Area, $350,000;
Beaufort, Wrights Creek Phase II, $100,605;
Bertie, Albemarle Sound Public Waterfront Access, $500,000;
Bessemer City, North Park Phase I, $500,000;
Brunswick, Ocean Isle Beach – Phase 2, $300,000;
Canton, Recreation Park Redevelopment, $350,000;
Conover, Conover City Park Expansion, $119,992;
Denton, DREAM Play Structure at Harrison Park, $15,000;
East Spencer, Royal Giants Park Renovations, $300,000;
Fuquay Varina, Fleming Loop Recreational Park Development, $500,000;
Granite Falls, Shuford Recreation Park Redevelopment, $196,875;
Harnett, Government Complex Park Phase 1, $400,000;
Henderson, Bell Trail Park, $350,000;
Iredell, Jennings Park, $419,718;
Jacksonville, City of Jacksonville Marina, $350,000;
Kill Devil Hills, Bay Drive Multi-Use Path Extension Phase 3 & 4, $250,000;
Lake Lure, Weed Patch Mountain Recreational Park, $350,000;
Laurel Park, Rhododendron Lake Nature Park Phase 3, $80,000;
Lenoir, Mulberry Optimist Park Expansion, $327,200;
Lexington, Tri-Distributor Land Acquisition, $250,000;
Littleton, Littleton Pocket Park, $78,300;
Lucama, Lucama Community Park, Phase III, $25,000;
Mebane, Mebane Community Park Land Acquisition, $355,802;
Nags Head, Dowdy Park Phase II, $250,000;
Pineville, Lake Park, $361,460;
Pleasant Garden, Volunteer Park, $234,387;
Rockingham, Planters Road Dan River Environmental Park & Access, $27,850;
Siler City, Siler City Aquatic Facility, $480,035;
Star, Forks of Little River Passive Park Improvements, $5,000;
Teachey, Town of Teachey Playground, $30,000;
Wake, Robertson Millpond Reserve, $251,097;
White Lake, White Lake Multi-Use Trail, $305,285.