RALEIGH -- Governor Jim Hunt today announced the award of $6 million in matching grants from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. The Parks and Recreation Authority awarded 33 grants to local governments for parks and recreation projects. The matching grants will fund land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. A maximum of $250,000 can be awarded to a single project.
"These funds will enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods across our state," said Governor Jim Hunt. "By offering our children safe and healthy places to play and to learn about our environment, our local parks make an important contribution to the strength of our communities and families," Hunt said.
According to Park Authority Chairman Bill Veeder, the 11-member Parks and Recreation Authority, which oversees the expenditures of the trust fund, met June 30 to consider 103 grant applications from 65 counties for almost $16 million.
The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, established in 1994 when the General Assembly dedicated 75% of the state's share of the excise tax on real estate deed transfers to the fund, is distributed to three programs: 65% to the state parks system for repairs, capital improvements and land acquisition; 30% for matching grants to local parks and recreation programs for development and land acquisition; and 5% to the coastal beach access program. The fund is expected to generate more than $20 million a year.
The Parks and Recreation Authority is appointed by the Governor, and by the General Assembly upon the recommendations of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Members are: Roy Alexander, of Charlotte; Ann Babcock, of Asheville; Troy Boyd, of Elizabeth City; Tom Garrison, of Badin; Karen Gottovi, of Wilmington; Robert Horton, of Pinehurst; Drane McCall, of Winston Salem; Glenn Pope, of Clinton; John Runkle, of Chapel Hill; and Kathy Sherron, of Raleigh. William J. Veeder, of Henderson, serves as chair.
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NOTE: For local angle, see list of grant awards.
| Project Name | Applicant | PARTF Funds | Project Summary |
| Matheson Park Project | Taylorsville (Alexander County) | $111,118 | Development includes a volleyball court; 5 picnic shelters; a walking trail; parking lot; fencing; barn renovation, including restroom and storage; site preparation; and signs. |
| Peachland Park | Peachland (Anson County) | $22,940 | Development includes: .25 mile walking trail; toddler and children's playground; picnic shelter with tables and grills; re-orientation of softball field and new backstop; perimeter fencing; water fountain; and signs. |
| Ashe County Park Improvements | Ashe County | $40,000 | Development includes: construction of a soccer field and a sand volleyball court; paving of half of roads within the park; and upgrading of tennis courts lighting. |
| Clark Road Park | Crossnore (Avery County) | $25,000 | Development includes: site preparation; landscaping; restroom; picnic shelter with grill and tables; playground; basketball court; and sign. |
| Register Waterway Park | Long Beach (Brunswick County) | $170,067 | Acquisition of 1.66 acres and development including a boat tie-up area; bulkheading; interpretive trails with signs; environmental education center with exhibits; and picnic areas. |
| Catawba River Soccer Complex | Morganton (Burke County) | $244,000 | Development includes: 2 lighted soccer fields with irrigation; playground; parking with access road; concession/restroom building; utilities; trail to Catawba River Greenway Park. |
| Aquatic & Fitness Center | Lenoir (Caldwell County) | $209,350 | Development includes parking lots; storm drainage; grading; restroom; and track. |
| Henry Fork River Regional Recreation Park | Hickory (Catawba County) | $250,000 | Development includes: 4 soccer fields (1 with lights); 4,000 l. Ft. Nature trail, obstacle course; canoe access; access road; paved parking lots (2) ; 4 creek crossings; fencing; renovate barn into group shelter with restrooms and tables; 11 family shelters; benches. |
| Kingstown Park | Kingstown (Cleveland County) | $100,000 | Acquire 5 acres with development including 2 softball fields; press box/concession stand/restrooms; walking tracks (2); picnic shelters (2); entry gate; and signs. |
| Lake Rim Park | Cumberland County | $250,000 | Development includes: 2 picnic shelters (one with restrooms); multipurpose field with lights; accessible playground; 2 tennis courts with lights; 2 sand volleyball courts with lights; 2,900' crushed stone trails with treated wood crosswalks. |
| Dare County Youth Center | Dare County | $250,000 | Development includes a 12,000 square foot recreation center with restrooms; a multi-purpose room; a special activity room; mechanical room; kitchen; storage rooms; an office; and a large gymnasium. |
| Nags Head Town Park | Nags Head (Dare County) | $250,000 | Acquisition of 10.97 acres. |
| Triad Park | Forsyth County | $250,000 | Development includes: restroom; paved parking lots and access road; paved 3,500 l.ft. trail; soccer field with irrigation; softball field; water fountains (4); benches (2); and signs. |
| Gibsonville Park | Gibsonville (Guilford County) | $250,000 | Development includes: baseball field with fencing and lighting; 2 picnic shelters (1 with restrooms); tot lot with fencing; walking trails with exercise equipment; horseshoe courts (3); 2 tennis courts with lighting; sand volleyball court with fencing; 1 paved and 1 gravel parking lot; lighting; restrooms; signs; and engineering fees. |
| Project Name | Applicant | PARTF Funds | Project Summary |
| T.J. Davis Recreation Center | Roanoke Rapids (Halifax County) | $250,000 | Development includes: renovation and expansion of the T. J. Davis Recreation Center including new heating and air conditioning; new floor in old gym; replace windows; roof repair; make facility and restrooms accessible; asbestos removal; expansion including an additional gym; arts and crafts studio; raised mezzanine walking/job tacks; 1200 sq-ft multi purpose room in old game room; after-school program classroom; and 1200 sq-ft. aerobic/exercise room. |
| Tart Park Expansion | Dunn (Harnett County) | $250,000 | Development includes: 9,600 sq.ft. multipurpose recreation facility; 4 lighted athletic fields (2 football/2 soccer) with bleachers and scoreboards; playground; picnic area; renovate concession/restroom facilities; extend walking trail to include signs and benches; light existing ball fields; and access road with paved parking. |
| Recreation Center | Waynesville (Haywood County) | $250,000 | Development includes: new recreation center with gymnasium; lobby; restrooms; offices; natatorium; multi-purpose room; elevated track/mezzanine; fitness & aerobic rooms; childcare rooms (2); 2 handball courts; storage areas; kitchen; signs; and locker room. |
| Laurel Green | Laurel Park (Henderson County) | $27,920 | Development includes construction of a gazebo; paving the parking lot; surface the walking trails; site furnishing/benches; a fence; plantings, trees, and shrubs. |
| Cofield Park | Cofield (Hertford County) | $32,000 | Development includes renovation of a community building to make it accessible; two picnic shelters with grills; walking trail; basketball court; playground equipment; two sand volleyball courts; and parking lot repairs. |
| Jackson County Recreation Park | Jackson County | $219,500 | Development includes: 1.75 mile walking/cross country trail; foot bridge; playground; pavilion/stage; picnic area with shelter and covered tables; fishing docks; basketball court; 2 tennis courts; paved parking lot with lights; light soccer field; restrooms; signs; and horseshoe courts (4). |
| Clayton Community Park | Clayton (Johnston County) | $250,000 | Development includes: 10-foot wide asphalt trail; 6 tennis courts, 3 softball fields, entrance drive and paved parking lot; signs; gravel parking lot; and site preparation. |
| Smithfield Community Park, Phase II | Smithfield (Johnston County) |
$250,000 | Development includes: lighted soccer field with irrigation, bleachers, and benches; lighted baseball field with dugouts, bleachers, benches, and irrigation; lighted multi-purpose courts with goals; 3,200 linear ft. paved walking trail; fitness trail with 8-10 stations; interpretive nature trail with signs; and restroom/concession/pressbox building. |
| Little Tennessee River Greenway & Rec. Area | Macon County | $250,000 | Development includes: 2.5 mile hiking/bicycling trail (1.25 paved miles); 3 paved parking lots; installation of 3 bridges; boardwalk (1,800 l.ft.); gravel parking lot at wetlands; small restroom with water fountain; restroom/welcome building with exhibits and storage; site furniture; and wildlife habitat at welcome area. |
| Robersonville Recreational Park | Robersonville (Martin County) | $186,840 | Development includes baseball/softball fields (2); youth soccer/football field; children's playground' 2,400' paved walking trail; shelter with storage/restrooms; paved access road/parking for 75 cars; landscaping; signs; and site preparation (storm drainage). |
| Torrence Chapel Park | Cornelius Mecklenburg County | $200,000 | Development includes: 2 lighted ballfields; 1 accessible playground; 1 picnic shelter/ ADA restrooms/ concession stand/ storage; 2 lighted tennis courts; interpretive/ walking trail; 1.5 basketball courts; signs; water fountains; and gravel parking lot. |
| Project Name | Applicant | PARTF Funds | Project Summary |
| Martin Luther King Park | Rocky Mount (Nash County) | $250,000 | Development includes loop trail, multi-purpose field, playground, picnic shelter, memorial and parking area. |
| Ogden Park | New Hanover County | $250,000 | Development includes 2 new lighted soccer fields; football lighting system; picnic area with 2 shelters and restrooms; lighted tennis courts and tennis pavilion; lighted equestrian roads and parking; and landscaping. |
| Jacksonville Commons Park | Jacksonville (Onslow County) | $250,000 | Development includes: 2 lighted softball fields with bleachers and scoreboards; 2 shuffleboard courts; 2 sand volleyball courts; 2 paved parking areas; 5,700 linear foot walking trail; 2 picnic shelters with storage room, grills, tables and trash receptacles; playground; 2 pedestrian bridges; botanical garden; site preparation; and planning. |
| Town of Oriental Recreation Complex | Oriental (Pamlico County) | $35,000 | Development includes: baseball and soccer field with fencing; tot lot with fencing; picnic tables (3); horseshoe courts; exercise trail; gravel parking lot; 3 bicycle racks; walkway; bury wiring; and planning. |
| Northeastern Park | Elizabeth City (Pasquotank County) | $162,635 | Development includes: two soccer fields (1 lighted and 1 unlighted); lighting for 6 tennis courts; lighting for existing baseball field and softball/baseball field; playground; 2 sand volleyball courts; fitness trail with exercise stations; concession stand; and bleachers. |
| Perquimans County Recreation Center | Perquimans County | $40,000 | Development includes asphalt tennis surface; 4 tennis posts and 2 nets; tennis courts lighting (9 poles, 14 fixtures); basketball goals (2 posts, 2 boards, 2 rims); tot lot play structure and absorbing surface; horseshoe pits; fencing for tot lot, tennis and basketball courts; and benches. |
| Parrish Womble Park | Holly Springs (Wake County) | $250,000 | Development including: 2 multi-purpose athletic fields with lighting, fencing, and irrigation; parking lot and access drive; paved trails/greenway (1,640 l.ft.); open play field; sand volleyball courts (2); horseshoe courts (4); and design fees. |
| Parrish Womble Park | Holly Springs (Wake County) | $250,000 | Development includes: 2 multi-purpose athletic fields with lighting, fencing, and irrigation; parking lot and access drive; paved trails/greenway (1,640 l.ft.); open play field; sand volleyball courts (2); horseshoe courts(4); and design fees. |
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