Three local projects received $500,000 grants in this round of awards. They are: the Francis Farm Bike Park in Haywood County, the Whittier/Qualla Community Park in Jackson County and aquatic improvements to the Swain County Recreation Park in Bryson City. 

“Our parks and recreation areas are so valuable to our communities, and they’ve become more popular than ever,” said Gov. Roy Coper. “These projects we’re funding today will give people even more opportunities in North Carolina to build healthier and happier lives.”

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority considered 49 grant applications requesting a total of $20.9 million, with a maximum grant award of $500,000. Awardees must match any grant funds dollar-for-dollar from other sources. 

The $17.9 million allotted for local projects through PARTF this year is at least triple the amount for most years in the last decade. 

The Authority is required to allocate 30% of PARTF’s total funding to local government projects.  In addition to the local grants program, the Authority allocated $5.7 million to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation for land acquisitions at Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County and Lake James State Park in Burke and McDowell Counties. It will also fund several capital projects at Hammock’s Beach State Park (Onslow County), Morrow Mountain State Park (Stanly County) and William B. Umstead State Park (Wake County).

The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, which is part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Local grants are awarded annually by the Authority at their quarterly meeting in August.