SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Tens of millions in grants have been approved for local parks and recreation projects across the state. In the tri-county region eight parks will benefit from Calabash to Burgaw.
The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority approved the funding last week, which covers land acquisition, development and renovation of parks and rec areas statewide. According to a release from the governor’s office,
“Our parks and recreation areas are so valuable to our communities and they’ve become more popular than ever,” Governor Cooper said. “These projects we’re funding today will give people even more opportunities in North Carolina to build healthier and happier lives.”
Local communities applied for the grants to fund land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. Each year, 30% of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) must go toward local government projects.
Forty-nine applications were submitted with requests topping $20.9 million. $17.9 million — triple the amount from previous decades — will be awarded with the maximum capped at $500,000 for any one project. Municipalities must provide a dollar-for-dollar match as part of the grant requirements.
Locally, it translates to $3.8 million disbursed to the following recipients:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
- Wrightsville Beach Park Facility Improvements — $397,538
PENDER COUNTY
- Hampstead Kiwanis Park Phase 4 — $500,000
- Central Pender Park Development — $500,000
- Osgood Canal Greenway – West Side Development in Burgaw — $443,408
BRUNSWICK COUNTY
- Holden Beach Pier — $500,000
- Majestic Oaks Land Acquisition in Sunset Beach — $500,000
- Calabash Waterfront Park — $500,000
- Brunswick Riverwalk Extension in Belville — $500,000
PARTF has distributed 1,000 grants across North Carolina. The fund is overseen by the the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
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