More than eight-point-seven million dollars in state grants are headed to communities across North Carolina to improve parks and recreation. The funding, through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, will support 22 projects statewide — including two in our area.
The Town of Mars Hill in Madison County will receive five hundred thousand dollars for the Mars Hill–West Farm Acquisition. And in McDowell County, the City of Marion is awarded five hundred thousand for Phase Two of the Peavine Rail Trail.
When combined with earlier Accessible Parks grants and local matching funds, this year’s total investment into municipal and county parks tops 20 million dollars.
The Trust Fund supports land acquisition, new recreation facilities, and upgrades to existing parks, with local governments required to match every dollar they receive. This year, 41 communities applied for funding, with 21 projects selected.
The grants are managed by the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and its Division of Parks and Recreation.
