Gov. Perdue Announces State Awards to Help Local Governments with Parks and Recreation Projects

Press Release

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced the award of $1.56 million in grants from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to 10 local governments for parks and recreation projects.

"Creating new jobs has been one of my top priorities," Perdue said. "These grants put people back to work building new parks and new facilities. They also enhance our state's quality of life by creating recreational opportunities and protecting significant open spaces. CEOs consistently rank North Carolina one of the nation's best places for doing business because of our state's excellent quality of life."

The matching grants, awarded by the Parks and Recreation Authority, will help fund land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. The authority considered 60 grant applications requesting more than $12.6 million. A maximum of $500,000 can be awarded to a single project.

The latest grants were awarded to: Alamance County $245,367 for Cedarock Park Enhancement; Archdale $42,857 for Creekside Park Expansion; Brunswick County $359,354 for Town Creek Park; Clay County $215,450 for Wal-Ford Fram Acquisition; Enfield $36,500 for Enfield Community Park Phase III; Hobgood $12,000 for Hobgood Community Park; Lake Lure $93,478 for Buffalo Creek Trail System; New Hanover County $287,817 for Castle Hayne Park Acquisition; Randleman $52,750 for City Park Purchase; and Wilmington $219,308 for Cross City Trail.

The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is administered through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and was established in 1994 when the General Assembly dedicated 75 percent of the state's share of the excise tax on real estate deed transfers to the fund. The revenue is distributed to three programs: 65 percent to the state parks system for repairs, capital improvements and land acquisition; 30 percent for matching grants to local parks and recreation programs for development and land acquisition; and 5 percent to the coastal beach access program.

Since 1995, the Parks and Recreation Authority has received 1,351 grant applications with requests totaling about $286 million. The board has awarded 696 grants for $156 million.

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