The state Parks and Recreation Authority recently awarded $10.8 million in grants from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to 36 local governments for parks and recreation projects.
The matching grants will help fund land acquisition, development, and renovation of public park and recreation areas. The authority considered 85 grant applications requesting nearly $25 million. A maximum of $500,000 can be awarded to a single project, a press release issued by the Department of Natural Resources said.
The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is administered through the Division of Parks and Recreation. It 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 758 grant applications with requests totaling about $125 million. The board has awarded 418 grants for $70.8 million.