When the state decided to dole out more than $30 million to 69 local parks and recreation projects this week, Surry County and Mount Airy were on the receiving end of funding that local officials hope will enhance the quality of life for residents. The three local grants received were the only ones for communities in the surrounding counties.
The Parks and Recreation Authority approved grants from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, now in its thirtieth year, this week totaling $17.9 million. These grants aid local governments with funding for land acquisition, and development and renovation of public park and recreation areas.
Surry County received $99,750 for work at Fisher River Park. This year, the authority considered 40 grant applications requesting a total of more than $15.1 million. Of those, 22 projects were funded at the full request and one project was awarded partial funding, all totaling more than $9.5 million.
Parks and Recreation Director Daniel White said the grant, “Will be used for the construction of adventure-based/outdoor recreation playground structures, shuffleboard courts, permanent cornhole boards, renovations to the existing walking track, and fitness stations around the walking track.”
Meanwhile the Accessible Parks Grant was allotted $12.5 million to provide matching grants for local parks and recreation projects to benefit people living with disabilities. The program allows for either the construction of special facilities or the adaptation of existing facilities to meet the unique needs of persons living with disabilities, enabling them to participate in recreational and sporting activities, regardless of their abilities.
The City of Mount Airy got an Accessible Parks Grant Award for $498,313 for work to improve accessibility at Westwood Park while Surry County was granted a similar amount, $480,459, to do the same at Fisher River Park.
“Our goal for this project is to create a play space in which children and families of all abilities have the opportunity to play side by side,” Mount Airy Parks and Recreation Director Peter Raymer said in March.
White said the grant will be used for an accessible playground, large pavilion, accessible walkways to ball field 3, and accessible bleachers.
In his annual report he said that Fisher River Park welcomed more than 212,000 guests — a huge chunk of the approximated total attendance in 2023 for all Surry County Parks and Recreation facilities (308,318). With funding from the Accessibility for Parks Grant, improvements can be made to access and the playground equipment that will allow everyone to join in the fun.
Across the state 23 applications were submitted, and all were selected for the first round of funding, for a total of over $8.3 million. A second round of funding for the Accessible Parks Grant will open in September with over $4 million in funding available.
“These awards through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Accessible Parks Grant will bring tremendous impact to communities across North Carolina by providing more parks, more trails and more accessible recreation,” said Gov. Roy Cooper.
“These projects will enhance quality of life, improve health, and strengthen local economies,” said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary D. Reid Wilson. “North Carolinians love their parks and recreation areas.”
“Over the last 30 years, PARTF has provided more than $800 million in improved state parks, local parks, and coastal access,” said State Parks Director Brian Strong.
“These awards continue a wonderful year celebrating the impact of PARTF on North Carolina residents. We look forward to new and updated parks, facilities, and trails in the coming years from this year’s grantees.”
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