News

County, Mills River denied park grants

Henderson County had applied for a grant for Tuxedo Park work.

By Bill Moss, Published: July 15, 2014

Henderson County and the town of Mills River failed to win funding in a round of 2014-15 state parks grants recommended on Friday.

The county had applied for funding for the Tuxedo Community Park and Mills River sought money for the next phase of its Town Park. The state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Authority received $17.6 million in requests from 64 local governments. The authority recommended 17 projects, which would be funded if the Legislature appropriates at least $4 million.
Depending on the state appropriation and ability of local governments to match grants, the state PARTF Authority could approve a second round of funding in the fall. Henderson County and its towns have done well over the past three funding cycles getting state PARTF money, winning almost $1.5 million for to purchase parkland or make improvements.

Last year, Henderson County missed the first cycle and a second round announced in the fall then received notification just before Christmas that it had won a $500,000 matching grant to help pay for park improvements at the new Athletics and Activity Center. The Village of Flat Rock received a $475,000 grant in September 2013 to help buy the old Highland Lake Golf Club property for development as a park. Mills River received a $499,323 PARTF grant in 2010 for the first phase of its Town Park development.
The local governments recommended for funding on Friday were:

• Sims – Wilson County ($75,000)
• Red Springs – Robeson County ($48,000)
• Plymouth – Washington County ($353,800)
• Linden – Cumberland County ($212,400)
• Landis – Rowan County ($402,269)
• Star – Montgomery County ($47,500)
• Wilson Mills – Johnston County ($250,000)
• Smithfield – Johnston County ($350,000)
• Richlands – Onslow ($65,734)
• Warsaw – Duplin ($300,000)
• Raleigh – Wake ($250,000)
• Belville – Brunswick ($160,897)
• Mint Hill – Mecklenburg ($335,000)
• Fairview – Union County ($317,550)
• Elizabethtown – Bladen ($215,000)
• Graham County – Graham County ($500,000)
• Valdese – Burke County ($215,600)