The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority, which oversees the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), recently approved $17.4 million to fund nine capital improvement projects and six land acquisitions for North Carolina state parks, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The Authority approved the investments at its meeting held Nov. 4 at the state arboretum in Asheville.
“These land acquisition and park improvement projects will both expand our state parks system and repair and restore facilities and trails for the benefit of the people of North Carolina as well as visitors to our state,” said N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary D. Reid Wilson. “We are grateful to the General Assembly and Governor Cooper for providing significantly increased investments in the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund over the last two years.”
Capital improvement projects funded include historic building renovations at Carvers Creek and Hanging Rock state parks, campground renovations at Pettigrew State Park, upgraded sewer systems at Chimney Rock State Park, and development of a trailhead and trail construction along the Northern Peaks State Trail at Elk Knob State Park. Funding approved for park planning projects will fund management plans for state parks and the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Funding was also approved for repairs and renovations to state park facilities systemwide.
A total of $2.1 million was approved by the Authority for land acquisition at five state parks. These include 215 acres that will connect two tracts of land at Mount Mitchell State Park, and 58 acres to connect Elk Knob State Park to Peak Mountain.
Several of the approved projects will supplement Connect N.C. Bond projects. These include projects at Carvers Creek, Grandfather Mountain, Pettigrew and Hanging Rock state parks.
The full list of approved funding for Fiscal Year 2022-2023:
Land Acquisition Projects
Capital Projects
