Funding Database: Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation Trust Fund

In 1994, the NC General Assembly established the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), administered by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NC DNCR) Parks and Recreation Authority. The program funds improvements in the state's park system, provides grants for local governments and increases the public's access to state beaches. PARTF helps local governments reach their park and public access goals to improve the quality of life and improve the opportunities for future growth and long-term initiatives in their communities by providing funding for a variety of land acquisition and capital projects. The Parks and Recreation Authority, a nine-member appointed board, has consistently awarded grants to the best local park projects while distributing them to more than 350 local governments, small and large, in all of North Carolina's 100 counties.

Eligible Applicants

North Carolina counties and incorporated municipalities are eligible for PARTF grants. Two or more local governments may apply jointly with one serving as the primary sponsor. Public authorities as defined by state law are eligible if they are authorized to acquire land and develop recreation facilities for public use.

Eligible Projects

PARTF grants can be used to acquire land as well as build or renovate facilities for a public park. A project must be located on a single site.

In selecting projects to receive funding, the Parks and Recreation Authority considers (among other things):

• the criteria in the PARTF scoring system (details are provided in the grant application)
• the geographic distribution of grants across North Carolina
• whether the project has other funding
• the population of the applicant community
• the applicant’s administration of previous grants
• the amount of PARTF funds requested
• the amount of PARTF funds available

Funding Amount

PARTF may provide up to $500,000 per project.

Match Requirements

Applicants must provide a 50% or greater match of the total project cost. The appraised value of land donated from a private organization or individual to a local government applicant can be used as part of the match. In-kind services such as volunteer work cannot be used as a match.

Application Schedule

Applications open on Nov. 1, annually. The deadline for application assistance and review is March 15. Final applications are due May 1. Grant recipients will be selected in late summer to early fall.

Application Process

The grant application will be posted on the PARTF website. Applicants may either apply online via WebGrants or submit a paper copy of the application and a flash drive with all files in a digital format. 

Information on the process after receiving a grant can be found on the For Recipients page.

Application Assistance

The PARTF website lists frequently asked questions and contacts. The For Applicants page provides important information about the application process. Contact your Recreation Resources Service Regional Consultant with further questions about the PARTF application. The regional consultant can provide a preliminary technical review upon request.

Funding Source

The NC General Assembly funds PARTF each year at different levels.