BRUNSWICK COUNTY — As part of $17.9 million in grants announced by Gov. Cooper Thursday, a park in a nearby coastal community will benefit from its windfall.
The Majestic Oaks Park Development is one of 46 statewide to receive money through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). The Parks and Recreation Authority approved the grants at an Aug. 23 meeting.
“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,” Cooper said in a press release
Annually, the authority looks at requests from municipalities and counties to allocate 30% of PARTF’s total funding. Majestic Oaks Park Development received the maximum payout of $500,000, which must be matched by local funds dollar for dollar.
Roughly 40 grant applications were submitted totaling $15.1 million and 22 projects were funded fully, with one project given partial funding. This totaled $9.5 million.
Majestic Oak is 4.28 acres tract on the east end of island between Cobia Street and 16th Street that the town has been wanting to purchase for years to preserve as open space. While it has not been decided what amenities will be included, Sunset Beach council has discussed the bay area of South Jinks Creek as a spot for a kayak launch, observation deck and a fishing pier.
The 2024-2025 budget includes money for designs and engineering.
Other funding from PARTF comes from its Accessible Parks Grant program, made up $12.5 million. The money helps with construction of special facilities or adapting existing ones so park-goers of all abilities can participate in recreational and sporting activities.
The authority received 23 applications.
“These projects will enhance quality of life, improve health, and strengthen local economies,” N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary D. Reid Wilson said in a release.
In 30 years PARTF has doled out over $800 million to help parks statewide.
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