Hope Mills, Rocky Mount each awarded $500,000 in federal funding for park projects

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The Town of Hope Mills and the City of Rocky Mount were each awarded $500,000 in federal funding for park projects, officials said.

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The Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program under the U.S. Department of the Interior, awarded a total of nearly $4 million to nine local parks and recreation projects in the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

According to NCDNCR, Hope Mills and Rocky Mount each received $500,000, the highest possible award.

State officials said Hope Mills will use the funding towards the second phase of improvements towards Heritage Park at 5445 Lakeview Road.

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Rocky Mount will use the funding towards improving Stith-Talbert Park at 799 Pennsylvania Avenue, according to NCDNCR.

According to NCDNCR, the following federal grants were also awarded:

• $500,000 to the Town of Granite in Rowan County for Granite Civic Park
• $500,000 to the Town of Mayodan in Rockingham County for Washington Mills Park
• $494,000 to Watauga County for Cove Creek Park
• $493,350 to the Town of Mars Hill in Madison County for the acquisition of Bone Camp Creek
• $450,000 to the City of Wilmington in New Hanover County for Greenfield Park Lions Bridge
• $305,000 to the Town of Norwood in Stanly County for the acquisition of Lake Tillery Park
• $276,150 to the Town of Matthews in Mecklenburg County for Windsor Park

State officials said applicants are required to match the grants received.

North Carolina receives an allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund each year, which NCDNCR manages through its North Carolina State Parks division.

“Local parks are a keystone in conserving green spaces and providing communities nearby with access to outdoor recreation,” DNCR Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell said in a statement. “Their work complements the conservation, education, and recreation we provide across our state parks and other DNCR sites, creating plenty of options for North Carolina’s residents and visitors to enjoy.”

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