North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)

North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) is sponsored by NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The PARTF offers matching grants to local government agencies for projects to build, acquire land for, or renovate parks and recreation facilities, including athletic fields, playgrounds, and trails.

PARTF: For Applicants | NC State Parks Local Applications Due May 1, 2026 Eligible applicants should create an account on WebGrants to submit an online application. The North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) provides matching grants to local governments to assist with public park and recreation projects. The announcement package provides the basic information about this year's grant cycle and how to apply.

Apply Online Using WebGrants How Grant Recipients Are Selected PARTF provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to local governments for the acquisition and/or development of park and recreational projects to serve the general public. A local government can request a maximum of $500,000 with each application. North Carolina counties and incorporated municipalities are eligible for PARTF grants.

Public authorities, as defined by N. C. General Statute 159-7, are also eligible if they are authorize to acquire land or develop recreational facilities for the general public.

Local governments can apply to acquire land for parks and build recreational facilities for use by the public. A PARTF grant can also be used to protect the natural and scenic resources or renovate older park facilities. A project must be located on a single site.

Per S. L. 25-26 , for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the Parks & Recreation Trust Fund must prioritize applicants from counties that (i) were designated, in whole or in part, by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as the most impacted and distressed counties from Hurricane Helene and (ii) have a population of 300,000 or fewer based upon the 2023 Certified County Population Estimates from the State Demographer .

To seek this prioritization, applicants must attest that (i) the application for funds is for repair, replacement, or construction of equipment, buildings, or natural features due to damage or effects from Hurricane Helene, including capacity-building, and (ii) the amount of funds requested is the amount of unmet need above the amount paid by insurance and available federal aid.

For applicants choosing to utilize this prioritization, there will an additional 10 points available in the scoring system. An applicant must match the grant dollar-for-dollar, 50 percent of the total cost of the project, and may contribute more than 50 percent. The appraised value of land to be donated to the applicant can be used as part of the match.

The value of in-kind services, such as volunteer work, cannot be used as part of the match. Applicants must have control of the PARTF park site An applicant must own or have at least a 25-year signed lease or easement for the property where a PARTF facility will be located. Property acquired with PARTF must be dedicated forever for public recreational use.

Facilities built or renovated with a PARTF grant must be available for public recreational use for at least 25 years. The N. C.

Administrative Rules for the PARTF local grant program describe the requirements of the grant program, including who can apply and how grant recipients are selected: Apply Online Using WebGrants Access the 2025 PARTF Grant Application on WebGrants All cities and counties in North Carolina are invited to apply for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant by creating a WebGrant account.

2025 to 2026 funding cycle March 13, 2026: Application review deadline Local governments may submit their draft applications to their RRS regional consultant for a technical review to ensure that the application is complete. May 1, 2026: Application deadline Applications are due online in WebGrants. Aug.

28, 2026: Selecting grant recipients The Parks and Recreation Authority meets to select grant recipients. Would you like help with your PARTF application? The N.

C. Division of Parks and Recreation provides technical assistance to local governments through a contract with Recreation Resources Services at N. C.

State University. Complete the application early — by March 13, 2026 — and give it to your regional consultant for a preliminary technical review. Applicants can request a maximum grant of $500,000 with each application.

An applicant must match the grant dollar-for-dollar, 50% of the total cost of the project and may contribute more than 50 percent. The appraised value of land to be donated to the applicant can be used as part of the match. The value of in-kind services, such as volunteer work, cannot be used as part of the match.

A local government can use the appraised value of donate land as part of the 50% match for the grant. The donor of the land must be a private organization or individual. The applicant must provide a 5-year history of conveyance for the property.

Land that is transferred to the applicant due to a statute or rule is not considered a donation. Do not transfer ownership to the local government until you have discussed this with your RRS Consultant and read the Land Acquisition Requirements section in the application. Costs to build or renovate facilities You will be submitting specific cost estimates as part of the PARTF grant application.

Get estimates from contractors, architects, or planners who develop parks and recreational facilities. Consider the impact of inflation by assuming that the project may be completed over a 3-year period after the grantee signs a contract with the state. See the PARTF grant application for more information.

In the cost estimates, an applicant will use the appraised value of the land that it proposes to buy or that will be donated. See the PARTF grant application for specific instructions. How Grant Recipients Are Selected The Parks and Recreation Authority, a nine-member board appointed by the Governor and the General Assembly, selects which applicants will receive funding.

The factors considered by the Authority as it selects grant recipients include, but are not limited to: the criteria contained in the scoring system the geographic distribution of projects across the state the presence or absence of other funding sources the population of the applicant the level of compliance with prior grant agreements the grant amount being requested by the applicant the PARTF funds available for all grant applications Each project is evaluated and scored by a team of PARTF staff and regional consultants from the Recreation Resources Service.

Find your RRS regional consultant The Recreation Resources Service is a technical assistance program jointly administered by the N. C. Division of Parks and Recreation and North Carolina State University's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

For questions about local government grants or assistance with your application, please contact the RRS regional consultant for your area. Recreation Grants and Outreach Staff Manager Vonda Martin 919-707-9338 Grants Specialist (PARTF, AP) Lillian Heaton lillian. heaton@ncparks.

gov 919-707-9362 Grants Specialist talivia. brodie@ncparks. gov 919-707-9320 Grants Specialist (LWCF, ORLP) Sophia Olson 919-707-9342 LWCF Grants Compliance Specialist Aiden Manley 919-707-9311 Mailing Address 1615 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1615 Physical Address Division of Parks and Recreation Nature Research Center, 3rd floor 2026 PARTF Application Guide