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While construction of the new Davie County Community Park hasn’t missed a beat since March 2019 groundbreaking, Davie County Recreation and Parks (DCRP) has developed an insatiable hunger and desire to seek additional park amenities and enhancements through three grant applications.

These efforts paid dividends as DCRP will receive a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) in the amount of $365,000. The funds will be used for further development of Davie County Community Park (Phase I) that include an: elevated fitness course, inclusive playground with shade structures and ADA pour in place surfacing, small and large dog parks with key card access systems, large family shelter, bocce and horseshoe courtyard enhancements and an additional .25 mile greenway loop that will link the park trail system to Davidson County Community College (Davie Campus) and Davie County Early College Campus.

DCRP was also awarded a Davie County Hospital Foundation grant totaling $5,600 and Margaret C. Woodson Foundation Grant totaling $5,000. Funds from the Hospital Foundation will be used to purchase three aquatic wheelchairs to enhance accessibility opportunities for the parks largest Vortex splash pad (7,350 square feet) in North Carolina. Funds from the Woodson Foundation will be used to purchase and install an interactive multi-sensory story book trail to enhance the parks trails system and observatory boardwalk.

“This is a huge win for the Davie community,” said Paul Moore, recreation director. “Not only are residents getting amenities they’ve asked for in Phase I of this park, they are getting even more. Words cannot begin to describe our excitement knowing what experiences and lifelong impacts this park will bring to families of all ages and abilities. It’s a great day for Davie County and more importantly a great day to know that ‘You Belong Here’.”

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) is a state funded grant program for land acquisition and development of parks. PARTF is the primary source of funding to build and renovate facilities in state and local parks, as well as to buy land for new and existing parks. The program provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to local governments. Recipients use the grants to acquire land and/or to develop park and recreational projects that serve the general public. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation administers the program, Recreation Resources Services (RRS) provides technical assistance to grantees and those applying for funding. The Parks and Recreation Authority, a nine member board appointed by the governor and the General Assembly selects the applicants who will receive a PARTF grant.

In 2019, there were 56 applications submitted from across the state, seeking PARTF funding. On Aug. 23, the selection process awarded 14 projects totaling $4,502,600. Davie County was selected and among the top six highest ranking applications and fourth highest dollar amount awarded.