Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
Established in 1994 via Senate Bill 733, The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) was designed to finance improvements in the state park system, support local community grants, and enhance access to public beaches.
Since its inception by the NC General Assembly in 1994, The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund has been a cornerstone of sustained state investment in recreation — supporting thousands of park and trail projects through matching grants and capital funding for both state parks and local communities.
Each year, the General Assembly appropriates funds into PARTF, which are allocated by the Parks and Recreation Authority as follows:
- 65% for capital projects, renovations, and land acquisition in state parks (including 4% for DuPont State Recreational Forest)
- 30% as matching grants to counties, municipalities and tribal communities for local parks, trails and recreation facilities.
- Up to 3% for administrative costs.
Local projects must match state funding dollar-for-dollar, ensuring a shared investment in community recreation.
Most Recent PARTF Grant Awards PARTF History PARTF Annual Report
Grants and Outreach Quick Links
- Grants and Outreach
- Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
- Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP)
- Helene Recovery Fund for PARTF
- Great Trails State Program (GTSP)
- Accessible Parks Grant (AP)
- Accessibility for Parks (AFP)
- NC Outdoor Recreation Plan
- Parks and Recreation Authority
- Grants Locator
- Contact Information
PARTF Impact
Local Communities
Local Projects
Local Grants Awarded
Total Investment in Local Parks
Includes Matching Funds
Frequently Asked Questions
The North Carolina General Assembly funds PARTF each year at different levels.
The Parks and Recreation Authority, a citizen board, allocated PARTF funds to applicants. The PRA is a nine-member group appointed by the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate, and the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
The PRA has selected grant recipients and allocated money from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund since 1997. Innovative, high-quality park projects in all 100 North Carolina counties have been awarded PARTF funds.
Local governments apply for PARTF grants each year. The PRA solicits comments and input from local governments and the public about each project. Applications are evaluated according to:
- quality of planning
- public involvement in the planning process
- recreation facilities provided
- quality of site with respect to its surroundings
- quality of park land to be acquired
- the applicant's ability to operate and maintain the park project
The money from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is allocated as follows:
- 65% for North Carolina state parks capital projects, repairs, and renovations of facilities, and land acquisition;
- 4% of these funds go to the DuPont State Recreational Forest
- 30% for local government grants on a dollar-for-dollar basis, which create or improve parks and recreational projects;
- 5% for the Division of Coastal Management's Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program.
No more than 3% may be used for administration of the funds.
PARTF has helped build and maintain parks, greenways, trails, playgrounds, water accesses, and so much more! PARTF grants create opportunities for staying active and enjoying the outdoors, while bolstering our state and local economies and quality of life.
PARTF Grant Totals per County
Hover over the map to see the PARTF projects in that county, as well as the grant amount, matching funds and total park projects as of Fall 2026.
Colors represent prosperity zones.
- Western Region (green)
- Northwest Region (pink)
- Southwest Region (light blue)
- Piedmont Triad Region (deep purple)
- Sandhills Region (yellow/orange)
- North Central Region (lavender)
- Northeast Region (dark blue)
- Southeast Region (red)
Benefits Beyond Money
The citizens of North Carolina and their visitors to the state have certainly enjoyed new amenities made possible by the PARTF program. There are many important benefits that aren't as easy to see:
- The PARTF program improves the opportunity to plan for future growth, like long-term initiatives for both land acquisition and capital projects.
- The Division's New Parks for a New Century initiative was launched in 2001 with a team examining every known site within N.C. and scoring them on criteria involving natural resource value, sustainability for park development, and proximity to population centers.
- Communities have benefited by the planning for local park projects that is encouraged by the scoring system used to evaluate PARTF grant applications. Local governments with better plans and public involvement have received more grants.
- The Parks and Recreation Authority 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.
- PARTF allows the Division of Parks and Recreation to build mutually beneficial and long-lasting partnerships.
- The Clean Water Management Trust Fund was established in the early 1990s for the protection of water quality through clean water initiatives, easements, and land acquisition along riparian areas, etc., and has become a great supporter of parks projects across the state.
- Calling on the state's conservation funds in different combinations has given the state great flexibility for a broad strategic conservation plan. And, it has allowed the state to act more quickly to take advantage of conservation opportunities.
- The trust fund has allowed state parks to build trust and a close working relationship with national and regional land trusts and often with local governments.