By Catharin Shepard • Editor • The City of Raeford has received a $175,000 grant from the state to design the planned walking trails and park at the city-owned pond property off of Highway 20.

Nature trails, and amenities like parking and public bathrooms are among the features planned for the future at the pond park as part of the city’s Parks and Recreation master plan.

The grant money was part of nearly $11 million in funds North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced last week to develop and restore nature trails in the Piedmont. The North Carolina General Assembly authorized the funds from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as part of the Great Trails State Program.

“The Piedmont is known for its cities and world-class universities, but from Pilot Mountain to the Haw River, it’s also home to some of our state’s most amazing wildlife and natural wonders,” Stein said in a press release. “This funding will spur local tourism and encourage more people to explore North Carolina’s incredible beauty.”

The City of Raeford has issued a request for qualifications seeking an engineering firm “to assist the town in the design of the improvements and to also assist the Town in the administration of the grant.” The pond project is part of the overall Parks and Recreation master plan that LKC Engineering completed in August 2023.

The request for qualifications spells out that the engineering firm hired to do the work will be responsible for the following: conduct overview of the funded grant application, review the existing site where proposed improvements are to take place, design the improvements stated in the grant agreement and bid the installation of them, oversight and construction management of project, at close out of project, ensure that all improvements are safe and usable, advise the City of Raeford on matters associated with this project and assist City in financial reporting of this grant.

City staff and the Parks Advisory Committee will review submissions. The City Council will seek to negotiate a contract price with the most qualified firm. The request for qualifications set August 21 as the deadline for interested engineering firms to respond.

This is the second grant the city has received in the past year or so to work on implementing the Parks and Recreation master plan. The city also received $150,000 in grant funds from Trillium Healthcare Resources to buy accessible playground equipment for Robbins Heights Park. As part of the grant agreement, the city also put up $150,000 in matching local funds, to make the total $300,000 for the park improvements at Robbins Heights.

Great Trails State Program

North Carolina established the Great Trails State Program two years ago, including an investment of $25 million.

“The program offers matching grants to North Carolina local governments, public authorities, NC Regional Councils of Government, and nonprofit organizations. These awards include projects at more than 70 local trails throughout the state, helping to solidify North Carolina as the Great Trails State,” a press release said.

Pamela B. Cashwell, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said that trails boost tourism and economic development, benefiting both urban and rural communities.

“This generous funding, made possible by the N.C. General Assembly, will help transform the state trails system in the Great Trails State,” she said in a statement.

The $11 million in grant funding is in addition to over $13 million the governor previously announced for restoring, and creating trails in the western and eastern areas of the state.

Palmer McIntyre, director of the N.C. Great Trails State Coalition, thanked the General Assembly on behalf of the 125 member organizations of the coalition.

“This visionary investment in all types of trails across the state will deliver transformative economic, health, and quality-of-life benefits for communities of all sizes. The Coalition will continue to work alongside N.C. State Parks to support this program,” McIntyre said in a statement.

“The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation received 89 applications requesting $28 million, and 79 projects were selected. More than $44.5 million was provided in matching funds for a total investment exceeding $69.3 million.”