Iredell County Parks and Recreation Department has announced that it will receive an Accessibility for Parks Grant in the amount of $500,000. The funds will be used for the creation of an inclusive playground at Jennings Park on Deitz Road in Statesville. The Iredell County Board of Commissioners have agreed to match $100,000 of the grant, bringing the total funding for the playground to $600,000. On Friday, March 10th, the state Parks and Recreation Authority awarded 9.6 million in park accessibility grants to 21 projects across the state. The funds come from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) and are administered through the NC Division of Parks and Recreation, which is part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The 2021 state budget included $10 million for the PARTF to provide matching grants to local governments for park facilities for children and veterans living with disabilities. Construction on Jennings Park is slated to begin in late spring of 2023. Once completed, the park will provide exceptional recreation space for the citizens of Iredell County for years to come.
