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Pittsboro commissioners authorize application for state PARTF grant for Knight Farm Park improvements
Summary
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners voted to let staff apply for a 50/50 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant of up to $500,000 to fund phase work at Knight Farm Park after staff presented concept options and summarized public feedback.
The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners voted April 14 to authorize town staff to apply for the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant and for the mayor to sign required certifications, a step staff said would close a funding gap for planned improvements at Knight Farm Park.
City staff told commissioners the PARTF program provides a 50/50 match and allows requests of up to $500,000, meaning the town’s maximum local match would be $250,000. Staff said the grant would be used for a first phase of improvements at Knight Farm Park and that the town also is pursuing other funding, including a $750,000 community project funding request that would narrow an approximately $800,000 shortfall for the streetscape project.
Why it matters: Town officials said the grant funding would pay for a portion of upgrades that aim to serve a wider range of ages and abilities at Knight Farm Park. Staff presented multiple concept options for the area that will be vacated when the dog park is relocated, including picnic areas, shaded solar-powered seating, a mini multipurpose court, outdoor game features such as a putting green, additional shelters, outdoor exercise equipment, a multipurpose field with a greenway connection, and a small amphitheater.
Staff presentation and community feedback: Parks and recreation staff reported a public information meeting with 26 attendees and 113 survey responses in four days. Staff also reported that an Easter event at the park drew about 77 children and roughly 116 adults. The parks advisory board (PARAB) reviewed the concepts and gave support to the recommended grant application for the area where the current dog park sits, staff said.
Commissioners’ concerns and clarifications: Commissioners asked about site details such as grading and retaining walls to address existing slopes, the relative cost of solar charging benches (staff said they cost roughly three times a standard picnic table), and the timeline for related accessibility improvements (staff said a separate accessibility grant decision is expected in May that could fund pour-in-place surfacing). Staff also said major grading work to relocate the dog park would begin the week after the meeting.
Board action and next steps: A motion to authorize staff to apply for the PARTF grant and for the mayor to sign certification carried unanimously on voice vote. Staff said it will continue public outreach, refine the concept based on survey results and PARAB input, and pursue parallel funding opportunities.
