Southern Pines council approves application for $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant for Whitehall perimeter trail

Southern Pines Mayor Clement and the town council authorized staff to submit an application to the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for construction of the Whitehall Perimeter Trail.

Town Manager Parsons told the council the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund application is due May 1 and that the grant would be for $500,000. Parsons said the town’s commitment—if the grant is awarded—would be to provide matching funds within three years of award, giving the town time to set aside or secure those funds.

The authorization took the form of a council motion to permit submission of the application on behalf of the town’s parks and recreation staff. A council member moved the motion and another seconded; the mayor called for a voice vote and the chair declared the motion carried after members answered “Aye.” Manager Parsons asked the mover to sign the necessary paperwork after the meeting.

Why it matters: the proposed Whitehall Perimeter Trail would be ADA-accessible and is included in the town’s Whitehall master plan; town staff said the trail would also support controlled-burn management at the Whitehall site. Parsons said the match requirement would be triggered only if the town is awarded the grant and that the three-year window is intended to give the town flexibility to identify matching sources.

What’s next: staff will complete and submit the PRTF application by the May 1 deadline. If the town is awarded the grant, council will later consider specific budget adjustments or funding strategies to provide the required match within the stated three-year period.