North Carolina is putting its money where its trails are, with Governor Josh Stein having recently announced a $2.6 million investment in trail projects for the eastern part of the state. As reported by the Governor's Office news release, the funding is part of the larger Great Trails State Program initiative, aimed at developing and restoring a plethora of local trails.
Calling Eastern North Carolina one of "our state’s greatest assets" and a draw for tourism, Governor Stein, claims the funds will bolster both quality of life and economic vitality. Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Pamela B. Cashwell, echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the investment will notably transform the state's trail system. A total of 10 local trail projects in Eastern North Carolina will benefit from this generous slice of funding, embracing diverse activities from designing multi-use paths to enhancing boardwalks, as per the Governor's Office.
The money comes from a historic investment in trails by the North Carolina General Assembly, which kickstarted the Great Trails State Program in 2023 with a $25 million budget. A variety of organizations including local governments, public authorities, and nonprofits are matched with grants from this program, aimed at fostering a wide range of trail-related activities—be it planning, land acquisition, or construction and maintenance.
It's not just Eastern North Carolina getting a piece of the action. Just last week, Governor Stein announced an additional $11 million allocated for Western North Carolina trails, according to the Governor's Office news release. The cash injection spans over 70 local trails statewide, with the goal of solidifying North Carolina's reputation as the Great Trails State. Palmer McIntyre, leading the Great Trails State Coalition, expressed gratitude to the General Assembly for their "visionary investment," pledging coalition support to keep the momentum going.
Diving into specifics, grants for Eastern North Carolina trail endeavors range from a $100,000 design project for the South Croatan Highway in Dare County to a half-million-dollar redevelopment project in New Hanover County's Greenfield Park. Over 80 grant applications were pitched to the Division of Parks and Recreation, with a selection of 79 projects now set to move forward. In terms of raw numbers, the state's investment, matched with over $44.5 million in local funding, will catapult total trail-related investment past the $69 million mark.
Through this investment in the Great Trails State Program, the Tar Heel State is clearly aiming to stretch its legs—fostering a healthier, more connected, and economically boosted community in the process. And for those communities listed, from the City of Greenville's boardwalk ambitions to Elizabeth City's blueways explorations, the future just got a little greener and a lot more trail-laden.
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