Pender County receives $500,000 grant for Abbey Nature Preserve improvements
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Pender County has been awarded a $500,000 grant to support improvements at the Abbey Nature Preserve Trailhead.
The funding comes through the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, or PARTF. Gov. Josh Stein announced the grant Sept. 3 as part of more than $9.8 million awarded to 25 local parks and recreation projects across the state.
The Parks and Recreation Authority approved the grant recipients during its Aug. 28 meeting.
The $500,000 award is the maximum grant amount available for a single PARTF project and requires a dollar-for-dollar local match.
The Abbey Nature Preserve Trailhead project is designed to improve public access and create a gateway for visitors to enjoy hiking, nature-based recreation and exploration.
Planned improvements include:
- A nature-themed playground
- A picnic shelter
- Restrooms
- Educational signage
- Native landscaping
- A connector trail from the trailhead parking area to the preserve’s existing natural-surface trail network
Pender County Parks and Recreation Director Zach White said the funding will help expand opportunities for recreation, education and conservation. “This grant is a tremendous investment in Pender County and a significant win for the future of outdoor recreation in our community,” White said.
White said Abbey Nature Preserve is an important natural resource and that the improvements will make it more accessible to residents and visitors.
Pender County Manager Colby W. Sawyer said investments in parks and natural areas benefit the broader community. “They provide places for people to connect with nature, promote healthy lifestyles and contribute to the quality of life that makes Pender County such a special place,” Sawyer said.
The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is administered by North Carolina State Parks, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The program provides funding to local governments for land acquisition, new recreation facilities and improvements to existing parks and recreational facilities.
