Haaland, Cooper Celebrate Money for Parks in North Carolina

Last week, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland joined NC Gov. Roy Cooper at an event to celebrate new federal and state investments in North Carolina state and local parks.

Haaland announced over $16 million in federal grants to build new urban parks and trails and improve existing ones in North Carolina.She noted that the grants would particularly benefit disadvantaged low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, which research shows often have fewer parks and green spaces than wealthier communities.

“Not everyone has the same access to nature,” said Haaland. “It’s why we are committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, their zip code, what is in their bank account, can enjoy the benefits of the outdoors.” 

Cooper Celebrates Legacy

At the Walnut Creek Wetland Park in Raleigh, Cooper highlighted his executive orders to restore wetlands, forests, and other natural areas, and to implement a comprehensive approach to environmental justice for disadvantaged communities. He said that such orders combined with federal and state funding for parks will help close the gap in access to nature and green space.

Cooper last week also announced $17.9 million in grants from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to fund 46 local parks and recreation projects across the state. In his speech, Cooper said, “These awards through [PARTF] and the Accessible Parks Grant will bring tremendous impact to communities across North Carolina by providing more parks, more trails and more accessible recreation.”

We commend these leaders for their tireless work, and urge our future leaders to build upon this legacy.