News

Mills River wins $500,000 park grant

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 11, 2024

The Town of Mills River has won a $500,000 state recreation grant to help fund a major park expansion that involves walking trails, a regional greenway connection, two full-size sports fields, six pickleball courts and more, the town announced.

The town's grant request, one of 46 local parks and recreation projects to be funded across North Carolina through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, received the highest score among all submissions and was ranked as the top priority for funding.
“This was a highly competitive grant cycle, and the outstanding support and hard work of town staff, the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Advisory Board, and the Town Council were clearly reflected in the ranking of [the Mills River Park Expansion] project.,” Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Sweat said.
The $500,000 grant award will help offset funds spent acquiring the property for the park expansion. The park master plan envisions:

• Approximately 1.85 miles of paved trail and a half mile of natural surface trail
• Bike skills area and trails
• Regional Greenway Connection along Haywood Road
• Expanded play and splash pad
• Mini disc golf course
• Fitness Zone
• Six pickleball courts
• Two full-size multi-purpose fields
• Batting cage
• Sand volleyball
• A relocated maintenance area
• Multi-purpose pavilion
• Two restrooms
• Three shelters
• Expanded community garden area
• Expanded river access
• Stream restoration and stormwater wetland education