Raleigh’s green spaces are looking to get greener, and citizens are invited to weigh in on the future of Neuse River Park. The City’s Parks department is courting a grant from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), which if successful, could spell a major uplift for the park. You’re all welcome to join a virtual public session on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. that’s designed to rally community support and unpack the details of their pitch to PARTF. Here’s the link to the session, so you can mark your calendars and be part of shaping your city’s recreational future, as per the City of Raleigh.
The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund is a competitive kitty, with its eyes on community benefit, local plan alignments, and the added perk of amplifying public access to North Carolina’s outdoors; winning these funds could mean big things for Neuse River Park. The grant application process is more than a box-ticking exercise—it’s a roadmap for the park’s journey that includes everything from land acquisition sounds great but also building or renovating existing structures, with a keen focus on long-term care and sustainability.
It’s not just about attending and nodding along at the virtual session though. The City’s application will be carving its way through several important meetings in the coming months. First, the cost estimate and final Schematic Design will be up for discussion during the March 24 meeting of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) at Raleigh Municipal Building. This will be followed by a trip to the Parks Committee on April 2, which means setting the stone for the first phase of funding; these sessions are at 6 p.m., in Room 305, for those who like to see the civic sausage being made up close…