FINANCING THE PROJECTS

Financing for public recreation is dependent on conventional methods such as general obligation bonds and general revenues including property and sales taxes. User fees can help defray operating costs, but cannot be expected to amortize capital expenditures.

The N.C. General Assembly established the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) in 1993 to provide funding for the state parks system, local park and recreation projects, and coastal beach access programs. It is anticipated that approximately $5 million will be available for local projects this fiscal year, with a $250,000 maximum on individual grants. State funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar with local revenues. This is an excellent source of funding.

The Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund administered by the State has minor matching grant funds available from time to time for outdoor recreation projects.

Impact fees have been used successfully in several western states. These fees are imposed on new developments to help defray the cost of bringing municipal services on line. The Town of Apex has recently adopted such a fee for recreation. Alternately, Hickory's land dedication ordinance will continue to produce revenues or land areas which can be brought into the parks system.

Several local governments have established not-for-profit foundations to encourage donations to the system. Foundations, businesses and individuals seem more comfortable giving to a foundation rather than directly to the City.

After the Foundation is created, a gifts catalog of desired improvements should be prepared. The catalog should list, and preferably illustrate, each desired improvement along with its cost. A system for recognizing donors or honorees should be created; gift acknowledgment cards, etc.

Items to be included in the gifts catalog should have donor appeal. Some examples are park benches, special purpose room, memorial trees, walks, landscaped areas and picnic shelters.

A companion program is the Adopt-a-Park program, where agencies or groups contribute time or money to help maintain or improve an area. As an example, a civic club or garden club might adopt a landscaping project. Variations include Adopt-a-Shelter and memorial tree programs.

Once the initial investment is recouped, revenues generated from L. P. Frans Stadium could be directed to parks and recreation capital projects.