Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The town of Stanfield recently received a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant for the renovation and expansion of Pete Henkel Park.

Town Administrator Bridgette Helms shared the good news during the Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday night.

“We finally got it this year,” she told the commissioners. “The third year is the charm.”

The town had unsuccessfully applied for the grant the past two years.

Helms said she was on vacation when she anxiously dialed in to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Authority meeting on Sept. 18 to hear the announcement of the PARTF grant recipients.

“About 10 projects were named before I heard ‘Town of Stanfield’ and I was so excited,” she said. “All employees, boards, the school and the community assisted in the application process and we all win because of our teamwork.”

Pete Henkel Park, located at 100 Park Dr., is currently 14.5 acres.

The total amount of the project is $425,000, half of which will come from the grant. The most expensive costs include $117,000 for the acquisition of nine acres of land (priced at $13,000 an acre), $56,000 for improvements to the ball field, $47,500 to renovate playgrounds, $42,000 to pave an ADA-accessible walking path and $41,000 for concession stand renovations.

Helms said within the next two weeks, the state officials will contact the town regarding what the process will be to get started with the project.

The three-year plan for phase 1 of the park improvements will begin fiscal year 2020-2021 and run through fiscal year 2022-2023.

The following is a run-down of projected costs for the next three years:

FY 2020-2021

• $2,500 to update electrical and plumbing for concession stand and relocate field light box
• $4,000 to update concession stand windows and entry doors
• $15,000 for a new one-stall restroom
• $5,000 to add natural trails on the other side of Rock Hole Creek
• $3,000 to add a covered grill at each of the three picnic shelters
• $1,500 to install park directional signs throughout the town

Total cost would be $31,000.

FY 2021-2022

• $10,000 to pave walkways around concession stand
• $24,500 for five feet by six feet additions to each concession stand restroom
• $27,500 for playground for children ages 2-12
• $20,000 for playground for children ages 2-5
• $20,000 for adult fitness equipment
• $8,000 for mulch and timber
• $3,000 for site preparation
• $2,000 for horseshoe pits
• $3,000 for permanent corn hole
• $500 to add distance signs for walking trails

Total cost would be $118,500.

FY 2022-2023

• $6,000 for new bleachers at field #1 and field #3
• $25,000 for site prep, drainage repair and bleacher wall
• $5,000 to repair ball field scoreboards
• $20,000 to replace or widen concrete stairs and rail
• $17,500 for 9-hole disc golf course
• $42,000 to pave outfield circle for track/ADA signs

Total cost would be $115,500.

Since 1994, the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) has awarded matching grants to local governments for parks, public beach access and improvements in state parks, according to the NC Parks website.

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund awarded nearly $5 million in grants to fund 16 local parks and recreation projects across the state.

In other news:

• Commissioners passed a motion to allow food trucks to operate as part of the town’s table of use regulations. The town’s zoning ordinances previously had no information about food trucks operating in the city, said Commissioner James Kluttz, who is in charge of reporting about planning and zoning. He said food trucks have already expressed interest about coming to Stanfield.
• The police will install trail or deer cameras on a temporary, as-needed basis around the town whenever certain incidents arise.
• Sidewalks will be constructed on the west side of N.C. Highway 200, from North Love Chapel Road to Locust City Limits in the coming years. Helms told the commissioners that NCDOT and the Town of Stanfield will hold a pre-construction meeting soon to gather input from both sides and finalize the plan. It will be a three-year project and the total cost is projected to be $630,000, though the town will be receiving a $500,000 grant.
• Schools supplies are being collected at the town hall and for Stanfield residents voting on Election Day will be held at Stanfield Elementary School gym. Early voting, which lasts from Oct. 15 to Oct. 31, will be at the Joel Huneycutt Community Room in the Locust Town Hall. Sample ballots are available at town hall.