October 10, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
CITY OF LOWELL RECEIVES A SECOND $500,000 GRANT FOR HAROLD PARK REVITALIZATION
LOWELL, N.C. – The City of Lowell has received a $500,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF.) This is the second of two grants the City of Lowell has received in the past two months, totaling $1,000,000 for the Harold Rankin Park revitalization project. The first of the two $500,000 grants was awarded by the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF.) Both the LWCF and the PARTF grants require a 50/50 match however, these two grants match each other, with no match requirement on behalf of the City of Lowell.
About the Project
Harold Rankin Park is the most used recreational facility within the City of Lowell. The property is owned by the City and has served the community as a park since 1978. Harold Rankin Park is approximately 7-acres and features 2 baseball fields, a concessions/restrooms building, playground, basketball court, picnic shelter, exercise equipment, and a walking track.
Following several public input meetings and surveys in 2021 and 2022, a site-specific Master Plan was developed for Harold Rankin Park. The Master Plan will be implemented in a series of phases, as funding is available or secured.
Phase 1 of the project includes upgraded restroom facilities, a nature trail, pickleball courts, bocce courts, a new half-court basketball court, conversion of land to a multi-purpose field, and a playground expansion with upgrades. The playground will be designed to be universally inclusive and the restroom facility will be ADA / ABA compliant.
Future improvements will include: ballfield bleachers, ballfield dugouts, ballfield fencing, batting cage, parking and access improvements, paving and relocation of northern entry drive, a new concessions/restroom building, and an additional shelter.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. The fund helps strengthen communities, preserve history and protect the national endowment of lands and waters. Since its inception in 1965, LWCF has funded $5.2 billion to support more than 45,000 projects in every county in the country.
On August 4, 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was signed into law, authorizing $900 million annually in permanent funding for LWCF. Prior to the passage of GAOA, funding for LWCF relied on annual congressional appropriations.
At no cost to taxpayers, the LWCF supports increased public access to and protection for federal public lands and waters — including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and recreation areas — and provides matching grants to state governments for the acquisition and development of public parks and other outdoor recreation sites.
Contact: Scott Attaway, City Manager; 704-824-3518; sattaway@lowellnc.com
