Editor

SHOALS — Plans for a major expansion of the Shoals Community Recreation Center got a major boost last week when state officials awarded Surry County $477,000 for the project.

Surry County was one of 34 local governments across the state that received nearly $13 million in grants from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The matching grants help pay for land acquisition, development and renovation of park and recreation areas. The $477,000 state grant will help pay for an additional 87 acres in Shoals that will bring the park's total size to about 100 acres. Plans call for softball fields, a disc golf course, hiking trails, playground renovations, multi-purpose fields and concession and restroom buildings.

The Shoals Community Trust — which raised the money to purchase the adjoining tract to the 13-acre recreation center — agreed to donate the land so the county could apply for a $500,000 parks and recreation trust fund grant.

State recreation officials considered 89 grant applications requesting more than $27 million.

The Shoals park is in southeastern Surry County near the Yadkin River and the Surry/Yadkin county lines.