The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) announced today that it is partnering with the Town of Canton on the downtown Canton Recreation Park. The $100,000 investment from DNCR will help fund an inclusive playground at the 10.5-acre park with accessible, all-abilities features, including wheelchair access, braille signage, American Sign Language and sensory features.
“This partnership demonstrates the Cooper administration’s continued commitment to assisting the people of Canton and Haywood County during challenging times,” said DNCR Secretary Reid Wilson. “Outdoor recreation and play should be accessible to people of all abilities and this new playground will help fulfill that need for the area.”
"The Town of Canton is incredibly grateful to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for the generous grant to fund the new Canton All-Abilities Playground,” said Canton Town Manager Nick Scheuer. “Our town has been through substantial tragedy and turmoil over the last few years and the addition of a vibrant, accessible, safe space for children of all abilities to play will be transformational for our community. This is a legacy project that will serve thousands of families and we are thrilled to bring this dream to fruition."
Canton’s only playground was demolished during Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. This funding will go toward the total project cost of $600,000.
Earlier this year, DNCR partnered with the Town of Canton on Chestnut Mountain Nature Park. The park, which is on nearly 450 acres one mile east of Canton, features both hiking and biking trails at the former logging site. The $145,000 investment from DNCR will help complete the park’s final three trails and children’s bicycle playground.
On March 6, Pactiv-Evergreen announced plans to shut down the paper mill in Canton and substantially reduce operations at its facility in nearby Waynesville. These actions have resulted in almost 1,100 employees losing their jobs. The Canton mill had been in operation for more than a century and was the largest employer in Haywood County. For the Governor’s Administration Canton resources, visit: https://governor.nc.gov/canton-paper-mill-closure-information-resources
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the North Carolina Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov/.