Ashe County Parks and Recreation just received a grant from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation trust fund. Joe Boccardi said his office could not be more excited.

Grants like this one are especially important in rural areas, according to Boccardi. With 25,000 people, Ashe does not generate a large tax base, he said.

Without such a grant, commissioners would have to raise taxes to accomplish such feats.

Commissioners match the $500,000 grant, which will be used to build a tournament complex for baseball fields.