Presenter: Tim Hogsett

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Action
Small Community Grants Funding
August 2001

I. Discussion: Texas Parks and Wildlife provides funding assistance for outdoor recreation facilities through the Texas Recreation and Parks Account grant program. In recent years the demand for these funds has dramatically increased, as has the competition for these limited resources. We have heard from a number of smaller Texas communities that this keen competition is a source of frustration when the local need is just for a small amount of money to provide one or two basic recreation facilities. We have introduced a pilot grant program to hopefully address the need to provide basic recreation opportunities in these communities. We are calling this program the Texas Recreation and Parks Account Small Community Grants Program.

The Program provides 50% matching fund, reimbursement grants to eligible local governments of a population of 50,000 or less. The maximum amount that may be applied for per application is $50,000 ($100,000 total project), and only one application per sponsor per review cycle will be accepted. Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of the State of Texas legally responsible for providing public recreation services to their citizens. This includes cities, counties, and some other government entities. In January 2001 the Commission authorized this pilot program, and authorized the set-aside of $ 500,000 from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account for small community grants.

All Small Community Grant Program applications submitted are evaluated for program eligibility and prioritized with the criteria, rating factors and points found in the "Project Priority Scoring System". The priority rank of a project depends on its score in relation to the scores of other projects under consideration. As a pilot program, the staff plans to evaluate the results of the group of applications that were submitted by the April 15, 2001 deadline, and make a proposal for the possible continuation or modification of the program in the future.

This review includes applications from 64 sponsors, requesting $2,280,707 in matching funds for all applications submitted by April 15, 2001. The projects have been scored and ranked in descending order of priority. Exhibit A contains the priority listing with funds requested by the sponsors and funds recommended by staff. Exhibit B contains a discussion of the projects proposed for funding. Exhibit C includes the scoring criteria included in the “Project Priority Scoring System”.

II. Recommendation: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"Funding for projects listed in Exhibit A in the amount of $541,660 is approved, as described for individual projects in Exhibit B.”

Attachments - 4

  1. Exhibit A - Priority Listing
  2. Exhibit B - Discussion of Projects Proposed for Funding (Available upon request)
  3. Exhibit C - Project Priority Scoring System
  4. Exhibit D - Fiscal Note (Available upon request)

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Priority Listing
Local Park Funding Requests
(Descending Order of Priority)

Item No. Score Applicant and Project Requested Recommended Cumulative
1 45 Fabens El Paso County WCID #4 O'Donnell Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $50,000.00
2 45 Hempstead Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $100,000.00
3 44 Charlotte City Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $150,000.00
4 39 Kilgore City Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $200,000.00
5 38 Domino Community Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $250,000.00
6 38 Odem City Park $44,100.00 $44,100.00 $294,100.00
7 37 Poth City Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $344,100.00
8 36 Florence City Park $25,430.00 $26,060.00 $370,160.00
9 35 Taft Hidalgo Park Improvements $21,500.00 $21,500.00 $391,660.00
10 35 Texas City Carver Park Millennium Recreational Pavilion $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $441,660.00
11 34 Lavaca Navidad River Authority Brackenridge Plantation Park $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $491,660.00
12 34 Palacios East Bay & South Bay Parks $50,000.00 $50,000.00 $541,660.00
13 32 Kingsville Neighborhood Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
14 32 Kleberg County Neighborhood Park $46,667.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
15 31 Naples City Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
16 30 Raymondville Park Improvements $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
17 30 Slaton City-County Park & Madden Park $44,600.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
18 29 Jim Hogg County Hebbronville Kohler Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
19 28 Dalhart Airport Softball Complex $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
20 28 Flatonia McWhirter City Park $39,250.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
21 26 Fulshear Frances Smart Park $14,170.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
22 26 Paris Heritage Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
23 26 Pearland Pine Hollow Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
24 26 Rockport Community Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
25 25 Jacksboro Twin Lakes Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
26 25 Mathis Memorial Park $19,758.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
27 25 New London Community Park $12,721.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
28 25 Val Verde County Arteaga Park Renovation $42,788.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
29 24 Keller Big Bear Creek Greenbelt Milestone Trail Expansion $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
30 24 Kemp City Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
31 24 Rockwall Southside Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
32 24 San Augustine County Recreational Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
33 24 Silsbee Exquisette Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
34 23 Copperas Cove Tennis Courts $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
35 23 Forest Hill Griggs Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
36 23 Mount Pleasant Caldwell Park $49,500.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
37 23 Pecos Miniature Golf Course Renovation $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
38 22 Goliad Tennis Courts $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
39 22 San Juan South Nebraska Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
40 22 Willow Park Cross Timbers Park Gardens $20,255.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
41 21 Balch Springs Guy Berry Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
42 21 Turkey Park $16,750.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
43 20 Falls City Veterans Park $15,694.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
44 20 Mertzon City Park $20,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
45 19 Galena Park Playground $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
46 19 Richwood Parks $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
47 19 Tulia Mackenzie Park Trail $32,565.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
48 18 Early Recreation Center $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
49 18 Jefferson Lions Park Playground $42,329.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
50 18 Mansfield Julian Field Park $25,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
51 18 Nederland Doornbos Park $22,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
52 18 Port Lavaca George Adams Park Pavilion $25,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
53 18 Rio Vista Hays Recreational Complex II $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
54 17 Del Rio Camp Del Rio Fields $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
55 17 Fairfield City Park Softball Field $20,625.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
56 17 Newton Caney Creek Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
57 16 Haskell City Park Improvements $25,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
58 16 Schertz Cut-off Park $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
59 15 Pampa Highland Park Bridge $31,500.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
60 14 Sutton County Park Playground $4,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
61 14 Timpson SoSo Park Pavilion $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
62 14 Wise County Park $25,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
63 13 Lake Worth Neighborhood Parks $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
64 10 West University Place Edloe Linear Greenbelt $50,000.00 $0.00 $541,660.00
    TOTAL $2,280,077.00 $541,660.00  

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit C

Project Priority Scoring System
Texas Recreation & Parks Account Small Grants Program

PURPOSE

The "Project Priority Scoring System" identifies criteria used by Texas Parks & Wildlife to evaluate and prioritize grant applications.

PRIORITIES

All TRPA Small Grant Program applications submitted to TPW are evaluated for program eligibility and prioritized with the criteria, rating factors and points shown in the following "Project Priority Scoring System". The priority rank of a project will depend on its score in relation to the scores of other projects under consideration. Funding of projects will depend on the availability of TRPA funds. Projects, which have not been approved after two considerations by the Parks & Wildlife Commission without significant alterations to raise a project score, shall be returned to the sponsor and not reaccepted.

1. Sponsor is in full compliance at previously assisted grant project sites and is progressing on schedule with all active grant projects in accordance with the "Summary of Guidelines for Administration of Local Park Grant Assistance Programs".

YES. If yes, the application will be scored and presented for award consideration.
NO. If no, the application will not be scored or considered further.

2. The extent to which the project will provide a more balanced mix and wider variety of park and recreation opportunities/facilities within the sponsor's jurisdiction, or intended project service area (1-5 points).

Priority points will be awarded based on the number of park and recreation opportunities/facilities provided - 1 point will be awarded for each type of facility, up to 5 points.

Total Range: 1-5 points

3. The extent to which the project will better distribute park and recreation facilities in the project's intended service area or within the sponsor's jurisdiction.

A. Project provides the first park and recreation opportunity in the sponsor's jurisdiction or intended service area (10 points); or

B. Project provides new and different park and recreation opportunity in the sponsor's jurisdiction or intended service area (1-5 points).

Total Range: 1-10 points

4. The extent to which the project maximizes the use of development funds for basic park and recreation opportunities (1-10 points).

Basic Park and Recreational Facilities Costs X (10)

Total Facilities Costs

"Total Facilities Costs" include recreation and support/infrastructure facilities and all required program sign costs in excess of $1,000.

Total Range: 1-10 points

5. The extent to which the project improves park and recreation opportunities for low income, minority, elderly or youth-at-risk citizens.

A. Project improves opportunities for low-income citizens in areas where such action is needed (1-4 points).

B. Project improves opportunities for minority citizens in areas where such action is needed (1-4 points).

C. Project improves opportunities for elderly citizens in areas where such action is needed (1-4 points).

D. Project provides opportunities for youth at-risk citizens where such action is needed (areas and facilities specifically designed or programmed for youth-at-risk) (1-4 points).

Total Range: 1-16 points

6. The extent to which the project involves cooperation between the sponsor and other governmental or educational institutions or private entities to provide park and recreation opportunities at the project site.

A. Project involves the contribution of funds, labor, equipment or materials from other governmental or educational or private sector institutions that serves as all or part of the sponsors matching share of funds (1-10 points).

Priority points awarded on a percentage (%) basis, dependent on the amount of matching funds provided by others.

B. Project involves cooperation between the project sponsor and other governmental or educational institutions whereas resources are contributed to the overall project for non-grant assisted facilities (i.e.: The county constructs roads/parking facilities for the city, but no grant funds are requested for those facilities) (1-5 points).

Total Range: 1-15 points

7. Project provides for the renovation of an existing obsolete park and recreation area or facilities (1-5 points).

Total Range: 1-5 points

8. Project promotes the conservation of natural resources (1-5 points).

Project proposes the use of xeriscape/native plant materials for landscaping, drip or treated effluent irrigation systems, renovation of obsolete lighting systems with more energy efficient systems, recycled materials for facility construction, environmental education and interpretation, significant tree plantings where no trees exist, etc.

Total Range: 1-5 points


Top of Page