Presenter: Tim Hogsett

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Action
Regional Park Grant Funding
August 2004

I. Executive Summary: Make grants from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to three Texas local governments for acquisition and development of outdoor recreation sites from the Regional Park Grant Program. As of January 31, 2004 TPWD received five applications requesting $9,408,500 in matching fund assistance. Staff is recommending support of three projects in the amount of $4,425,713.

II. Discussion: Regional Park Grants: The Seventy-sixth session of the Texas Legislature authorized the creation of a regional park grant program to be funded through the Texas Recreation and Parks Account. The program is designed to support multi-jurisdictional projects of regional significance in Texas' metropolitan areas. Projects proposing intensive use recreation and/or regional conservation and recreation are eligible to request matching funds.

Funds available include $2,517,213 from the Fiscal Year 2005 Texas Recreation and Parks Account and $1,908,500 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

This review includes applications from five sponsors requesting $9,408,500 in matching funds for all applications submitted by January 31, 2004. The projects have been ranked in descending order of priority. Exhibit A contains the priority listing with funds requested by the sponsors and funds recommended by staff.

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

"Funding for three projects listed in Exhibit A in the amount of $4,425,713 is approved."