Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 1
Presenter: Dan Reece
Action
Local Park Grants Funding
Request Approval of Proposed Funding Recommendations
January 26, 2023
I. Executive Summary: Staff seeks approval of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) local park grants funding recommendations. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program, the Texas Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks Account (Urban Parks Account), and the Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA) provide matching grants to local governments for the acquisition and/or development of public parkland and recreation facilities.
II. Discussion: TPWD makes available Urban Outdoor, Non-Urban Outdoor, and Small Community Recreation Grants to local governments in Texas, based on population size, for the acquisition and/or development of public parkland. Funds available include $7,254,597 from the LWCF; $1,500,000 from the Urban Parks Account; and $1,142,582 from the TRPA. Staff also anticipates that TPWD may receive additional LWCF funds that could be applied to these grants.
As of August 1, 2022, TPWD received 52 applications from eligible entities requesting $25,786,634 in matching fund assistance for their projects. Staff recommends granting support for projects in the amount of $9,897,179. Staff also recommends granting additional support from any additional LWCF funds that are made available to TPWD in the current fiscal year.
Exhibits A through C show the projects for each grant type ranked in descending order based on each grant program’s scoring criteria, as previously adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission).
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends that the Commission adopt the following motions:
Motion 1: “Funding for projects listed in Exhibits A through C in the amount of $9,897,179 is approved.”
Motion 2: “Funding for projects listed in Exhibits A through C is approved in the amount of additional LWCF funding that is made available in the current fiscal year.”
Attachments – 3
Commission Agenda Item No. 1
Exhibit A
| Rank | Score | Applicant | Project Name | Request | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 79 | El Paso County | Horizon View Park | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
| 2 | 64 | Fort Worth | Sycamore Park | $1,500,000 | |
| 3 | 56 | San Antonio | Normoyle Regional Park | $1,500,000 | |
| Totals | $4,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
Commission Agenda Item No. 1
Exhibit B
| Rank | Score | Applicant | Project Name | Request | Recommendation |
| 1 | 85 | Cameron County | Bejarano-McFarland Memorial Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 2 | 79 | Port Isabel | Laguna Madre Park II | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 3 | 73 | Denton | Bowling Green Park | $598,532 | $598,532 |
| 4 | 69 | Missouri City | Freedom Tree Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 5 | 68 | Little Elm | Little Elm Park Campground Improvements | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 6 | 64 | Bedford | Boys Ranch Park III | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 7 | 64 | Laredo | Riverbend Trails Project | $656,065 | $656,065 |
| 8 | 63 | Kaufman | Kings Fort Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 9 | 63 | Mansfield | James McKnight Park West | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 10 | 62 | Belton | Community Park at the Historic Water Standpipe | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 11 | 61 | Cleburne | Don Moore Field at Hulen Park | $750,000 | |
| 12 | 60 | Pasadena | Preston Park | $750,000 | |
| 13 | 59 | Conroe | Oscar Johnson, Jr. Community Center Mini-Park | $749,756 | |
| 14 | 59 | Marshall | T & P Pond Park | $250,000 | |
| 15 | 57 | Gilmer | City Park | $750,000 | |
| 16 | 57 | Plainview | Regional Park Baseball/Softball Athletic Complex | $750,000 | |
| 17 | 55 | Val Verde County | Cienegas - Chaparral Colonia Precinct 4 Park | $750,000 | |
| 18 | 50 | Palmview | Palmview Nature Center and Trail System at Pixie Preserve | $684,570 | |
| 19 | 50 | Tahoka | City Park Updates | $375,000 | |
| 20 | 47 | Tyler | W.E. Winters Park | $249,744 | |
| 21 | 46 | Springtown | Springtown Park - Splashpad & Play | $750,000 | |
| 22 | 45 | Floresville | Floresville Pickleball Court Project | $222,826 | |
| 23 | 44 | Cuero | Cuero Municipal Park | $396,850 | |
| 24 | 44 | Highland Village | Pilot Knoll Park Project | $750,000 | |
| 25 | 41 | Graham | Graham Park Improvements II | $500,000 | |
| 26 | 40 | Nueces County | Bob Hall Pier Improvements | $750,000 | |
| 27 | 38 | Big Spring | Comanche Trail Park | $91,009 | |
| 28 | 38 | La Marque | Mahan Park Baseball Field Renovations | $168,000 | |
| 29 | 38 | Weslaco | Weslaco Swimming Pool | $750,000 | |
| 30 | 38 | White River MUD | Justin McCormick Memorial Park | $340,075 | |
| 31 | 25 | Beaumont | Central Park | $375,000 | |
| 32 | 24 | San Juan | Northside Park | $750,000 | |
| Totals | $19,157,427 | $7,254,597 |
Commission Agenda Item No. 1
Exhibit C
| Rank | Score | Applicant | Project Name | Request | Recommendation |
| 1 | 77 | Nolanville | Fox Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 2 | 71 | Quinlan | Quinlan Community Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 3 | 68 | Newark | Delora Doughty Royal Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 4 | 66 | Marion | Marion City Park | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| 5 | 66 | Reno | Reno Kiwanis Park All-Inclusive Playground | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 6 | 64 | Bullard | Bullard Kid's Park - All Inclusive Addition | $110,082 | $110,082 |
| 7 | 62 | Hughes Springs | Hughes Springs Recreational Complex | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 8 | 61 | Hempstead | Hempstead City Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 9 | 56 | Charlotte | Charlotte Baseball Field Project | $82,500 | $82,500 |
| 10 | 53 | Falls County | Falls on the Brazos Park | $150,000 | |
| 11 | 47 | Scurry County | Deep Creek Park Project | $150,000 | |
| 12 | 43 | Bridgeport | Harwood Park - Phase 3 | $146,456 | |
| 13 | 40 | South Padre Island | South Padre Island Pickleball Park Phase II | $150,000 | |
| 14 | 40 | Rusk | Conley Park | $25,000 | |
| 15 | 40 | Creedmoor | Creedmoor City Park | $150,000 | |
| 16 | 37 | Floydada | Floydada City Skate Park | $75,000 | |
| 17 | 30 | Littlefield | Laguna Park | $140,169 | |
| Totals | $2,129,207 | $1,142,582 |