Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 6
Presenter: Dan Reece
Action
Local Park Grants Funding
Request Approval of Proposed Funding Recommendations
January 25, 2024
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 $13,682,079 from the LWCF; $1,299,410 from the Urban Parks Account; and $5,698,494 from the TRPA. Staff also anticipates that TPWD may receive additional LWCF funds that could be applied to these grants.
As of August 1, 2023, TPWD received 79 applications from eligible entities requesting $39,101,653 in matching fund assistance for their projects. Staff recommends granting support for projects in the amount of $20,679,983. 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: Staff recommends that the Commission adopt the following motions:
Motion 1: “Funding for projects listed in Exhibits A through C in the amount of $20,679,983 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. 6
Exhibit A
| Rank | Score | Applicant | Project Name | Request | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83 | San Antonio | Cassiano Park | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
| 2 | 75 | Fort Worth | Sycamore Park | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
| 3 | 70 | Dallas | Community Park at Fair Park | $1,299,410 | $1,299,410 |
| 4 | 68 | Austin | Walter E. Long Metro Park | $1,500,000 | |
| 5 | 65 | Hidalgo County | Butterfly Landing | $166,212 | |
| Totals | $5,965,622 | $4,299,410 |
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit B
| Rank | Score | Applicant | Project Name | Request | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85 | North Houston District | Wussow Park | $455,013 | $455,013 |
| 2 | 82 | Cameron County | Santa Maria Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 3 | 75 | Del Rio | All Inclusive Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 3 | 75 | Schertz | Hilltop Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 5 | 74 | Denton | Briercliff Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 5 | 74 | Missouri City | Sta-Mo Sports Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 7 | 71 | Cuero | Municipal Park | $249,066 | $249,066 |
| 7 | 71 | Highland Village | Pilot Knoll Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 9 | 70 | Yoakum | City Park II | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 9 | 70 | Pasadena | Preston Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 11 | 69 | Mount Houston Road MUD | Playground Improvements | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 12 | 68 | Farmersville | Farmersville Prairie | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 12 | 68 | Terrell | King's Creek Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 14 | 65 | Brownwood | Riverside Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 14 | 65 | Marble Falls | Park View Park | $726,207 | $726,207 |
| 16 | 64 | Harker Heights | Kern Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 16 | 64 | Caddo Mills | Hooten Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 16 | 64 | Sulphur Springs | Buford Park | $535,500 | $535,500 |
| 19 | 62 | Brownfield | Gillham-Howell Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 20 | 61 | Converse | Pool Improvements | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| 21 | 60 | Harlingen | Victor Park | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 21 | 60 | Dimmitt | Splash Park | $317,500 | $317,500 |
| 23 | 58 | Val Verde County | Outdoor Recreational Park | $750,000 | |
| 23 | 58 | League City | Bay Colony Park | $750,000 | |
| 23 | 58 | Webb County | Colonia Splash Pads | $585,000 | |
| 26 | 56 | Gilmer | City Park | $750,000 | |
| 27 | 53 | Cleburne | Kirtley Park | $750,000 | |
| 27 | 53 | Pearsall | Victor Trevino Sports Complex | $735,500 | |
| 27 | 53 | Graham | Salt Creek Park | $500,000 | |
| 30 | 52 | Pleasanton | Sports Complex I | $371,000 | |
| 30 | 52 | Plainview | Regional Park | $750,000 | |
| 30 | 52 | Brazoria County | Surfside Jetty Park | $451,302 | |
| 33 | 51 | Springtown | Springtown Park | $750,000 | |
| 34 | 48 | Cisco | Cisco Family Park | $750,000 | |
| 34 | 48 | Liberty Hill | Heart of the Park | $750,000 | |
| 36 | 47 | Dimmit County | Youth Sports Complex | $749,375 | |
| 37 | 45 | Chandler | Winchester Park Splash Pad | $183,456 | |
| 37 | 45 | Castroville | Regional & Lions Park | $738,850 | |
| 39 | 43 | Hutto | Fritz Park | $750,000 | |
| 39 | 43 | Frio County | Recreational Park | $559,138 | |
| 39 | 43 | Portland | Violet Andrews Park | $750,000 | |
| 42 | 42 | Chambers County | McCollum Park Expansion | $750,000 | |
| 43 | 40 | Cibolo | Tolle Nature Center | $507,691 | |
| 44 | 32 | Timberlane Utility District | Enhancements on Multiple Parks | $750,000 | |
| 45 | 28 | Premont | Minnie's Waterpark | $348,600 | |
| 46 | 25 | San Juan | Northside Park | $750,000 | |
| Totals | $29,888,198 | $14,408,286 |
Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Exhibit C
| Rank | Score | Applicant | Project Name | Request | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82 | Laguna Vista | Roloff Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 2 | 73 | Alvarado | All-Abilities Splash Pad | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 3 | 70 | Floydada | Floydada Skatepark | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 4 | 69 | Jacksonville | Lincoln Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 5 | 67 | Amherst | City Park | $41,059 | $41,059 |
| 6 | 65 | Bellmead | Brame Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 6 | 65 | Fritch | Community Park | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 6 | 65 | Creedmoor | City Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 9 | 61 | Friona | Splashpad Project | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 10 | 60 | Nederland | Doornbos Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 11 | 58 | Jeff Davis County | Jeff Davis County Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 12 | 57 | Ransom Canyon | Warner- Jones Park | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 13 | 56 | Cumby | Blackjack Grove Park | $50,090 | $50,090 |
| 14 | 53 | Falls County | Falls on the Brazos | $147,975 | $147,975 |
| 14 | 53 | Lucas | Forest Creek Park | $118,163 | $118,163 |
| 16 | 52 | Gunter | Park Pavilion | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| 17 | 49 | Fate | Joe Burger Park II | $150,000 | |
| 18 | 45 | Windcrest | Brook Falls Park Reno | $44,587 | |
| 19 | 44 | Bridgeport | Harwood Park - Phase 3 | $149,750 | |
| 19 | 44 | Cross Plains | Butterfly Garden | $100,000 | |
| 19 | 44 | Robstown | Playground Equipment | $25,000 | |
| 22 | 43 | Teague | City Park Splash Pad | $150,000 | |
| 23 | 41 | Refugio County | Bonnie View Park | $135,733 | |
| 22 | 41 | Sudan | Sudan Splashpad | $77,561 | |
| 25 | 40 | Mont Enterprise | Playground Improvements | $150,000 | |
| 25 | 40 | Schulenburg | Sports Complex | $150,000 | |
| 27 | 37 | Linden | City Park | $50,415 | |
| 28 | 35 | Bandera | Disc Golf Course & Restroom Facilities | $25,000 | |
| Totals | $3,180,333 | $1,972,287 |