Posting Language
Title
Conduct a public hearing and approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for grant funding from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a Recreational Trails Grant in an amount not to exceed $300,000 and authorizing and directing the Director of Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) to act on the City's behalf and work with the TPWD for purposes of the 2026 Recreational Trails Grant. Funding: Funding is available in the Parkland Dedication Fund Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget of Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) to meet the City’s matching requirement of $75,000 ($60,000 in addition to $15,000 in in-kind project management and materials).
De
Lead Department
Austin Parks and Recreation.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Parkland Dedication Fund Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Budget of Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) to meet the City’s matching requirement of $75,000 ($60,000 in addition to $15,000 in in-kind project management and materials).
For More Information:
Suzanne Piper, Chief Administrative Officer, (512) 974-6753; Liana Kallivoka, Assistant Director, (512) 974-9455; Rachel Morris, Capital Improvement Program Manager, (512) 974-9460.
Additional Backup Information:
The 2026 Recreational Trails Grant Program awards Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grant funds for projects that provide publicly accessible recreational trails throughout the State of Texas. TPWD acts as the pass-through entity by partnering with government or nonprofit entities to fund new construction or renovation of recreational trails. Funds can be spent on both motorized and non-motorized publicly accessible recreational trail projects. This grant requires a 20 percent cost share or match of $75,000 on a reimbursement basis. The City is requesting a grant award of $300,000 to partially fund the John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park at Morrison Ranch (Park) Vision Plan Phase Two Implementation project.
City Council approved the Park Vision Plan on October 15, 2020. The 330 acres of parkland bound by FM 969 and the Colorado River were purchased by the APR in 2003, but farming and ranching operations continued on the land until 2016. The TPWD grant will support the implementation for Phase Two, which will provide recreational trails in the Park. Additionally, previously-awarded TPWD grant funds are being utilized to complete the Phase One Implementation project, which will open the park to the public by providing utility services, a safe vehicle access point, parking, picnic areas, a playground, a community walk, a wildflower meadow, and a restroom, as budget allows. The City will provide its $60,000 grant match through Parkland Dedication Funds.
The grant application requires the City to hold a public hearing that complies with the Texas Open Meeting Act. At this hearing, the governing body must pass the resolution authorizing application submission and authorize and direct Jesús Aguirre, Director of Austin Parks and Recreation, to act for the City in working with the TPWD for purposes of the Recreational Trails program. There must be an opportunity for public comment. This item is therefore posted on the Council’s non-consent agenda to ensure the hearing and the opportunity for public comment. As required by TPWD, APR will submit its grant application by February 2, 2026.