Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Parks and Recreation Department Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to accept and appropriate $1,500,000 in grant funds from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Local Park grant program for Phase I of the Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park improvement project. Funding: $1,500,000 is available from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. A City funding match of $1,500,000 is also required and available in Capital Budget of the Parks and Recreation Department.
De
Lead Department
Parks and Recreation Department.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $1,500,000 is available from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Local Park grant program. A City funding match of $1,500,000 is also required and is available in the Capital Budget of the Parks and Recreation Department. A fiscal note is attached.
Prior Council Action:
August 14, 2024 - Council approved Ordinance No. 20240814-007 adopting the City Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, beginning on October 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025. The Budget appropriated $1,500,000 to the Parks and Recreation Department Capital Budget for the Texas Parks and Recreation Department Local Park grant award.
July 20, 2023 - Council conducted a public hearing and approved Resolution No. 20230720-157 authorizing and directing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to act on the City's behalf in working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in connection with the Local Park Grant Program and to apply for a Local Park Grant of up to $1,500,000, to be matched by the City, to partially fund the cost of the Walter E. Long Metro Park improvement project. The resolution was approved on a 10-0 vote with Council Member Fuentes absent.
For More Information:
Liana Kallivoka, Assistant Director, (512) 974-9455; Rachel Morris, Capital Improvement Program Manager, (512) 974-9460; Tim Dombeck, Business Process Specialist, (512) 974-6716.
Additional Backup Information:
The TPWD Local Park Grant Program (Program) consists of five individual grant programs that assist local units of government with the acquisition and/or development of public recreation areas and facilities throughout the State by providing fifty percent matching grants on a reimbursement basis to eligible applicants. All grant-assisted sites must be dedicated as parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained, and open to the public. Funding for these programs comes from a portion of the State sales tax on sporting goods through the Texas Recreation and Parks Account, the Texas Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks Account, and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. The source of project funding varies from year to year; for fiscal year 2024-2025, the City requested a grant award of $1,500,000 through the Local Park Urban Outdoor Recreation program.
In October 2020, City Council adopted the Walter E. Long Metro Park Vision Plan, which provides a phased vision for the park’s rehabilitation and development. The current phase will rehabilitate the existing restroom, improve existing roads and vehicle connectivity throughout the lakeside area, and provide for a nature trail. Other amenities, such as a playground, will be included as funding allows. The City will provide its grant match from 2018 General Obligation Bond Proposition C funding. Gate entry fee revenue will also contribute to the project.
The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget appropriated $1,500,000 to the Parks and Recreation Department Capital Budget for the Texas Parks and Recreation Department Local Park grant award, but it did not include the award in the grants section of the Document. This action will complete the budgeting process for the grant by accepting and appropriating the $1,500,000 grant to the Parks and Recreation Department Special Revenue fund.
The General Fund will not be required to contribute additional funds beyond those currently budgeted to this grant. When the grant funds expire, the department's need for continued funding will be evaluated and may be denied.
.