PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution and the submission of an application to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 2022 Recreational Trail Grant Program for the provision of funding for the Alligator Creek project, and authorization for the City Manager to accept funds and to execute all contract documents associated with the grant, if awarded.
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DEPARTMENT: Parks
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The New Braunfels City Council strategic priorities include using a variety of funding sources for operational and capital needs such as the National Recreational Trails Fund, administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This is a federally funded program for which reimbursable grants can be up to 80% of project cost with a maximum of $300,000 for non-motorized trail grants. If approved by Council, staff will submit a grant application on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) to the TPWD 2022 Recreational Trail Grant Program to provide funding for a portion of the West Alligator Creek Trail (WACT).
A draft preliminary design was completed for the aforementioned trail in December 2021 and will be presented to City Council in February 2022. The preliminary design for the trail includes park improvements such as benches, a pavilion, parking, disc golf, landscaping, and a trailhead. If awarded, the grant funds will be used to pay for a portion of the trail (phase 2), approximately 0.68 miles. The 20% local match requirement is eligible to be met with the value of the 46-acre greenbelt currently owned by the New Braunfels Parks Foundation. The Foundation is holding the land in trust for the city for development as a future park.
The WACT trail segment is supported by staff of the Great Springs Project, a proposed trail corridor connecting four of Texas Great Springs: Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs and San Antonio Springs. Great Springs Project staff has volunteered to assist with submission of the grant application.
The grant submission deadline is February 1, 2022. If approved by TPWD, the grant award is anticipated to be announced by June 2022.
ISSUE:
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff will request a total grant award amount of $300,000; matching funds of 20% will be supported by the value of 46 acres of private land to be dedicated to the City.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution and the submission of an application to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 2022 Recreational Trail Grant Program for the provision of funding for the Alligator Creek project, and authorization for the City Manager to accept funds and to execute all contract documents associated with the grant, if awarded.