PRESENTER: Presenter
Jennifer Gates, Grants Coordinator
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a ratification of the submission of an application to the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2021 Niagara ‘Perk Your Park’ Contest; authorization for the City Manager to accept funds and execute all contract documents associated with the grant; and the appropriate budget amendment.
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DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
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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. Therefore, Staff submitted an application to participate in the 2021 Niagara ‘Perk Your Park’ Contest funded by Niagara Bottling in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for improvements to Fischer Park. After a competitive voting process by the public, Fischer Park was selected as one of two winning national projects in October 2021. Therefore, Staff is requesting City Council approval for the ratification of the application, authorization for the City Manager to accept funds and to execute all contract documents associated with the award of the grant, and approval of the appropriate budget amendment.
The funding that has been awarded to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department will provide improvements to Fischer Park by supporting the creation of the Blackland Prairie trails and connection to the “enchanted forest” nature play area. It will include walking trail in both the prairie and enchanted forest, complete restoration work to balance the urban forest, increase tree canopy and improve wildlife habitat. It will also provide formal nature play activities for kids such as fallen logs, tree stumps, boulders, and other natural elements. The project will be completed no later than December 31, 2022.
The total grant award amount is $90,000 and does not have a City match requirement. In addition to the requested approval for the acceptance of the grant award, Staff is also requesting approval of the appropriate budget amendment within the Grant Fund to recognize both the project expenditures and offsetting grant revenue.
Increase: Reimbursement Revenue $90,000
Increase: Project Expenditure (Perk Your Park) $90,000
ISSUE:
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
As mentioned above, there is no match requirement associated with this grant. The budget amendment increases both revenues and project expenditures within the Grants fund. Therefore, sufficient funds and budget authorization will be available.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a ratification of the submission of an application to the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2021 Niagara ‘Perk Your Park’ Contest; authorization for the City Manager to accept funds and execute all contract documents associated with the grant; and approval for its associated amendment to the City’s Fiscal Year 2022 Adopted Budget.