Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $1,200,000 Amending State, Federal and Other Grants Fund Budget for the Appropriation of National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grant for Peeler Community Park
Body
Council Priority: Ensure Fiscal Stewardship, Transparency, & Accountability
Department: Parks and Recreation
Council District: 2
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Nasha McCray, 433-7360
Contact 2 and Phone: Shawna Tillery, 373-7808
PURPOSE:
The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department has received the Outdoor Legacy Partnership Program Grant from the National Parks Services, in the amount of $600,000 to support the Peeler Community Park. To accept the grant and add the appropriate matching funds to the account a budget amendment is requested from Greensboro City Council in accordance with current city fiscal procedures.
BACKGROUND:
The Park and Recreation Department applied for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant in 2018. This was a nationally competitive grant program funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which offers grants specifically to help create and improve state and local parks and other outdoor recreation areas, particularly in underserved communities. The federal funds are used to help create and improve state and locally-owned park and other outdoor recreation areas in ways that will help the public to access or re-connect with the outdoors.
LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard our natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. Using zero taxpayer dollars, the fund invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help strengthen communities, preserve our history and protect our national endowment of lands and waters. The LWCF program can be divided into a state side process which provides grants to State and local governments.
City Council approved the Peeler Community Park Master Plan and the ORLP grant application at the July 17, 2018 meeting. The grant applicants were originally intended to be notified in March 2019 but due to Federal government shutdown in 2018 it was delayed. The acceptance of this grant and associated contract will be the first grant in the country to be awarded.
The grant award is for three years and the Parks and Recreation has completed Phase 1 of master plan with the new tennis court renovation and multiport court open in November 2019. Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the master plan are currently under design. With acceptance of this grant the funds provided will reimburse the City of Greensboro for the project scope of work that includes: new development and renovation of existing facilities including planning and engineering; site preparation; demolition of an obsolete playground and basketball court to allow expansion of the parking lot; renovation of the existing ballfield; improved park’s front entrance to include gathering spaces with seating walls and new play structures; development of a new outdoor fitness area with new play equipment interspersed; paved accessible pathways throughout the park with an interpretive story walk and site amenities including a required bioretention cell, solar play/work stations, site lighting, benches, trash receptacles, bike racks, utilities, signage and landscaping small outdoor gathering patio area, utilities and signage.
BUDGET IMPACT: This requested action will have no adverse impact on the City of Greensboro budget. Matching funding is available in is available in account number 482-5001-05 with associated budget adjustment. The grant award of $600,000 requires a $600,000 match and the $1,200,000 ordinance will allow funds to be appropriated with account number 220-5097-01.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED: It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached budget ordinance transferring funds to allow for acceptance of the grant and the matching funds of $600,000 to be utilized for the grant award from the National Parks Services for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program grant for Peeler Community Park.