Title
2015 NEIGHBORHOOD PARK GRANT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED: Address quality of place issues
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Neighborhood Park Grant Program is a capital program (budgeted in the capital projects fund) initiated by the city council as a means of giving community groups the opportunity to improve and invest in their parks, and the city the ability to stretch its capital funds. Annually since 1997 the parks and recreation board has evaluated applications from neighborhood and community groups, sports organizations, service clubs, and occasionally individuals. The board’s recommendations are then presented to the council for final approval.
The $25,000 that the council has usually budgeted each year for the NPG Program has been used to fund a wide variety of projects. (See the attached list of past sponsors and their projects.) Along with whatever city funds are approved, project applicants are required to contribute a matching amount in cash and/or the value of labor and materials; in other words they contributed to projects on at least a 1:1 ratio, and sometimes much more.
The NPG Program is normally quite competitive. Project applications are evaluated on the basis of community need, community impact (who will benefit from a project), extent of facility usage or availability during the year, project life span and cost-benefit, future maintenance requirements, readiness to proceed, partnering, enhancement of safety and security, and other factors.
The parks board met last month to review applications for funding and now submits the recommendations as shown on the attached matrix for council consideration. Copies of all of the applications received are also attached for the council’s information. Note that there are three applications and recommendations for 2015 NPG funding; one application and recommendation regarding reprogramming or reallocating a grant approved last year...
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