TPW Commission Awards $2.74 Million in Local Park Grants

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AUSTIN, Texas — Almost $5 million in grant monies will be awarded to 14 Texas communities for indoor and outdoor recreation projects as a result of today’s action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The only indoor recreation grant approved for funding was for $375,000 from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account program to the City of Hempstead. The matching grant will help fund construction of a 9,100-square-foot recreation center in the east part of the city.

The Hempstead project was one of seven projects eligible for indoor recreation funding by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The funds come from $835,126 appropriated by the Texas Legislature for the 2006-2007 biennium. In order to make indoor grant funding available for both years of the biennium, $417,563 (half of the appropriated amount) will be made available in grants each year.

At its Thursday meeting, the commission also approved $4.5 million in matching funds for 13 communities to acquire and develop outdoor recreation sites. The funding pool included FY2007 TRPA revenues and previous Land and Water Conservation Fund (National Park Service) monies received by Texas to help provide basic outdoor public recreation facilities.

The top projects selected by TPWD staff from those submitted by 32 sponsors were based on a competitive scoring system taking into account site visits and project analyses. For more information on local park grants, contact TPWD’s Recreation Grants Program at (512) 912-7124.

The Commission awarded outdoor recreation grants for projects in the following amounts:

  • $237,492 in matching funds to the City of Boyd in Wise County to expand the park by 10 acres and develop soccer fields, tennis courts and other recreational facilities.
  • 400,000 in matching funds to the City of Brady in McCulloch County acquire 9.2 acres in donated land in the northwest part of the city upon which will be constructed the Brady Aquatic Complex.
  • $400,000 in matching funds to the City of Canton in Van Zandt County acquire 80 acres of city-owned non-parkland to expand and further develop 25.3 acres of Old City Lake Park in the northwest area of the city to include a nature trail, 18-hole disc golf course and amphitheater.
  • $275,000 in matching funds to the City of Clyde in Callahan County to develop a 6.1-acre tract of land as a city park that would include a wetlands, multipurpose courts, horseshoe pits and other facilities.
  • $300,000 to the city of Crawford in McLennan County to expand Tonkawa Falls City Park in the east part of the city and renovate CCC pavilions, RV campsites and add a nature trail, volleyball courts and other facilities.
  • $390,000 to the City of Anthony* in El Paso County to to acquire three acres to expand and develop 32.73 acres of city-owned land adjacent to three northside city parks. Proposed development includes a three-acre open space dedication, multi-purpose trail and nature trail, lighted baseball field, picnic tables, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities, plus a xeriscape demonstration garden and interpretive signs about landscaping, rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation and solar-powered lighting and irrigation controls.
  • $400,000 to the City of Fate in Rockwall County to acquire 31.83 acres by donation for the Fate Sports Complex that would include restoration of native blackland prairies and development of a baseball/softball field, soccer field and other facilities.
  • $400,000 to the City of San Marcos in Hays County to acquire 251 acres to develop San Marcos Springs Conservation Park north of the city that would include a nature trail, xeriscape demonstration garden, amphitheater and other facilities.
  • $400,000 to the City of Houston in Harris County to purchase 27.3 acres in the southeast area of the city to develop Sims Woods Park that would include a nature trail, wetlands boardwalk, bird blinds and other facilities.
  • $400,000 to the City of Kennedale in Tarrant County to acquire 13.3 acres to further develop 38.3-acre City Park by adding a multipurpose trail, disc golf course, fishing pier and other facilities.
  • $400,000 to the City of Lampasas in Lampasas County to purchase and develop a 173-acre Sports Park that would include baseball, football and soccer fields, as well as a two-acre wetlands with observation deck and other facilities.
  • $132,500 to Loving County near Mentone acquire by donation 12 acres for Community Park that will include an RV park, nature/wildscape area, playground pavilion and other facilities.
  • $400,000 to the City of Taylor in Williamson County to acquire by donation 23.7 acres to expand East Williamson County Park II and further develop 40 acres to include soccer, softball and baseball fields, a xeriscape demonstration garden and other facilities.

The matching local indoor and outdoor recreation grants come from the TPRA and LCWF funds. The TRPA program was authorized in 1993 to assist local political subdivisions in Texas in providing basic public recreation facilities. TRPA revenue is derived from a portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods, is dedicated solely for park funding and does not come from funds earmarked for hunting and fishing purposes.

* Correction, Jan. 29, 2007: The original version of this news release incorrectly listed a grant to the City of Dickens. The grant was awarded to the City of Anthony. (Return to corrected item.)