Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Presenter:  Tim Hogsett

Action
Outdoor Recreation Grant Funding
August 25, 2011

I.       Executive Summary:  Outdoor Recreation Grants are made available from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to Texas local governments of less than 500,000 in population for the acquisition and/or development of outdoor recreation sites.  As of March 1, 2011 TPWD received 26 eligible Outdoor applications requesting $10,773,751 in matching fund assistance.  Staff is recommending support of two projects in the amount of $1,000,000.

II.      Discussion:  The Texas Recreation and Parks Account Program (TRPA) was authorized in 1993 to assist local political subdivisions of the state in providing basic public recreation facilities.  TRPA revenue is generated from a portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods.  The 82nd Texas Legislature has suspended all Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA), and all Large County & Municipality Recreation and Parks Account funding for the FY 2012-2013 biennium.

Funds currently available include $1,000,000 from the LWCF.  Staff reviewed applications from 26 sponsors requesting $10,773,751 in matching funds for all eligible applications submitted by March 1, 2011.  Based on the scores, the projects have been ranked in descending order of priority.  Exhibit A contains the priority listing with funds requested by the sponsors and funds recommended by staff.

III.     Recommendation:  Staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“Funding for two projects listed in Exhibit A in the amount of $1,000,000 is approved.”

Attachments – 1

  1. Exhibit A — Priority Listing

Commission Agenda Item No. 6
Appendix A

Outdoor Grant Program Priority Listing
August 25, 2011
(Descending Order of Priority)
(* Resubmitted Project)
# Score Sponsor Authority Project Name Grant Request State Match Recommended Cumulative Recommended
1 112 Willacy County Laguna Point Recreation Area* $500,000 $500,000 $500,000
2 103 Anna Slayter Creek Park II* $500,000 $500,000 $1,000,000
3 102 Mexia Athletic Complex* $500,000    
4 101 McLennan County Precinct 3 / West Park $500,000    
5 101 Sonterra MUD Recreation Improvements* $473,623    
6 101 Wallis Mynarik Park* $500,000    
7 97 Brazoria County Bridge Park* $300,510    
8 97 Wharton County Precinct 1 Park $383,205    
9 96 Granite Shoals Quarry Park $500,000    
10 93 Nueces County Packery Channel Park* $500,000    
11 91 Murphy The Timbers Nature Preserve Park & Trail $500,000    
12 89 Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD #386 Creekside Green Village Park $500,000    
13 86 Richardson Breckenridge Trail & Park $500,000    
14 83 Baytown Jenkins/Hollaway Park Expansion $500,000    
15 74 Alvarado Stonegate Park $154,000    
16 70 Harris County WCID #96 Fall Creek Park & Trails $500,000    
17 66 Eden Concho Springs Golf Course/Lee Pfluger Park* $136,893    
18 62 Wheeler City Park $500,000    
19 60 Cameron County El Ranchito Community Park* $322,488    
20 59 Comal County Junbo Evans Sports Park $500,000    
21 59 Friendswood Lake Friendswood $499,630    
22 59 Winkler County Winkler County Ballpark $500,000    
23 58 Bedford Boys Ranch Park $500,000    
24 42 South Houston Sports & Recreation Fields/Girls Softball Fields $194,502    
25 35 Lake Worth Lake Worth Park and Sport Complex $242,500    
26 25 Horsepen Bayou MUD Walking Trails of Concord Bridge $66,400    
Total $10,773,751