Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Application to the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for Yelm Highway Community Park Phase I
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Resolution authorizing City Staff to apply for a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant for Yelm Highway Community Park Phase I and authorizing the City Manager to receive the grant funds should the grant be successful.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Resolution authorizing City Staff to apply for a RCO grant for Yelm Highway Community Park Phase I and authorizing the City Manager to receive the grant funds should the grant be successful.
Staff Contact:
Tammy LeDoux, Finance & Policy Coordinator, Parks Arts and Recreation, 360.753.8053
Laura Keehan, Parks Planning & Design Manager, Parks, Arts and Recreation, 360.570.5855
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item
Background and Analysis:
The Parks, Arts and Recreation Department is preparing a RCO grant application for the current funding cycle. The application is due May 1, 2024, and is required to include formal City Council authorization.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides funding to preserve and develop outdoor recreation resources, including parks, trails, and wildlife lands. The funds are provided by the Secretary of the Interior and managed by RCO. If successful, the grant would reimburse the City up to $2,000,000 towards Phase 1 development of the Yelm Highway Community Park.
In 2022, the Department applied for this development grant and was authorized for a $2,000,000 award. Due to the loss of the school district partnership and the need to revise the park design, RCO awarded the funds to the next “ready” project and advised re-applying for the 2024 application grant cycle.
In 2021, the City received a $1,000,000 reimbursement grant for the acquisition of the Yelm Highway Community Park parcel.
Climate Analysis:
Locating parks in close proximity to residents supports walking, biking, transit usage and fewer vehicle miles to access recreation amenities. Climate adaptive and drought resistant native plants will be installed to create a low-maintenance landscape. The design will celebrate existing site features, and preserve existing native oak trees, a large wetland, and conifer forested area.
Equity Analysis:
The Parks, Arts and Recreation Plan process developed a GIS mapping analysis that utilized demographic data and undeveloped park service areas to help prioritize the development order of currently undeveloped parks. The analysis looked at equity-associated demographics parameters, prioritizing servicing lower income, non-white and Hispanic, older and younger residents and those in multi-family housing. Yelm Highway Community Park ranked as a high priority for development.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The community identified the acquisition of a large, community park site for soccer fields as a high priority in the 2002, 2010, 2016 and 2022 Parks, Arts and Recreation Plans. In the City’s 2014 Community Park Suitability Assessment, the Yelm Highway parcel ranked as the preferred site for a new community park.
Hundreds of community members have been involved in the Yelm Highway Community Park Master Plan process since 2019. Soccer players and neighbors from The Hamptons and Indian Summer neighborhoods have shown particular interest in this site.
Financial Impact:
The grant totals $2,000,000. The grant match will be a combination of impact fees, Metropolitan Park District funds, SEPA fees, grants and debt financing.
Options:
1. Approve the Resolution authorizing a grant application to the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for Yelm Highway Community Park.
2. Do not approve the Resolution. Staff would be unable to pursue the grant opportunity.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
Resolution
RCO Resolution
Agreement