ORDINANCE approving and authorizing submission of an application for grant assistance to the TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT for a National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grant for the Buffalo Bend- Hidalgo Greenway Project; declaring the city’s eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to act as the City’s representative in the application process, to accept such grant funds, if awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the program

Subject:  Ordinance authorizing pre-application and receipt of a grant from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Buffalo Bend-Hidalgo Greenway Project.

RECOMMENDATI ON: (Summary): Adopt Ordinance authorizing Parks and Recreation Department Director to apply for and receive a grant from the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Buffalo Bend-Hidalgo Greenway Project.

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD)  requests Council approval to submit a grant pre-proposal requesting $750,000 in grant assistance for the Buffalo Bend-Hidalgo Greenway Project.The proposal must be submitted to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) for consideration in the State's submittal of two selected projects to the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.

The proposed Project includes the acquisition and restoration to greenspace of a 1.25-acre industrial property located between Buffalo Bend Nature and Hidalgo Parks as well as the construction of a 0.77-mile hike and bike trail along the bank of Buffalo Bayou. The proposed trail connects the existing 5-mile Harrisburg-Sunset Trail to Hidalgo and Buffalo Bend Nature Parks. The vision of the proposed project is to create a contiguous greenway along a beautiful,meandering section of Buffalo Bayou in the underserved Magnolia Park neighborhood. The proposed trail provides additional opportunities for recreation and alternative transportation by connecting to the 17.5-mile Brays Bayou Greenway trail via the Harrisburg-Sunset Trail.

The total project cost estimate is $1,500,000. The City's required match is $750,000. If the grant is awarded, HPARD proposes to fund the match with $100,000 from the Parks and Recreation Dedication Fund and $250,000 from the Parks Consolidated Construction Fund. The remainder of the match - $400,000 - will be provided by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership (see attached letter of commitment).

NPS LWCF ORLP Grant Request                                                       $750,000

Matching Funds (To be appropriated later if grant is awarded)

Parks and Recreation Dedication Fund 4035                                      $100,000

Parks Consolidated Construction Fund 4502                                       $250,000

Buffalo Bayou Partnership                                                                  $400,000

                                                                    Total Grant Project        $1,500,000

Luci Correa 832-395-7057