The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) requests Council approval to submit a grant application to the Texas Coastal Management Program (CMP) requesting $400,000 in grant assistance for the Buffalo Bend-Hidalgo Greenway Project. CMP is administered by the Coastal Coordination Council of the Texas General Land Office. The Coastal Coordination Council will prioritize and recommend projects to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by April 2017. If awarded the grant start date is October 1, 2017.
The proposed Project includes the restoration to greenspace of a 1.62-acre industrial property located between Harris County's Buffalo Bend Nature Park and the City of Houston's Hidalgo Park. Harris County Precinct 2 and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department are proposing to partner in the purchase of the site through separate Council Action. The project also includes 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 $650,000. If the grant is awarded, HPARD proposes to fund the required match with $250,000 from the Parks Consolidated Construction Fund to be appropriated at a later date. The required cash match is 25% of the project budget. The proposed match commitment of 38.5% will make the proposal more competitive.
Director's Signature:
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