STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Quality of Life, Arts & Culture
AGENDA DATE: January 25, 2023
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 11
DEPARTMENT: Park & Recreation Department
EXECUTIVE: John D. Jenkins
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SUBJECT
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Authorize an application for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant Program in an amount up to $10,000,000.00 to help establish a new central park in the City’s International District (informally known as the Valley View-Galleria area) in north Dallas - Financing: No cost consideration to the City (potential future costs, see Fiscal Information)
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BACKGROUND
The National Park Service administers the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program in partnership with designated lead agencies in each of the 50 states. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the partner agency for this grant program in the State of Texas. The ORLP grant program seeks projects that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public through the acquisition of lands and waters for parks and other outdoor recreation areas as well as through the development of new (or the renovation of existing) outdoor recreation facilities.
The Dallas Park & Recreation Department is proposing to apply for grant funding through the ORLP grant program to acquire one parcel of land of approximately 4.13 acres in the City’s International District (informally known as the Valley View-Galleria area). The subject property is one of the four remaining parcels needed to be acquired by the City in order to fully assemble the approximately 20-acre central park (informally known as “Midtown Park” or “Midtown Commons”) as envisioned in the City’s Valley View-Galleria Area Plan. The required match is anticipated to be provided by the City’s 2017 General Obligation Bond Program (Proposition B) in which $6 million is authorized for the “Midtown Commons” park. In May 2021, the City purchased a 1.63-acre property at 5580 Peterson Lane which is also planned to be incorporated into the future central park.
There is no legacy land available for development of new parks for residents north of the Lydon B. Johnson Freeway (Interstate 635) within Dallas. The acquisition of this subject property, in combination with 5580 Peterson Lane and future abutting acquisitions, is planned to create a new twenty-acre park with a walkable environment accessible to more than the 12,000 residents in the nearby community.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
Acceptance of Round 1 application by TPWD October 2023
Acceptance of the Round 2 application by NPS February 2024
Contract signed with NPS April-June 2024
Begin property acquisition June-September 2024
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On January 12, 2023, the Park and Recreation Board authorized an application for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant Program.
FISCAL INFORMATION
This action has no cost consideration to the City. Acquisition of this subject property located within the International District will utilize grant funds received as a result of the application to TPWD and the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant program and estimated future cost of $6,000,000 with funds from the 2017 Bond program.
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