STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Quality of Life, Arts & Culture
AGENDA DATE: February 28, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 5, 8, 9, 10, 13
DEPARTMENT: Park & Recreation Department
EXECUTIVE: John D. Jenkins
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Trust for Public Land to enter into a community engagement agreement with Trust for Public Land, for the purpose of providing funding for equipment, design and development of five parcels of City owned land, with the desire to develop each parcel into neighborhood parks - Not to exceed $1,250,000.00 - Financing: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
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BACKGROUND
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a 501(c) organization with a mission to provide parks, trails and other forms of green spaces across the City of Dallas, with a goal in assisting the City to increase park access. The Dallas Greening Initiative's mission is to identify vacant City owned parcels and convert those parcels to park use to increase park access to Dallas residents. The Mayor has identified $1.25 million for this effort that will be the City's contribution to the Dallas Greening Initiative, with TPL contributing a match of $1.25 million for a total of $2.5 million. The Mayor's contribution to the project is part of the grant funds received through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.
The program will be initiated with five sites described in the attached location map. An additional 10 sites are proposed to be implemented for a total of 15 new parks (one property per council district and one citywide) over the next three to four years in three cohorts. Each location selected will be prioritized properties located in "park deserts". Site criteria for each location are selected based on vacancy, City-owned status, park access gaps, urban heat islands, health disparities, and equity indication using TPL's Smart Growth for Dallas tool...
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