City to seek Hamilton County grant to build park and public basketball courts near City Hall

Director Tate presented a request to apply for the Hamilton County Leaning Into Communities (LRC) grant, a 50/50 program offering up to $250,000, to help develop the city‑owned parcel at 3113 Dayton Boulevard into a municipal park with public basketball courts, a restroom, and other amenities to be shaped by community input and the city’s arts master plan.

Tate said the site is strategically located between City Hall and the municipal complex and “provides visibility, accessibility, and walkability.” He told commissioners the project would bring approximately 1,540 residents within a 10‑minute walk of a park, representing a 12.6% increase in coverage. Tate said the Red Bank Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has endorsed the project and that a Hamilton County commissioner, David Sharp, has reviewed and expressed support; county representatives are scheduled to vote on the county grant recommendation later in the week.

Tate said the project leverages the city’s existing municipal properties so the city would not need to acquire new land. He explained that the county grant would be paired with a city match to produce a $500,000 project budget if the full $250,000 county award is received. Commissioners asked why the site was chosen rather than the community center; Tate cited location, visibility, and the presence of underground utilities and slopes near the community center that would increase cost and complexity.

The request to authorize application for the grant was presented as Resolution 25-1841; no formal approval vote was recorded at the work session.