Kiowa Conservancy’s Betsy Carson Phase 5 approved with condition: up to $1M in Greenbelt minor-improvement funds to be released against verified pledges

The Greenbelt subcommittee recommended approval of Kiowa Island Natural Habitat Conservancy’s Phase 5 of the Betsy Carson nature area but attached conditions to large minor-improvement funding requests. The subcommittee approved the application and agreed to release up to $1,000,000 in Greenbelt ‘minor improvement’ funds only as the conservancy demonstrates verified outside pledges or raised funds, with staff-level verification and reimbursement procedures.

Kiowa Conservancy representatives, including Kale Farah and project manager Sean Cannon, presented Phase 5 as the final contiguous parcel that completes a multi-phase nature area on Johns/Key Island and Johns Island. The application covered a fee-simple acquisition of 10.7 acres — mostly maritime forest and about two acres of marsh — and extensive plans to connect phases 2–5 with trails, ADA-accessible raised boardwalks, a learning center, parking, reforestation, cultural-interpretation features and sweetgrass stands. The conservancy outlined a broader budget that includes $1.6 million in total rural-fund requests and listed $1,000,000 as a request for allowable minor improvements; the organization said it has spent roughly $200,000 on baseline surveys and due diligence to date and has pledged additional matching funds and in-kind work.

Board members scrutinized the size of the minor-improvement request because Greenbelt policy limits minor improvements to pervious trails, pervious parking, unpaved roadways, footbridges and boardwalks (and pervious sidewalks). Staff clarified that Greenbelt funds cannot subsidize non-allowed structures and that any minor-improvement reimbursements must be documented with invoices and site inspections before payment. Project fundraisers said the conservancy has $600,000 in pledges and expects to reach at least $1,000,000 in pledges within months; Theresa Termine, the conservancy’s advancement lead, told the subcommittee she had $600,000 in pledges on hand and confidence in raising the remainder.

After extended discussion about precedent, match verification and the portion of funds that could be used for boardwalks and ADA access versus a building-learning center, a motion passed to approve the project and to make the release of Greenbelt minor-improvement funds conditional: staff will verify pledged or raised funds and approve reimbursement on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $1,000,000. The motion specifies staff-level approval for releases and requires standard Greenbelt reimbursement documentation, recorded grant agreement language and site inspections. The subcommittee noted that many of the conservancy’s larger planned improvements (including a learning center) would not be eligible as minor improvements under Greenbelt rules, and said funds awarded would be tied to allowed uses and to documented costs.

The recommendation advances to the full Greenbelt advisory board for final consideration. Kiowa Conservancy said that if Greenbelt minor-improvement funds are released as pledged, the conservancy aims to open initial trail and sweetgrass access by late next year and will pursue further fundraising for a learning center phased over several years.