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Coos Bay wins grants for Mingus Park restrooms; multiple park projects and applications advance
Summary
City staff reported an executed Oregon Parks and Recreation Department grant for Mingus Park restrooms and multiple foundation and private grants supporting the project; staff also updated the commission on Mingus Park Community Building stabilization, Lower Dam bids, Safe Routes to School planning and other park capital activities.
At the May 15 Parks Commission meeting staff reported the city has a fully executed grant agreement with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for restroom improvements at Mingus Park and that several foundation awards and grant applications are supporting the project.
Jennifer Wursing, staff standing in for Greg Hamlet, told the commission the city was awarded $343,000.46 through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's local government grant program and that the Judith Ann Mogam Foundation awarded $50,000 toward the city's match requirement. Staff reported additional applications and awards: a T-Mobile Hometown grant application for $50,000 (submitted Jan. 15, 2025), a Flo's Hometown grant application for $45,000 (applied Jan. 21, 2025), a $2,000 Barrios Sportsman's Association application, a $10,000 KFC Foundation application, and awarded funds from the Ford Family Foundation ($25,000), Rotary Cruz Foundation ($10,000), Kinsman Foundation ($75,000) and a $5,000 Coquille Community Tribe Fund grant.
Staff also reported progress on several capital projects: stabilization work at the Mingus Park Community Building is underway with cement helical piers contracted to Terra Firma for $47,432; prefabricated restroom units have a 10- to 12-month lead time; Lower Dam bids came in under budget and a pre-construction meeting is expected; and the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) draft plan has been reviewed and will inform future grant applications. The city submitted a National Register of Historic Places application for Mingus Park Community Building to the National Park Service in June 2024; staff said a final decision is expected in early July 2025 pending federal review.
Why it matters: The combination of state grants, foundation awards and pending applications advances capital work at a key park and a historic community building while shaping future grant-application competitiveness for active-transportation projects.
Next steps: Staff will obtain updated quotes to meet match requirements, finalize building permits and begin stabilization work at the end of the month; prefabricated restroom procurement lead times were noted as a consideration in scheduling. The SRTS plan will be posted for public review and staff intends to incorporate feedback before presenting it to council for final approval.
