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Parks staff: multiple state grant requests unfunded; some projects remain funded and in permitting
Summary
Parks staff told the advisory committee that several state grant programs were not funded in the current state budget, leaving more than $1 million in local park project requests unfunded; some other grant awards (Florida Communities Trust, Land and Water Conservation) remain funded and permitting continues on select projects.
Richard Blankenship, parks project staff, told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee that several state-level grant programs the city had applied to were not funded in the latest state budget, affecting funding for a range of local park projects.
Blankenship said the Florida Recreation Development Assistance grant program (smaller nonmatching $50,000 awards and larger matching grants up to roughly $200,000) and several small matching grants were not funded this cycle. "We have today, we probably have 7 or 8 applications in for projects through those sources," Blankenship said, and later summarized, "it's over a million" in requested park project funding that was not funded this round.
Blankenship also reviewed projects that remain in process: the Main Street boat ramp is in design and permitting with a Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant review pending for dredging and a separate Florida boat improvement application under review; the department's goal is to complete permits and design by Sept. 1 so work could start in the first quarter of the next fiscal year if funding materializes. He noted that the Land and Water Conservation portion of the city's original application was funded and that Florida Communities Trust awards were funded.
Other project updates included: a vendor contract and permitting for a law‑enforcement dryline and the need to add a fire hydrant at Twin Piers; Swing and Bench Park remains in permitting with shoreline stabilization as a critical component; and ongoing work on the master plan, which will later be returned to council for adoption.
Blankenship said some projects may need to be staged or extended because of the funding gaps. "The biggest impact... is just the not being able to do projects as quickly or as on other people's and having to break down, like, Riverview Park might be an extended project in multiple stages because of funding," he said.
Committee members were briefed on the program calendar as well: upcoming events mentioned at the meeting included the Fourth of July parade and FreedomFest at Riverview Park and planned family programming later in the year; staff said additional programming will depend on budget, fundraising and sponsorship.
