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MPO backs Laredo support letter for $1.5 million Texas Parks & Wildlife grant for Las Lomas Del Sur Park
Summary
The MPO policy committee voted to provide a letter of support for the City of Laredo’s application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife 2026 Local Parks grant program for the Las Lomas Del Sur Park master-plan Phase 1, a $1.5 million request with a $750,000 local match.
LAREDO, May 21 — The Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee voted Wednesday to provide a letter of support for the City of Laredo’s application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife 2026 Local Parks grant program for the Las Lomas Del Sur Park project.
Staff from the city’s economic development office described the Phase 1 request as $1,500,000 with a required 50 percent local match. The city plans to provide $750,000 in matching funds: $500,000 from a District 1 priority fund and $250,000 from park improvement fees, the presenter said. The grant application deadline is Aug. 1, 2025; awards are expected in January 2026.
Project scope and phasing - The master plan envisions about 2.5 miles of total walking trails across multiple phases; Phase 1 (the application’s focus) would cover roughly a half-mile of trails and include one pedestrian bridge. - The full master plan for the park as presented includes three youth soccer fields, one regulation soccer field, an inclusive playground, a conventional playground, picnic tables, benches, 32 parking spaces and a restroom. The initial phase is the middle section of the master plan and was described as the area staff are proposing to fund with the grant. - City staff said the master plan extends from Warrensville Road to Bianca Road and that they anticipate three phases total: Phase 1 (center section), Phase 2 (north to Warrensville Road) and Phase 3 (south toward a middle school near the trail terminus).
Committee action and clarifications - Committee members asked whether the MPO letter of support supplanted city council action; staff clarified the MPO provides the support letter but the formal grant application and appropriation of the local match go through the Laredo City Council. A committee member also asked whether the item had already gone to council; staff said the application required council action to submit but the support letter was an MPO action. - The committee moved, seconded and approved the letter of support; the roll call and vote were recorded as “All in favor; motion passed.”
Speakers quoted in this article include only those listed in the transcript and speaker list.
