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Parks staff seeks RDC support for $250,000 match to pursue federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Riverside Park
Summary
Parks staff told commissioners they plan to apply for Land and Water Conservation Fund money to replace Riverside Park playground and develop river overlooks; staff requested commission support for a potential $250,000 local match and flagged an August application deadline.
Parks staff presented plans and asked the Logansport Redevelopment Commission for early support to assemble local matching funds for a potential Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant to replace and expand Riverside Park’s playground and riverfront access.
The parks presenter said Riverside Park hosts the city’s carousel, the new Vibrant Event Center and the 2022 basketball, pickleball and fitness court upgrades, and described a longstanding capital-improvement plan to replace the Riverside playground. The presenter said the LWCF program is administered at the state level, requires a 50 percent local match and that the application deadline for the current funding round is Aug. 1. Staff said the LWCF program has funded prior city projects and that, if awarded, project construction could still be several years away owing to state and federal review timelines; a parks staff estimate discussed during the meeting suggested 2027 as a plausible implementation year following state and federal review.
Staff showed conceptual renderings that include a 2–5 year play area, a 5–12 year play area, a splash pad and a central shelter, and described potential river overlooks and pedestrian connections along the Eel River to improve access from the event center and nearby downtown amenities. The presenter characterized the proposal as an ‘‘iconic’’ playground concept and said the city previously won LWCF grants for other park projects, including the courts work at Riverside and improvements at Houston Park.
The presenter asked the commission for a preliminary commitment to help assemble a local match (staff referenced a possible $250,000 contribution from the commission or a similar local commitment) and said she will bring a formal request for funding in June if the commission wishes to proceed. The presenter also said other funding sources — including the Community Foundation and private contributions — will be explored to reduce the local funding burden.
Commission members offered general support for the concept and noted Riverside Park’s heavy weekday and weekend use, including tournaments and community events. Commissioners and staff said the park is in the city’s TIF district and that staff will coordinate with city council as grant and match decisions move forward. The presenter told commissioners she would return with a formal funding request and budget estimates and that staff will prepare a grant application for the August deadline if the commission signals interest.
No binding commitment was made at the meeting; staff asked for a near-term signal of support and said they would bring specific appropriation requests back to the commission and city council once the grant strategy and budget estimates are finalized.
